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Here, at Cape Fear River Adventures located in Lillington, NC between Raleigh and Fayetteville, we cover 25 miles of the Cape Fear River offering variety of kayaking and canoeing trips from 1 hour up to 2 days, from flat water and up to Class III rapids! Of course, you don’t have to do the entire 25 miles in one go, in fact rarely anyone does. We utilize different access points to the river to offer different trips on different river sections. The river flow is very slow during summer months. This allows us to offer hourly rentals where you just paddle up and down, explore and rejuvenate at your own pace. We also offer “one-way” trips, allowing you to go with the flow, and we do the rest 🙂 Check out our trips below to find what suits you and your companions the best! And as always, if you ever have any questions, we are just a phone call away 919.495.5555!
Hourly Rentals offers an opportunity to paddle on flat water in a very calm section of the river. It also gives you the flexibility to paddle as much or as little as you desire, since you begin and end at our ramp. It is the same concept as if you were to paddle on a lake. One Hour option will allow you to cover up to 2 miles (1 mile out and 1 back), but some choose to go just a couple hundred yards out, enjoying the scenery wildlife and water. Choose the 2-hour option and you will have an opportunity to paddle to a Class I rock garden (about 1.5 miles from our ramp), which offers a great opportunity for a quick swim or break. The water runs very shallow in that section (ankle to knee deep) with a tad bit stronger current. Our favorite is to sit downstream a rock letting the moving water message your entire body 🙂
Hourly Rentals – All Day option gives you a chance to spend several hours on the river. You will experience everything described in 1 or 2-hour option above plus more! Bring your lunch and head on out for as long of a journey as you choose to. Explore the river, surrounding areas, creeks, rock gardens, take breaks, swim, eat lunch, find a swing rope or two… you get an idea. You can go as far as Raven Rock State Park, which is 5 miles up-stream from our ramp. The park stretches for another 5 miles on the river. Once you have had enough (which it not possible) turn around and make your way back to our ramp. In either case, you are the captain and you get to enjoy the river your way!
Easy Paddle is a 2-mile down stream river trip from our ramp in Lillington down to the Wildlife Access Point. Calm water, beautiful scenery, wildlife all around, Class I small rapid where it is fun to get out for a quick dip, and a shallow rock garden towards the end of the trip where you get to test your steering skills while maneuvering around river rocks. Take up to 2 hours to cover this sections, which is ample of time to explorer, swim, or just take it easy. This is the same river section as our river tubing takes place on, expect other river patrons around you, especially on weekends. For a more secluded outing consider our Hourly Rentals or 10 Mile Challenge.
If a day of action on the river is what you crave, this is the trip for you! Expect to encounter numerous but shallow Class I and several Class II rapids mixed in with lazy stretches of peaceful water. You have endless opportunities to explorer, enjoy wildlife, swim or play in mild rapids. There are plenty places along the way to stop for lunch or to just sit back and take in the scenery. Keep in mind, we name this trip a “Challenge” for a good reason – it is 10 miles long! The river moves very slow during summer months, expect to do all the work yourself with little to no help from the river’s current. 10 miles on the river is equivalent to walking 10 miles. Anticipate to have sore arms and butts for a couple of days afterward 🙂
If everything you have read above sounds like your kind of fun and you want all of it at the same time and more, then overnight kayaking or canoeing ought to be on the agenda this summer! Pack up your tent, food and water, (and don’t forget the s’mores!) and head on out for an ultimate river adventure. Bald Eagles and Blue Herons, Bass and Long Nose Gar, beavers and muskrats, turtles and deer, and that’s only the beginning. 15 miles on the river, paddling through and camping at scenic Raven Rock State Park with cliffs over 150ft overlooking the river. Canoe-in campsite are located right on the riverbanks. Gear up and remember the journey for the years to come.
Are you anxious to experience a thrill of excitement and fear at the same time enabling you to “live in the moment”? Whitewater kayaking is it! Get outfitted with a self-bailing whitewater kayak (not a rubber duckie) and head on out for an adventure! Enjoy wildlife and scenery in the first 6 miles of the trip while practicing paddling strokes and whitewater techniques. Then emerge yourself in Class II and III rapids that will test your might to the limit! This trip requires high water level and usually is available in the springtime. Although sometimes mother nature gifts us with high water in the summer or fall… Keep an eye on our River News to see what’s available and when.