Couple in a rental canoe from cape fear river adventures in Lillington, NC

Hourly Rentals

Hourly Rentals



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Hourly Rentals
Kayaking, canoeing or paddle boarding river trip


Enjoy yourself by paddling up a gorgeous, flat-water stretch of the Cape Fear River. Get the whole family out in a canoe or give kayaking a try. Miles of virtually unspoiled wilderness to explore, you can spend an hour up to all day out on this stretch of the river.
With trips lasting up to two hours, experience rock garden where swimming, eating lunch on river banks, or sitting in a small shallow rapid with water rushing over your shoulder is a must!
Snap a shot of turtles sunning themselves before they slip quickly under the water, or catch sight of a bald eagle, osprey, or great blue heron soaring through the clouds. Whatever you decide to do, no matter how long you spend on this particular part of the river, you’re most certainly in for a wonderful time.
This trip begins and ends at our office in Lillington and does not require a shuttle. Start by paddling upstream as far as you'd like based on the rental time, turn around and paddle back to the starting point. Typically, the current is very slow and it's just as easy to go upstream as it is going downstream. At times when the river comes up the current can become stronger, making it more challenging going upstream. Be sure to check the river news on home page for more exact conditions.

Trip Cost Prices are per boat and include paddles and life jackets


* All Day rental goes from the time you choose to start to our closing time at the latest, you can end the trip any time.


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What to wear

  • Dress for the weather with layered clothing if necessary, and expect to get wet.
  • Wear long sleeves or opt out for sunscreen.
  • Bathing suit is a great option in warmer months, but don't forget sunscreen!
  • Paddling booties or water shoes are great! You can also wear old gym shoes, or strap-on sandals, but no flip-flops!
  • Any hat is recommended.

What to bring

  • Bring plenty of water! Plan on taking one 12oz bottle of water per person per river hour. Absolutely no glass containers!
  • Sunscreen, unless you are wearing protective clothing
  • Nutritious snacks or a full lunch, especially for longer trips. You can easily fit a mid-sized coolers in our 16’ Old Town canoes. Small, insulated fabric coolers may be strapped to the back of our kayaks or paddle boards.
  • At least one phone per group.
  • Optional spare clothes for after the trip. We have changing rooms and spray showers available.
  • Water toys, cameras, speakers, etc.

Trip F.A.Q.

We strongly recommend making online reservations! It allows you to complete all the required paperwork online and it will speed up your check-in! That's also the only way we can guarantee your trip.
If you need to cancel or reschedule your reservation, please contact us at least 24-hours before your scheduled activity. No changes allowed and no refunds will be issued less than 24-hours prior to the activity. If we must postpone your activity due to water conditions or severe weather, we will issue you a full credit valid to be used for an activity in the future. We don't stop operations due to rain in the forecast!
3 years old and up.
250lb per person for any kayak or canoe; 220lb for paddle board
Yes, BUT… Responsible, moderate consumption is strongly enforced. All North Carolina and Waterways laws apply and are closely monitored by local and Wildlife Law Enforcement. NO GLASS CONTAINERS.
You have to have at least one 18 year old individual in your party out on the water. Anyone else under 18 must have consent from a parent or legal guardian.
We offer 10% off for groups 12-23 and 20% off for groups of 24+ ONLY if reservations are made online at least 24 hours before the trip. Contact us for a discount code that we set up just for your group. You can make as many separate reservations as needed depending on how many people are paying. Be sure to complete waiver forms online, it will greatly speed up your check-in process!
Yes! We offer 10% discount for military, EMS, Fire, Police and Teachers. Use "hardwork21" code when making your online reservations. Be sure to have your military or relevant ID when checking in.
Yes we do! We accept all major credit cards: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover.
There are no gators or sharks, but there are water snakes. Frankly, that's where they live, they are non-aggressive type and they are more frightened of you and will try to stay out of sight.
Yes, dogs are allowed. Keep in mind that if your furry friend has never been in a boat, you might find yourself fighting to keep your pup onboard instead of enjoying the day ;) Not recommended for 10 Mile Challenge or Epic Overnight unless the dog has prior experience being in a boat.
1 person per single kayak; 2 people in tandem kayaks; 1 person per paddle board. 2 adults and up to 2 small kids per canoe. Canoes have only 2 seats, kids sit on the bottom of canoe.
Canoes have plenty of storage. You can bring a cooler, backpack or other accessories. Kayaks however, have more limited storage. A smaller backpack or small cooler will fit ok, but not much more than that.
Yes, this is our hourly rental and you can come back to the starting/ending point at any time.
Maybe! The river is an unpredictable environment and there is always a possibility of capsizing. You must be prepared for it, dress and gear up accordingly.
Absolutely! We'll be happy to get you started on your paddling career!
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