Stewards of the White Oak River Basin Current Events

Al Morris has set this up for us. Here is his info.We will meet at 9:00 at the Wildlife Ramp off Route 70, left after high rise bridge at Sea Level on dirt road back to water. Will then set up shuttle.

NOTE! IF AL, WHO LIVES IN SMYRNA, DETERMINES IT IS TOO WINDY WE CHANGE TRIP TO CAHOOGUE CREEK WILDLIFE RAMP OFF ROUTE 101 AND PADDLE SHELTERED CAHOOGUE CREEK AND HANCOCK CREEK AND MEET THERE INSTEAD AT 9:00. SO CHECK YOUR E-MAIL IF WINDY.

Name of Trip: Salter Creek (put-in) to Thorofare

This is trip 8 on Map 4 (Harkers Island Bridge to Cedar Island) CCC&KC map.
Skill Level - I
Time - 5 to 6 hrs
Difficulty - M/D
Distance - 13 miles
Maps - Long Bay, NC topo

Paddle Description

This trail starts at the Wildlife Ramp at the head of Nelson Bay on Salters Creek. Leaving
the boat ramp, paddle west for 3 1/2 miles up a tree-lined channel full of fauna and wildlife. Exiting
Creek, paddle north for 1/2 mile and you find a hunting blind, which has an access located in the
rear that can accommodate 4 boats at a time. North along the Eastern Shore of Long Bay you will
pass Owens Bay around the 6 1/2 mile mark. It offers a nice sandy beach on which more than
20 boats can land. (Lunch Break) The remainder of the paddle entails paddling about 1 1/2 miles
to Long Bay Point where the trail turns eastward as you paddle about 4 miles up marsh lined
West Thorofare Bay and Thorofare to the access at the Monroe Gaskill Memorial Bridge on NC-12.

Difficulties/Hazards

Wind and tides affect this paddle. Winds blowing in from the Pamlico Sound can make this
paddle difficult. Remember this is open water and paddle accordingly. Be mindful of pound
nets an vigilant for pleasure craft and fishing boats/trawlers.

Driving Directions

Salters Creek Wildlife Ramp: Located about 25 miles east of the intersection of US70/101 (Beaufort)
East of Beaufort and under the Salters Creek Bridge (High Rise before Sea Level) at the US-70/NC-12
Intersection. Ample off road parking.

Monroe Gaskill Memorial Bridge: Continue east on US-12 for about 11/2 miles. Take the first left
before the Bridge.

Bring food, water, sun screen and insect repellent.
Elmer 910-389-4588

I crossed Pettiford Creek on Rte 58 going north and took my first right past the bridge and went out Whitehouse Road to Millis Road and turned right on Millis and right again on first dirt road to the right which is Croatan Forest Road #302.

I drove to the end and parked Snowwhite there. Replaced Izaak Walton "Don"t Litter" sign with a new one.

No vehicles allowed past this point now. Took the trail to the left which leads to the old dam.

A new pretty white flower seen along the way.
This is the first walk I ever took in Croatan without seeing a single piece of trash. My dream realized! The trail was covered with pinestraw and huge pine cones. I did see the moon, a mushroom that looked like the moon! Analien space craft (a bug) landed on the moon as I went to take the picture. He did not like the environment and took off immediately.
This is tranquil Pettiford Creek at the old dam site (there is another one upstream). This is my favorite spot on Pettiford where we usually eat lunch unles we are going upstream to the Beaver Lodge to have lunch there. That is on the enchanted wildflower lake formed by the very large and long beaver dam. This is one beaver dam that should never be removed or cut through. It would destroy this beautiful unique lake.