Fall is in the air and that means it’s time for a change in my paddling habits. This summer I mostly did canoe fishing trips on local lakes such as Nockamixon and Beltsville. And I really neglected my kayaking this year, but that’s alright because I generally do slow down on the kayaking throughout the dog days of summer, then pick it up again in the fall. And that time is here again.

One of my favorite fall kayak trips is through the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. There are several sections on the river where you can paddle around the boat access and enjoy fall colors without having to paddle with the flow downriver. Poxono Boat Access is one of those areas. But if you are looking for a lengthy fall foliage kayak trip on the Delaware River then you might want to consider beginning at Dingmans Ferry Bridge and paddling to Smithfield Beach or beyond to the Kittatinny Point Visitor Center.

The Moshannon Falls blog has more information on this fall foliage trip through the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.         

Afraid of Your Kayak? Take a Whitewater Kayaking Class!
Whitewater kayaking is a very exciting sport but if you’re one of those paddlers who’s been reluctant to take up the sport of whitewater because of the dangers involved, I urge you to put your fears behind you and try it.

Possibly the greatest fear of most beginner whitewater kayakers is the fear of being trapped upside down in your kayak. To many paddlers this fear can be so overwhelming that it could interfere with your enjoyment of the sport. And it is a legitimate fear. Although rare, there are cases where a wet exit might have prevented drowning. But there is hope for you, and the easiest way to conquer your fear of being trapped upside down underwater wedged inside that cockpit is by taking a whitewater kayaking class.

Taking a kayaking class with knowledgable, confident instructors will increase your confidence in only the first few hours. The first thing you’ll probably learn in a basic whitewater kayaking class is the ever important wet exit. Learning the wet exit can be a stomach churning experience if your anxiety is high - like mine was. In my case I had been canoeing for about twenty years and had been tour kayaking for about five years, but having never actually done a wet exit I was petrified of being rolled in a rapid or current. But once you learn the proper way to wet exit you’ll be surprised at how easy it really is. Once you pop that skirt you simply take you kayak off just like taking off your pants. The water lubes your body and gravity does most of the work. To get the confidence you need you’ll have to practice wet exits until it’s second nature. You know it’s second nature when you can relax underwater for a few seconds before executing your exit. You’ll want to get to the stage where you can attempt a roll several times with confidence that you can wet exit any time you want.     

Once you master that wet exit your paddling experience will change dramatically. Ferrying across fast current and doing peel outs will be much more fun. And you’ll find that as your skill level and confidence increased so will your willingness to increase the level of challenge and risk.  

Check out the Northeastern PA Kayak School near Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania. They give a two day course covering all the basics, and the instructors are great. You’ll know how to do a wet exit, bracing and maybe even how to roll and surf waves by the end of the course.

Roanoke River Partners, NC

Historically, the Roanoke River in North Carolina provided a transporation route for lumber, cypress shingles, fish and other products. The river swamps also provided cover for runaway slaves and illegal stills during prohibition while the high banks of the river offered vantage points for forts during wars. Today the river serves the local industries and municipalities.

The Roanoke River is home to black bear, river otter, white-tail deer, bobcat, beaver and mink. And for bird watchers there are over 200 bird species including bald eagles, barred owl, osprey, great egrets and great blue herons. The River is also abundant with striped bass, largemouth bass, black crappie, lunker catfish, gar and bowfin.

Thanks to the Roanoke River Partners there are now unique camping opportunities available in the swamps of the Roanoke and Cashie Rivers. Newly constructed camping platforms provide camping from Weldon to the Albemarble Sound. This type of camping provides a unique experience throughout the diverse habitats of the river basin. Visit the Roanoke River Partners Web site.

If the hardy platform camping of the Roanoke River Trails is not your style, or if you would like to diversify your paddling experience, there are several commercial campgrounds located in the area. One such campground is the Green Acres Family Campground located in Williamston, NC. The Green Acres Family Campground is only a short driving distance from many of the Roanoke River Paddle Trails and a short distance from North Carolina coastal paddling opportunities.      

Maryland’s Antietam Creek is one paddling destination full of scenery, wildlife, excitement, but most importantly a great part of American history. The most convenient way to paddle the Antietam is to begin at Devil’s Backbone Park on Route 68 near Sharpsburg and you can choose between two takeouts. One being the Burnside Bridge takeout or paddle the 12 miles to the Potomac takeout. Paddling to the Potomac can take from 4-8 hours depending on your ambition.

Conditions 
During normal water conditions you’ll encounter swift current that may test your paddling skills. And there are ledges, rocks, strainers you’ll need to navigate. The creek is only a class 1, but at the end of the run, near the Potomac, you’ll encounter the class 2 Furnace Rapids. During high water levels this rapid may be a bit difficult for novices. Inexperienced paddlers may want to consider portaging this rapid.

Burnside’s Bridge
The Antietam Creek flows straight through the Antietam Battlefield at Burnside’s Bridge. This bridge was the location of one of the most famous battles of the Civil War. It was at this bridge a few hundred Confederate soldiers held off thousands of Union Soldiers for several hours. Unfortunately you can not dock your boat within 1000ft of the bridge. The best way to see the battlefield is to visit the Antietam National Park after you’ve completed your paddle.

Visit these Antietam Creek Website resources
Devil’s Backbone County Park - the launch point of the lower Antietam.

See more Antietam Creek canoeing and kayaking information and Antietam Creek canoeing photos.