A Guide to Kayaking Across the North Carolina Piedmont Overview
Some of the best fun you will have is on a simple human-powered vessel. The North Carolina Piedmont, from Hickory to Charlotte to Greensboro and more has some of the best kayaking spots. It may not be completely white waters like in the Appalachians. However, if you’re looking for a peaceful adventure, you’re in luck!
I hope you get the chance to enjoy some of these calming but adventurous places. Please remember to leave these places better than you found them and be safe on the water. Now enjoy the day!
Gar Creek at Latta Nature Preserve
Latta Preserve was one of my most favorite parks growing up. It was just outside the north part of Charlotte, roughly a 25-30 minute drive from where I grew up. It had this great shoreline across Mountain Island Lake, more than most other parks on the Catawba chain of lake. Plus, it had a historical presence with Latta Place. A historical house from the antebellum times of the North Carolina Piedmont.
But, some of my favorite times at this park came from kayaking at Gar Creek. Gar Creek is this more or less bay formation of Mountain Island Lake. It once was part of the actual Gar Creek before they flooded the area to make Mountain Island Lake. This spot was perfect for my younger self to learn how to kayak. Motor boats are few, the water is tame and is close to the shoreline of the park, allowing me to rest and get out.
Today, I like to adventure in new areas, but still come back every so often. However, for your first-time kayakers, this spot is still great to learn and enjoy the peacefulness of the lake.
How to Get There?
Latta Nature Preserve itself is fairly easy to get to. The park exists off Beatties Ford Rd. at the end of Sample Rd. From there, you’ll enter the gates of Latta Nature Preserve and head down the slow meandering road shaded by trees. After passing the Carolina Raptor Center, you should eventually see a road to turn left and right before going under the power lines. At the bottom of this road lies Gar Creek.
Hitting the Water
Launching your kayak is fairly straightforward here. There’s a gravel parking lot and shoreline to enter the water. It is relatively shallow here, so you can wade into the water a bit before hopping in your kayak. Here, you are free to explore!
The main part of Gar Creek lies to the left from where you launched. You can follow the park shoreline up. Many people will fish from this shoreline, so watch out for lines in the water. About halfway up, there’s an interesting rock formation sticking out of the water. This is a popular spot for turtles and bass fishers. In fact, a lot of Mountain Island Lake has rock formations in and around the water. Beyond there, you can keep making your way up to this peaceful section. Eventually, you can work your way into the current Gar Creek. I recommended trying this, it’s a stunning little waterway that most people don’t go back in.
Heading to the right of where you launched will take you out to the main part of the lake. Boat traffic tends to get heavier on this section as the water opens up. However, paddling this way also has its benefits. There’s a huge submerged rock formation in this direction. It’s marked by some buoys warning boaters. If you make it out to the main part of Mountain Island Lake, you can explore some of the other coves and shorelines where you can swim or just hang out. Keep in mind that for most people, this can be a fairly far paddle from Gar Creek.
I hope you get the chance to make this paddle. It’s been a top spot for me for the past many years. The perfect combination of peaceful, but open water. Now get out there and enjoy the outdoors!
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