Lower Neuse River Runs – With Mileage and Takout Points

In part due to its proximity, I tend to spend a lot of time kayaking the Neuse near Raleigh. For the most part, it isn’t a particularly exciting river, with only a few places that have rapids, but it can be very beautiful and I often enjoy moving on a river more than flatwater. When the river really gets flowing, I often think of it as fast moving flat water.

The below table describes several runs you can do, along with the mileage and takeout points. While I’ve been as far as Goldsboro on the Neuse and you can actually take it to the coast, the below only covers the Wake County to Johnston Country runs(Milburnie Dam -> Smithfield.) There are about 14 Miles above this as well, from Falls Dam to Milburnie Dam.

Click on the location name to view more details about the takeout point, including the address and ease of access.

Approximate Distance in Miles

Location Anderson
Point
Poole Rd Auburn
Knightdale Rd
Mial
Plantation Rd
Covered
Bridge Rd
Hwy 42
Clayton
Market Street
Smithfield
Milburnie Dam 2 3.5 6.3 10.3 14.7 17.6 31.7
Anderson Point 1.5 4.3 8.3 12.7 15.6 29.7
Poole Road 2.8 6.8 11.2 14.1 28.2
Auburn Knightdale Road 4 8.4 11.3 25.4
Mial Plantation Road 4.25 7.15 21.25
Covered Bridge Road 2.9 17
Highway 42, Clayton 14.1
Market Street, Smithfield

* Other Locations: There are a few other locations you can take out/put in, but the below are the ones I’ve found to be easiest and (IMHO) make for the best runs. See the other locations section below for some other spots you can put in at.

Milburnie Dam takeout

Approximate Address: 5800 Loch Raven Pkwy, Raleigh, NC 27604 (View on Map)

Directions: Coming from Raleigh, Turn left on Old Milburnie Road and take first left onto Loch Raven Parkway. Entrance is first paved road, about 400 feet down on right. There is a sign, turn right and follow road to end.

Distance to Parking: ~200 Feet

This is the entrance to the Milburnie Dam Launch point.
This is the entrance to the Milburnie Dam Launch point.

Parking/takeout Notes:

Parking is in a gravel parking lot, with several spaces and spots to park on the side. This is a popular place for fishing, as well as access to the Neuse River Trail, so can fill up.

There are several easy places to launch a kayak or canoe near the pedestrian bridge.

Anderson Point Raleigh

Approximate Address: 168 Anderson Point Dr, Raleigh, NC 27610(View on Map)

Directions: Located by Anderson Point Park, Near Highway 264. Kayak Access is on the left, before the bridge. At intersection of Gilman Lane and Anderson Point Dr.

Distance to Parking: 0-20 Feet

See the white line for access point. Drive through parking lot.
See the white line for access point. Drive through parking lot.

Parking/takeout Notes:

Enter parking lot and goto the end. Follow small road to the right and you can drive right up to entrance point. There is a large gravel lot, with plenty of room for trailers and turnaround. Since it is secluded and people like to hang out here, it may be better to move your car back to the parking lot after dropping gear.

A small gravel/block access ramp is available to launch from.

Poole Road Raleigh

Approximate Address: 6602 Poole Rd, Raleigh, NC 27610(View on Map)

Directions: Coming from Raleigh, access is on left past Barwell Road and Riverview Road. Immediately before bridge. One of the only rapids is right before this takeout, about a quarter mile upstream. It is sometimes referred to as the Gunnison Rapid and is usually a pretty fun/short/safe rapid.

Distance to Parking: 330 Feet

Both the parking lot and launch are pictured here
Both the parking lot and launch are pictured here

Parking/takeout Notes:

There is a paved parking lot, as well as several places to park in grass. This is a very popular place for bikers and walkers, so the parking lot does fill up.

There is a bit of a hike to the put-in. The put-in includes several wooden steps and a shoot that you can use(depending on the height of the water.) This one does get pretty muddy after a rain or when the river is flowing fast.

Auburn Knightdale Road

Approximate Address: 2955 Auburn Knightdale Rd, Raleigh, NC 27610(View on Map)

Directions: Coming from Grasshopper Road, there is a bridge over the Neuse. Access is immediately before the bridge on left or past the bridge on left(see below for description.)

Distance to Parking: 300 – 400 Feet

Just before the bridge, there is a small access road on left.
Just before the bridge, there is a small access road on left.
This is a view of the bridge, the right side would be the access road and left would be putting in from parking lot.
This is a view of the bridge, the right side would be the access road and left would be putting in from parking lot. Water is very low here(~300cfs). Compare to below for much higher/faster water.
River is running at around 3100cfs now. Compare the location of pilings to image above.
River is running at around 3100cfs now. Compare the location of pilings to image above.

Parking/takeout Notes:

For parking, there is a paved parking lot for accessing the Neuse River Trail. There are a couple options for launching(or stopping) from here:

– It is possible to park in this parking lot and hike your boat about 350 Feet to the river. If you go this way, especially when the river is very high, it can be a bit of a scramble to get to the bank. However, when it is low, you can climb down to several rocks.

– Coming from Grasshopper road, there is a small access road on the left immediately before the bridge. It is possible to drive down it, but I would recommend just parking at the top. From here, you can hike your boat down under the bridge and then move your car to the parking lot.

– Coming from Grasshopper road, there is a small gravel spot on the right immediately after the bridge. It is possible to park here, hike your boat down under the bridge, and then move your car to the parking lot.

My preference is the second option, the small access road on the left before the bridge. Even in high/fast water, it is usually easy to launch here.

Covered Bridge Road

Approximate Address: 2600 Covered Bridge Rd, Clayton, NC 27527(View on Map)

Directions: Coming from Raleigh, cross over the bridge and parking will be on your right.

Distance to Parking: 460 – 600 Feet

Parking lot is on right, access is under bridge.
Parking lot is on right, access is under bridge.
A view from under the bridge(river is flowing fast here.)
A view from under the bridge.

Parking/takeout Notes:

For parking, there is a gravel parking lot with plenty of spaces. I’ve not seen this fill up. Just before the parking area, there is a small gravel spot that you can park your car at temporarily to load up and save a couple hundred feet of walking.

To launch or get out, I’ve found it easiest to come in on the inside of the Bridge Pilings. It can get a bit muddy, but there are some rocks you can use to get up. Your kayak will need to be dragged up the hill.

Covered Bridge Rd, Auburn Knightdale Rd, and Mial Plantation Rd are probably the trickiest to launch from.

Mial Plantation Road

Address: 5620 Mial Plantation Rd, Raleigh, NC 27610(View on Map)

Directions: Coming from Clayton, turn onto Shotwell Road off of 70, which turns into Mial Plantation Road. Cross over the Neuse River bridge and parking lot is on left. This is part of the Neuse River Trail – Capital Area Greenway

Distance to Parking: 450 – 500 Feet

If you are coming from the Knightdale/Raleigh side, the parking lot is on your right before the bridge.
The putin is a little steep, so use caution!

Parking/takeout Notes:

This is part of the Neuse River Trail and there is a paved parking lot and trail. Head towards the bridge and take the worn path off of the paved trail to get to river. It is a little steep and a bit of a scramble to get to the river.

Anytime I’ve passed the bridge, there have always been a lot of trees and branches caught on the pilings and a water gauge operated by NC State. So, take care of strainers, especially if the water is moving above average.

Highway 42, Clayton

Approximate Address: 20 Castleberry Rd, Clayton, NC 27527(View on Map)

Directions: Coming down 42 from Highway 70, cross bridge and make left onto Castleberry. takeout is immediately on your left.

Distance to Parking: 0 – 300 Feet

If you decide to drive down, walk first...there are some huge ruts!
If you decide to drive down, walk first…there are some huge ruts!
A shot of the launch point.
A shot of the launch point.

Parking/takeout Notes:

For parking, there is a gravel/dirt space at the top that can accommodate several cars. It is possible to drive down to the river, however there are some very deep ruts, so walk down there first to make sure your vehicle can make it!

There is a large flat area to launch from, which works well even when the river is very high. It can get a bit muddy though.

Market Street, Smithfield

Approximate Address: 99 N Front St., Smithfield, NC 27577(View on Map)

Directions: Coming from Raleigh down Business 70, make first left onto North Front Street, after you cross the bridge. Drive to the end.

Distance to Parking: 0 – 150 Feet

View of parking area, ramp entrance is by red point.
View of parking area, ramp entrance is by red point.

Parking/takeout Notes:

This is part of the Smithfield Neuse Riverwalk, so there is plenty of parking. There is also a semi-paved boat ramp, which you can use to launch from. You can drive your vehicle down to the boat ramp for loading.

The boat ramp can get pretty muddy, but the city does periodically clean it.

Other Takeouts

There are a few other places you can probably put in/take out on this stretch of the Neuse, however the above are the ones I use. Some(most?) of the below do not have great access or parking.

Some other possibilities are:

  • Sam’s Branch Greenway, Clayton
  • Fire Dept Road, Clayton – No Good Parking
  • Highway 70 Clayton(Near Johnston Correctional Institution/Prison) No good parking, but can pickup by bridge
  • M. Durwood Stephenson Hwy Smithfield No good parking and a hike to the road.

12 thoughts on “Lower Neuse River Runs – With Mileage and Takout Points

  1. This has been very helpful. 1st trip was covered bridge to 42 and the 2nd was Auburn Knightdale to covered bridge. Looking to go 42 to Smithfield and would like to know if there are any rapids along this rout. The other 2 were pretty calm

  2. Thanks, glad you found it useful!

    No, there isn’t much in the way of rapids once you get past Poole Road.

    At low water levels, there are a few spots where there are sometimes some small rapids, like just past Auburn Knightdale Road, ~ 1/4 mile down-river from the Poole Road Bridge, and sometimes right before you get to Highway 42.

    However, Gunnison Rapid, by Poole Road, and now the old Milburnie Dam site, are the only place that consistently have rapids on this stretch of the Neuse.

  3. Very helpful info! I’m curious, about how long would the Auburn Knightdale to Covered Bridge route take? We’ll have kids with us. Thanks!

    1. Just an FYI, there is a really easy launch spot from Mial Plantation on the Neuse Riverwalk under the bridge there. Short and flat walk (~100-150 yards) from the parking lot, just follow the path through the grass under the bridge. There’s a little step down of about 2-3 feet before the water, but it is no problem getting a kayak down there and would be easy for a kid to traverse. Mial Plantation is about the half way point between Auburn Knightdale and Covered Bridge (~4 miles from each), in case you wanted to cut that run down a bit.

      1. Thanks Stephen, I’ll add that to my list, as right now it is just in the ‘Other Takeouts’ section, as I never put in there.

      2. We did the Mial Plantation to Covered Bridge stretch. It took about 1 1/2 hours and we didn’t take the kids because they said they’d had enough adventure after a week at camp. We will next time because we really enjoyed it! Thanks for your advice!

  4. It depends a bit on how the river is running and how much paddling you do.

    A conservative estimate when the river is running at its normal non-release rate of about ~300CFS, maybe 4-5 hours. That is 2 miles per hour. If you do semi-steady paddling, you could probably cut that down.

    It might be better to start with one of the shorter runs, like Milburnie -> Anderson or if you don’t mind a couple small rapids, going down to Poole Rd.

    The Auburn Knightdale -> Covered Bridge run is somewhat long and more rustic than the up-stream ones.

  5. We did the run from cover bridge rd to Smithfield. How long does It take to go from Smithfield to Goldsboro

    1. I did it with a friend several years ago and we broke it up into two days.

      I can’t remember the exact mileage. If you pushed yourself and the water was moving a bit, it might be possible to do it in one day, but I think it would end up being a very long day.

      The area right past Smithfield is very windy and narrow, so use caution there, as it wouldn’t take much for a tree to block it. There is also one dam and other obstacles to watch out for when you get close to Busco ATV Park.

  6. Thank you for this excellent resource. I use it frequently. Do you have advice for runs lower than Smithfield?

  7. My friend and I tried to do a run from covered bridge to Four oaks last year and didn’t make it. The river was way to low and to much floating. What would be a good launch point to be able to get to the four oaks campsite off the river to spend the night?

    We did from Anderson Point to Mial plantation in 3 1/2 hrs recently but the river was at a good level and moving.

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