Merchants Milpond (full -registration closed)

Type of Outing: Paddle and Camping
When: FRI 5/9/2025
Signup Deadline: 5:00 pm
Leader: Joel Deaton
Description: Join us for a canoe/kayak/camping trip to Merchants Millpond, NC’s most unique state park. We will leave Friday morning for the 4 ½ hour drive to the NE corner of NC and then paddle a mile to a hardwood island campsite. On Saturday we will paddle the 760 acre lake which has ancient moss draped cypress trees and areas totally covered in sunburst water lilies. We hope to be able to paddle upstream and view a 1000+ year old cypress tree, the 2nd largest in NC; a nature religious moment. Sunday morning we will pack up and then paddle Bennett’s Creek, a black water creek flowing to the Chowan River. We generally get back to Greensboro around 6:00. Yes, we hope to see some water snakes and perhaps a few resident alligators in comfortable non-intimidating encounters. The bothersome bugs should not have emerged however, to see a tick would not be unexpected. First time boaters and campers are welcome. Some boats can be arranged. Call me for more details. See the park’s website at www.ncparks.gov. Contact Joel Deaton to sign up.