Edgar Miller- Riverkeeper and Executive Director
After scaling back plans for doing the entire 130-mile Yadkin River State Trail, Yadkin Riverkeeper organized several multi-day paddles and camping options for our Yakin’ on the Yadkin paddle series to celebrate 2023 being named the “Year of the Trail.” Unfortunately, the weather had other plans for two of our overnight trips, but YRK staff and members learned a lot about the water quality challenges facing the River and its tributaries (see “The Journey of the Sediment” article), as well as the need to improve access to and safety on the River.
What follows are photos that illustrate the potential for improvements to the Yadkin River State Trail, including the possible designation of the River as it flows through Happy Valley between Patterson, NC and the Kerr Scott Reservoir above Wilkesboro as part of the YRST.
September 1 - Yadkin Riverkeeper Edgar Miller speaking at the “YRST Lunch and Learn” hosted by the Happy Valley Filling Station in Patterson, NC. As part of YRK’s five-year plan to enhance the YRST, we are assessing the community’s interest in seeing the River designated as part of the YRST above Kerr Scott Reservoir.
September 1 – Leg 1 of the Yakin’ on the Yadkin. Day 1 crew ready to depart from the Yadkin Valley Community Park for the paddle to the Happy Valley Fiddlers’ Convention on the Jones Farm.
September 1 - The upper Yadkin is relatively clear and has several Class 1 and Class 2 rapids that made for two challenging days of paddling.
September 1 – Coming into the Jones Farm/Happy Valley Fiddlers’ Convention after a five-mile paddle.
September 1 – Setting up camp at the Jones Farm/Happy Valley Fiddlers’ Convention.
September 2 – River frontage at the Jones Farm.
September 2 – Leg 1 Day 2 crew ready to go. Jones Farm to the Yadkin’s confluence w/ Elk Creek. We had planned to paddle to the Ferguson Access, but it was unsafe and unusable due to significant erosion.
September 2 – Day 2 was a bit more challenging with some Class 2 rapids and some shallow areas, but we made it through.
September 2 – And a log across the River about a mile into the paddle didn’t help, but with the guidance of safety paddlers Jack O’Connor and Nancy Crooks everyone got across safely.
September 2 – Yadkin Riverkeeper Edgar Miller cruising through the bamboo on the clear water of the Upper Yadkin. All agreed it would be a great addition to the YRST.
September 9 – Leg 2 of the Yakin’ on the Yadkin starting at the Yadkin/Ararat River confluence to the Shoals Access Area campsites in the River Section of Pilot Mountain State Park. Muddy main stem meets the clear Ararat.
September 9 – New mile marker sign installed on Pilot Mountain State Park land to aid in navigation and emergency response.
September 9 – Headed down river on a plume of sediment from the upper watershed drainage.
September 9 – We made it to the Pilot Mountain State Park riverside campsites through the Shoals. Very challenging to get from the River across the Shoals current/rapids to the campsite, but we made it with YRK board vice president Steve Ilderton’s guidance. That area needs some work.
September 9 – A happy group of paddlers after making it through the Shoals (I assume Jack is happy, but it’s hard to catch him smiling for a photo). Unfortunately, severe thunderstorms and flash flood warnings put an end to our overnight camping. Photo by YRK member Christine Rucker, who brought us a still warm blackberry cobbler.
September 22 – Leg 3 of the Yakin’ on the Yadkin, Concord Church Road access to Boone’s Cave Park in Davidson County.
September 22 – Headed down River from the Concord Church Access in Davie County to Boone’s Cave Park on the Davidson County side.
September 22- Coming around the Horseshoe Neck Bend.
September 22- Paddlers landing at Baptism Rock, Boone’s Cave Park, Davidson County.
September 22 – YRK founding board member Rick Chatham bringing in an errant plastic drum.
September 22- The takeout at Baptism Rock is a little difficult and could use a few enhancements. Thanks to Davidson County Parks and Recreation Staff for assisting with the boats.
September 22 – Looking down river from Baptism Rock. Unfortunately, the next nine miles of the YRST to Yadkin River Park will have to wait until next time due to the rainy, cold forecast associated with Tropical Storm Ophelia that cancelled our overnight trip and the Day 2 paddle on this leg.
This trip made me realize how challenging paddling the entire 130-mile YRST in one trip, over multiple days would be physically and mentally, not to mention the logistics of doing so. I’ll have to do it one piece at a time. Thanks to those adventurous souls who accompanied me on this journey. What we learned along the way will help us make the YRST more accessible and safer in the long run.