Neuse River ,North Carolina

The Neuse River is a major permanent stream rising in the piedmont of North Carolina, emptying into the Pamlico Sound below New Bern. Its total length is approximately 275 miles (443 km),[1] and its drainage basin, measuring 14,582 square kilometres (9,061,000 mi) in area, lies entirely inside the state of North Carolina. It is formed by the confluence of the Flat and Eno Rivers prior to its entering the artificial Falls Lake reservoir in northern Wake County. Its fall line shoals lie submerged under the waters of Falls Lake.











The Parks and Recreation Department provides 5 canoe launches along 17 miles of the Neuse River starting at the Falls Lake Dam. The access points are designed for paddle-craft and are open from sunrise to sunset. Below are the access locations, directions, and river miles from Falls Dam - Mile 0. Maps for the two most paddled sections are available below.

Falls Dam Access - Mile .25
12098 Falls of the Neuse Road - From the I-440 beltline take Capital Blvd North exit 11B. Travel 6.4 miles and turn left on Durant Road. Travel 2.3 miles and turn right on Falls of the Neuse Road. Travel 2.4 miles and just before crossing over the Neuse River turn right on a gravel road which ends at the access point. Turning left before the bridge will end in the Army Corps of Engineers parking lot which has access to the base of the dam.




Buffaloe Road Access - Mile 10.7
4901 Elizabeth Drive - From the I-440 beltline take Capital Blvd North exit 11B. Travel 2 miles and turn right on Buffaloe Road. Travel 3.6 miles and just before crossing over the river turn right on Elizabeth Drive which will end at the access point. Caution: a 10 ft dam is located 3.5 miles downstream.

Milburnie Dam Access - Mile 14.2
1101 Old Milburnie Road - From the I-440 beltline take Route 64 East exit 13B. Travel 2.7 miles and just after crossing the bridge over the river turn left on Old Milburnie Road. Travel .2 miles and turn left on Loch Raven Parkway. Travel 100 yards and turn right onto gravel road which will lead to the river access downstream of the dam.

Anderson Point Access - Mile 16.2
120 N. Rogers Lane - From the I-440 beltline take Route 64 East Business exit 13B. Travel 2 miles and turn right on Rogers Lane. At the stop sign bear right to stay on Rogers Lane. Go about 1 mile and turn left on Neuse View Drive. At the stop sign turn right on to Anderson Pt. Drive and then left into the parking lot before the bridge overpass. Follow the dirt road at the end of the parking lot to the round about at the river.


Poole Road Access - Mile 17.7
6501 Poole Road - From the I-440 beltline take Poole Road East exit 15. Travel 2.4 miles and turn left on gravel road just before crossing over the river.