North Carolina | Alamance County

Haw RiverGlencoe Paddle Access to Red Slide Park

A 5-mile planning-only Haw River Paddle Trail section from Glencoe Paddle Access to Red Slide Park through the historic mill corridor.

Route location

Loading the route map.

Open access map

Plan this route

Distanceapproximately 5 river miles
DifficultyModerate
Typical timeapproximately 3–4 hours
ShuttleCar shuttle
Water flows over the dam on the Haw River at Bynum, North Carolina.
River contextHaw River dam at Bynum; same-river context river-level context — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by Mx. Granger via Wikimedia Commons

Need to know

Why this call
This route is documented for planning, but does not receive a Paddle Today score.
View Primary Source
Embed this route

Route alerts

Email me when this route improves

We'll email you when this route climbs into Good or Strong. Every email includes an unsubscribe link.

We only email on a new threshold crossing.

Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
DifficultymoderateThe official guide describes a current-bearing reach with rocky ledges, mill remnants, Class I–II features, bridge debris, and a mandatory decision near the downstream access.
PermitsCheck posted rulesFollow North Carolina boating and PFD rules, all access-manager hours and closures, posted dam or portage controls, and any pass or reservation terms. No route-specific paddling permit is implied beyond the access terms cited here.
CampingDay tripNo route-specific overnight camping is assumed; use separately verified Haw River Trail campsites or a nearby basecamp and confirm current reservation rules.
SeasonMar-OctUse current Haw River gauge, recent rain, trend, debris, water temperature, daylight, and trail hours. High water can turn the historic mill corridor into a dangerous obstruction field.

Tomorrow and the weekend

Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.

TomorrowChecking

Waiting on forecast.

WeekendChecking

Waiting on forecast.

Plan your trip

Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.

Access and shuttle

A 5-mile planning-only Haw River Paddle Trail section from Glencoe Paddle Access to Red Slide Park through the historic mill corridor.

Access map

Skip map

Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.

End of map
Start

Put-in

Glencoe Paddle Access

The official Haw River Trail identifies Glencoe and Red Slide as named paddle accesses and publishes the 5-mile section. NCWRC lists the Glencoe canoe access; confirm current parking, carry, gate hours, and Red Slide landing conditions before launch.

Finish

Take-out

Red Slide Park Paddle Access

Published access information does not guarantee a clear waterline, safe landing, parking availability, or current post-storm conditions. Recheck the managing agency and on-site signs before unloading.

Road shuttle

Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • The official Haw River Trail identifies Glencoe and Red Slide as named paddle accesses and publishes the 5-mile section. NCWRC lists the Glencoe canoe access; confirm current parking, carry, gate hours, and Red Slide landing conditions before launch.
  • Published access information does not guarantee a clear waterline, safe landing, parking availability, or current post-storm conditions. Recheck the managing agency and on-site signs before unloading.
  • Do not use a bridge shoulder, private bank, dam apron, or informal shoreline as a substitute endpoint.

Watch for

  • USGS current trend and recent rain
  • low-water rocks and scraping
  • fast rises and storm debris
  • strainers and cold water
  • dam or mandatory portage
  • access hours, parking, and carry
  • private banks and missed take-out
  • The public accesses and nearby trail campsites do not authorize informal bank or island camping.

Choose your trip times

No account needed. Check the selected access points above, then choose both dates and times. For an overnight paddle, set take-out to the following date.

Trip schedule

Times use the selected time zone. Check it against the river’s location before saving or sharing.

Browser plans stay on this device. Sharing opens your device’s share tools or gives you text to copy.

Download GPX Route geometry only; no schedule required.

Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

Check the forecast and local water levels before launching.

Water-level history and forecastDetailed view

Recent trend

Checking preferred range.

Checking trend.

------------

Hourly forecast

Checking weather.

Loading today's forecast.

Short-route forecast

Checking the next several hours.

Checking the best short-route window.
----Loading--

Data and sources

Read the access and hazard notes and check the linked guides. We do not issue a daily score for this trip.

What to know before you go

These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.

  • Named public endpoint pairGlencoe Paddle Access to Red Slide Park Paddle Access

    The official Haw River Trail identifies Glencoe and Red Slide as named paddle accesses and publishes the 5-mile section. NCWRC lists the Glencoe canoe access; confirm current parking, carry, gate hours, and Red Slide landing conditions before launch.

    Source

  • Published route length and paddling context5 miles; approximately 3–4 hours, plus current, scouting, and shuttle time

    The cited blueway or park material provides the corridor distance or access-chain context; this remains a planning estimate, not a guaranteed travel time.

    Source

  • direct gauge contextUSGS 02096500 Haw River at Haw River, NC

    Use current discharge, stage, trend, recent rainfall, and visual conditions. No numeric recreational cutoff is transferred.

    Source

  • Camping posturenearby_basecamp

    The public accesses and nearby trail campsites do not authorize informal bank or island camping.

    Source

  • Safety and boundary posturePlanning-only moving-water route with explicit access and hazard checks

    Scout the Glencoe launch and the first rapids from shore. Wear a PFD and stay within moving-water skill limits; do not confuse a 5-mile distance with a beginner guarantee. Watch for historic mill structures, ledges, bridge debris, strainers, cold water, and fast rises. Never approach a dam or millrace from the current. Confirm Red Slide parking, carry, gate hours, and the take-out before launching; do not use Town & Country or private frontage as an unplanned substitute. Take out at Red Slide Park and do not continue downstream without a separately verified Graham/Swepsonville plan.

Check the source links

Paddler reports

See recent photos and notes from people on the route.

Help build the route page

Add photos or send a quick condition report.

Photos

Upload route photos

Add access, hazard, or on-water photos.

No files selected yet.

Compare another stretch on this river, or explore different rivers within 75 straight-line miles.

Haw River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Glencoe Paddle Access to Red Slide Park route on the Haw River?

This planning route has no live Paddle Today score. Review the linked water-level sources, current access notices and route-specific hazards before travel.

Where does the Glencoe Paddle Access to Red Slide Park route on the Haw River start and end?

This route starts at Glencoe Paddle Access and ends at Red Slide Park Paddle Access, approximately 5 river miles on the water.

Is the Glencoe Paddle Access to Red Slide Park route on the Haw River suitable for beginners?

This is listed as a moderate route. Review the difficulty notes, hazards and current access conditions against your group's skills. No live score assesses this trip.

See something outdated?

Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.