North Carolina | Alamance and Orange counties
Haw RiverSaxapahaw Mill Race to Union Bridge
A 5.5-mile intermediate Haw River Paddle Trail segment from Saxapahaw Mill Race Paddle Access to Union Bridge Paddle Access. The named public endpoints, local section-specific gauge rule, and direct Haw River gauge make this a bounded moving-water route rather than an undifferentiated Haw River listing.
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Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.
Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
Plan ahead
Tomorrow and the weekend
Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.
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Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
A short intermediate Haw River moving-water run with named county accesses, direct stage telemetry, section-specific gauge guidance, and a downstream dam warning for the next reach.
Access map
Put-in
Saxapahaw Mill Race Paddle AccessHaw River Trail lists Saxapahaw Mill Race at 6079 Swepsonville-Saxapahaw Road, Graham, and Union Bridge at 7525 Greensboro-Chapel Hill Road, Chapel Hill. The stored coordinates are practical mapped river-access anchors; confirm signage and the actual stair/river landing on arrival.
Take-out
Union Bridge Paddle AccessHaw River Trail facilities have posted seasonal hours and gates. Do not leave vehicles after closing, and check current county notices before committing to the shuttle.
Road shuttle
Access notes and hazards
Access caveats
- Haw River Trail lists Saxapahaw Mill Race at 6079 Swepsonville-Saxapahaw Road, Graham, and Union Bridge at 7525 Greensboro-Chapel Hill Road, Chapel Hill. The stored coordinates are practical mapped river-access anchors; confirm signage and the actual stair/river landing on arrival.
- Haw River Trail facilities have posted seasonal hours and gates. Do not leave vehicles after closing, and check current county notices before committing to the shuttle.
Watch for
- stage below 2.1 ft
- stage above 4.0 ft
- rapid rise after rain
- intermittent rapids
- low-water scraping
- strainers and storm debris
- bridge hazards
- cold water
- access closures
- downstream dam if continuing past Union Bridge
Plan this paddle
Choose your trip times
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Conditions
Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast
Check how the river is changing and what weather to expect.
USGS measurements
More about this gauge
These measurements come from the gauge station. Water depth and current can differ along your trip.
River camera · USGS
View at the gauge
Haw River at Haw River, NC. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Gauge detail
Water-level history and forecastDetailed view
Gauge
Recent trend
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Gauge source
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Hourly forecast
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Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
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Route gallery
Photos
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Score & sources
Why this score
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today’s call.
Why this scoreData reliability: checking
This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.
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Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | Haw River at Haw River, NC |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| Discharge | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
| Current band | Checking |
| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
| Water temp | Checking |
| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Preferred range | 2.30 ft to 3.50 ft |
| Low threshold | 2.10 ft |
| High threshold | 4.00 ft |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Haw River Trail section-specific gauge guidance |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
NotesWhat 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 route sectionSaxapahaw Mill Race Paddle Access to Union Bridge Paddle Access; 5.5 miles / 2.5 hours; intermediate
Haw River Trail publishes the named endpoint pair, public addresses, mileage, estimated time, and intermediate difficulty.
- Gauge check recorded during route reviewMinimum USGS gauge level 2.1 ft at Haw River; connected section maximum planning cue 4.0 ft
This reading was saved when we checked the guide. It is not today’s water level. Check the current gauge and local conditions before paddling.
- Access network14 public paddle accesses through the Alamance County Haw River Trail network
The trail overview confirms this section belongs to a managed public access network rather than an isolated informal launch.
- Put-in coordinate anchor35.94696, -79.32243
A mapped Saxapahaw Mill Race canoe/slipway feature supports the practical river-access coordinate; verify the county trailhead and signs in person.
- Take-out coordinate anchor35.895164, -79.257469
A mapped Union Bridge boat launch supports the practical river-access coordinate; the Haw River Trail address remains the primary access evidence.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-08-27USGS 02096500; 86.2 cfs and 1.73 ft at 2026-08-27 17:45 EDT
This reading was saved when we checked the guide. It is not today’s water level. Check the current gauge and local conditions before paddling.
- State-trail contextHaw River State Trail
North Carolina's state-trail system provides the broader public corridor context; this route is anchored to the partner-managed Haw River Paddle Trail access chain.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Reports
Paddler reports
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Keep exploring
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Quick answers
Haw River paddling FAQ
What water level is best for the Saxapahaw Mill Race to Union Bridge route on the Haw River?
Paddle Today watches Haw River at Haw River, NC and treats 2.30 ft to 3.50 ft as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does the Saxapahaw Mill Race to Union Bridge route on the Haw River start and end?
This route starts at Saxapahaw Mill Race Paddle Access and ends at Union Bridge Paddle Access, 5.5 river miles on the water.
Is the Saxapahaw Mill Race to Union Bridge route on the Haw River suitable for beginners?
This is listed as a moderate route. Expect more planning than an easy float, and use the live score, route notes, and source links before committing.
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