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North Carolina | Rockingham County

Mayo RiverHickory Creek Access to Mayodan Access

A planning-only Mayo River State Park section from Hickory Creek to Mayodan, the downstream named paddling access at NC 135.

Route location

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Plan this route

Distanceapproximately 7.5 river miles
DifficultyModerate
Typical timeapproximately 4–5 hours
ShuttleCar shuttle
The Mayo River at the U.S. 220 access in Mayo River State Park, North Carolina.
River contextMayo River State Park U.S. 220 access; same-river context river-level context — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by bobistraveling via Wikimedia Commons

Need to know

Why this call
This route is documented for planning, but does not receive a Paddle Today score.
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Route overview

Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
On-water distanceapproximately 7.5 river milesHickory Creek Access to Mayodan Access
DifficultymoderateThe park describes Mayo River paddling as Class II. The longer section requires a daylight margin, moving-water skills, and a reliable shuttle.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage the downstream vehicle at Mayo River State Park Mayodan River Access, then shuttle to Mayo River State Park Hickory Creek River Landing. Verify current road access, parking, carry, landing, and any pass or reservation requirement before launch.
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.
CampingOptions nearbyUse a nearby basecamp or separately confirmed Mayo Mountain campground reservation; no on-route camping is assumed.
SeasonMar-OctUse the direct Mayo gauge with recent rain, trend, debris, water temperature, daylight, park hours, and visual checks.

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 planning-only Mayo River State Park section from Hickory Creek to Mayodan, the downstream named paddling access at NC 135.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

Mayo River State Park Hickory Creek River Landing
Open mapDirections to put-in

North Carolina State Parks publishes Hickory Creek and Mayodan as named paddling accesses with GPS anchors. Confirm the Tyne Road and NC 135 approaches, parking, carry, landing, hours, and any current closure before unloading.

Finish

Take-out

Mayo River State Park Mayodan River Access
Open mapDirections to take-out

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

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • North Carolina State Parks publishes Hickory Creek and Mayodan as named paddling accesses with GPS anchors. Confirm the Tyne Road and NC 135 approaches, parking, carry, landing, hours, and any current closure before unloading.
  • 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
  • Neither endpoint is an overnight facility; informal riverbank camping is not authorized.

Plan this paddle

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

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Conditions

Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

Check the forecast and local water levels before launching.

Gauge detail

Water-level history and forecastDetailed view

Gauge

Recent trend

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Weather

Hourly forecast

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Route gallery

Photos

Check each caption: some photos show the surrounding area rather than this exact trip.

The Mayo River at the U.S. 220 access in Mayo River State Park, North Carolina.
Mayo River State Park U.S. 220 access; same-river context river-level context — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by bobistraveling via Wikimedia Commons
Wikimedia Commons: CC BY 2.0

Sources

Data and sources

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

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 public endpoint pairMayo River State Park Hickory Creek River Landing to Mayo River State Park Mayodan River Access

    North Carolina State Parks publishes Hickory Creek and Mayodan as named paddling accesses with GPS anchors. Confirm the Tyne Road and NC 135 approaches, parking, carry, landing, hours, and any current closure before unloading.

    Source

  • Published route length and paddling context7.5 miles; approximately 4–5 hours, plus scouting, current, breaks, 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 02070500 Mayo River near Mayodan, NC

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

    Source

  • Camping posturenearby_basecamp

    Neither endpoint is an overnight facility; informal riverbank camping is not authorized.

    Source

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

    This is a longer Class II commitment. Carry a float plan, communication equipment, and a conservative turnaround margin. Wear a PFD and account for shallow rock, strainers, cold water, fast rises, and changing landing conditions. Confirm both state-park access points and the NC 135 landing before launch; do not use a bridge shoulder or private bank as a substitute. Take out at Mayodan and do not continue into the Dan River without a separate route and shuttle plan.

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.

Reports

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Keep exploring

More routes to check next

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

More in North Carolina

All 48 routes
North Carolina route guideBrowse every tracked North Carolina route.Rockingham CountyJump to routes in this region.

More on Mayo River

All 4
Anglin Mill / Mayo Beach Access to Hickory Creek AccessRockingham CountyModerate · approximately 3.5 river milesAnglin Mill / Mayo Beach to Business 220Rockingham CountyHard · 10 river milesDeshazo Mill Access to Anglin Mill / Mayo Beach AccessRockingham CountyModerate · approximately 1.5 river miles

Nearby routes within 75 miles

Smith RiverMarrowbone Creek River Access to Mitchell Bridge River Access · about 12 straight-line mi awayModerate · Approximately 3.4 river milesSmith RiverSouth Martinsville River Access to Frith Drive River Access · about 12 straight-line mi awayEasy · Approximately 1.6 river milesSmith RiverFrith Drive River Access to Smith River Sports Complex River Access · about 12 straight-line mi awayModerate · Approximately 3 river milesSmith RiverFieldale River Access to Doe Run River Access · about 13 straight-line mi awayModerate · Approximately 5 river miles

Quick answers

Mayo River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Hickory Creek Access to Mayodan Access route on the Mayo 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 Hickory Creek Access to Mayodan Access route on the Mayo River start and end?

This route starts at Mayo River State Park Hickory Creek River Landing and ends at Mayo River State Park Mayodan River Access, approximately 7.5 river miles on the water.

Is the Hickory Creek Access to Mayodan Access route on the Mayo 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.

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