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North Carolina | Surry County

Yadkin RiverCrater Park Access to Burch Station at Mitchell River Access

A 6.9-mile planning-only Yadkin River State Trail section from Crater Park in Elkin to Burch Station at the Mitchell River confluence.

Route location

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Plan this route

Distanceapproximately 6.9 river miles
DifficultyModerate
Typical timeapproximately 3–4 hours
ShuttleCar shuttle
The Yadkin River viewed upstream from Elkin, North Carolina.
River contextYadkin River at Elkin; same-river context river-level context — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by NOAA / National Weather Service 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 6.9 river milesCrater Park Access to Burch Station at Mitchell River Access
DifficultymoderateA moving-water Piedmont reach with riffles, shallow rock, strainers, bridge hazards, and changing water levels.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage the downstream vehicle at Burch Station at Mitchell River Access, then shuttle to Crater Park Access. 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. Burch Station is a public access, not an assumed campsite for this short section.
SeasonMar-OctUse the same-river gauge with recent rain, trend, debris, water temperature, daylight, and current endpoint conditions.

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 6.9-mile planning-only Yadkin River State Trail section from Crater Park in Elkin to Burch Station at the Mitchell River confluence.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

Crater Park Access
Open mapDirections to put-in

Yadkin County lists both public accesses and the 6.9-mile spacing; NCWRC and Yadkin Riverkeeper materials identify the facilities. Confirm parking, carry, landing, hours, and current access status before launch.

Finish

Take-out

Burch Station at Mitchell 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

  • Yadkin County lists both public accesses and the 6.9-mile spacing; NCWRC and Yadkin Riverkeeper materials identify the facilities. Confirm parking, carry, landing, hours, and current access status 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
  • No endpoint camping is assumed; confirm any separate managed site and reservation before planning an overnight.

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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Download GPX Route geometry only; no schedule required.

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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Short-route forecast

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Route gallery

Photos

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

The Yadkin River viewed upstream from Elkin, North Carolina.
Yadkin River at Elkin; same-river context river-level context — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by NOAA / National Weather Service via Wikimedia Commons
Wikimedia Commons: public domain

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 pairCrater Park Access to Burch Station at Mitchell River Access

    Yadkin County lists both public accesses and the 6.9-mile spacing; NCWRC and Yadkin Riverkeeper materials identify the facilities. Confirm parking, carry, landing, hours, and current access status before launch.

    Source

  • Published route length and paddling context6.9 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

  • same-river proxy gauge contextUSGS 02112250 Yadkin River at Elkin, NC

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

    Source

  • Camping posturenearby_basecamp

    No endpoint camping is assumed; confirm any separate managed site and reservation before planning an overnight.

    Source

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

    Wear a PFD and leave a float plan. Shallow water can move quickly around rocks, bridge piers, and wood. Confirm both accesses and the Burch Station landing; use no private bank or bridge shoulder as a substitute. Avoid paddling after storms until debris and water quality are checked. Take out at Burch Station and do not continue to Yadkin/Shore without a revised 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.Surry CountyJump to routes in this region.

More on Yadkin River

All 10
Burch Station at Mitchell River Access to Yadkin/Shore AccessSurry and Yadkin CountiesModerate · approximately 4.7 river milesDonnaha Access to Old U.S. 421 River ParkForsyth and Yadkin CountiesHard · approximately 6.7 river milesHuntsville Access to Tanglewood Park AccessYadkin and Forsyth CountiesHard · approximately 10.8 river milesKerr Scott Tailwater to Smoot ParkWilkes CountyModerate · 7.1 river miles

Nearby routes within 75 miles

New RiverIndependence to Baywood · about 28 straight-line mi awayModerate · Approximately 12 river milesChestnut CreekGalax U.S. 58 trailhead to Byllesby Dam on the New River · about 30 straight-line mi awayHard · Approximately 13.2 river milesSouth Fork New RiverU.S. 221 Access to Kings Creek Access · about 31 straight-line mi awayModerate · approximately 9.5 river milesSouth Fork New RiverWagoner Access to U.S. 221 Access · about 32 straight-line mi awayModerate · approximately 16 river miles

Quick answers

Yadkin River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Crater Park Access to Burch Station at Mitchell River Access route on the Yadkin 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 Crater Park Access to Burch Station at Mitchell River Access route on the Yadkin River start and end?

This route starts at Crater Park Access and ends at Burch Station at Mitchell River Access, approximately 6.9 river miles on the water.

Is the Crater Park Access to Burch Station at Mitchell River Access route on the Yadkin 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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