North Carolina | Yadkin and Forsyth Counties

Yadkin RiverHuntsville Access to Tanglewood Park Access

A 10.8-mile planning-only Yadkin River State Trail section from Huntsville to Tanglewood Park, with a documented mandatory portage and a downstream park take-out.

Route location

Loading the route map.

Open access map

Plan this route

Distanceapproximately 10.8 river miles
DifficultyHard
Typical timeapproximately 5–6 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.
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
DifficultyhardA long moving-water section with a mandatory portage, shallow rock, strainers, bridge hazards, and limited margin for a late take-out.
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 Tanglewood facility; no on-route camping is assumed.
SeasonMar-OctUse the downstream same-river gauge with recent rain, trend, debris, water temperature, daylight, and current access/portage notices.

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 10.8-mile planning-only Yadkin River State Trail section from Huntsville to Tanglewood Park, with a documented mandatory portage and a downstream park take-out.

Access map

Skip map

Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.

End of map
Start

Put-in

Huntsville Yadkin River Access

Yadkin County lists Huntsville and Tanglewood as public accesses with 10.8 miles between them, flags a mandatory portage, and NCWRC identifies both canoe-access anchors. Confirm the Tanglewood park rules, parking, carry, hours, portage, and river landing before launch.

Finish

Take-out

Tanglewood Park 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

  • Yadkin County lists Huntsville and Tanglewood as public accesses with 10.8 miles between them, flags a mandatory portage, and NCWRC identifies both canoe-access anchors. Confirm the Tanglewood park rules, parking, carry, hours, portage, and river landing 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 mandatory portage and Tanglewood access do not authorize dispersed camping or overnight vehicle staging without current park permission.

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 pairHuntsville Yadkin River Access to Tanglewood Park Access

    Yadkin County lists Huntsville and Tanglewood as public accesses with 10.8 miles between them, flags a mandatory portage, and NCWRC identifies both canoe-access anchors. Confirm the Tanglewood park rules, parking, carry, hours, portage, and river landing before launch.

    Source

  • Published route length and paddling context10.8 miles; approximately 5–6 hours, plus the mandatory portage, 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 02115051 Yadkin River at Donnaha, NC

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

    Source

  • Camping posturenearby_basecamp

    The mandatory portage and Tanglewood access do not authorize dispersed camping or overnight vehicle staging without current park permission.

    Source

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

    Treat this as a full-day section and scout the mandatory portage from shore. Never approach a dam or obstruction from the current. Wear a PFD and carry equipment suitable for the portage and the long distance between public exits. Confirm Huntsville and Tanglewood access hours, parking, carry, park rules, and the correct river landing before unloading. Take out at Tanglewood and do not continue into downstream lake or river reaches without a separately verified 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.

Yadkin River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Huntsville Access to Tanglewood Park 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 Huntsville Access to Tanglewood Park Access route on the Yadkin River start and end?

This route starts at Huntsville Yadkin River Access and ends at Tanglewood Park Access, approximately 10.8 river miles on the water.

Is the Huntsville Access to Tanglewood Park Access route on the Yadkin River suitable for beginners?

This is listed as a hard 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.