Paddle TodayFind the best paddle near you today

Live score, water level, and weather.

See all 10 routes on Yadkin River

North Carolina | Surry, Forsyth, and Yadkin Counties

Yadkin RiverShoals Access to Donnaha Access

A 6.8-mile planning-only Yadkin River State Trail section from Shoals to Donnaha, connecting a state-park access to the county-maintained Donnaha access.

Route location

Loading the route map.

Open access map

Plan this route

Distanceapproximately 6.8 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.
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.

Route overview

Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
On-water distanceapproximately 6.8 river milesShoals Access to Donnaha Access
DifficultymoderateA moving-water Piedmont section with shallow rock, strainers, bridge hazards, and changing water levels.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage the downstream vehicle at Donnaha Yadkin River Access, then shuttle to Shoals Access at Pilot Mountain State Park. 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 reserved state-park/county site; no endpoint camping is assumed.
SeasonMar-OctUse the direct Donnaha gauge with recent rain, trend, debris, water temperature, daylight, and current access notices.

Plan ahead

Tomorrow and the weekend

Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.

TomorrowChecking

Waiting on forecast.

WeekendChecking

Waiting on forecast.

Plan

Plan your trip

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

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

A 6.8-mile planning-only Yadkin River State Trail section from Shoals to Donnaha, connecting a state-park access to the county-maintained Donnaha access.

Access map

Skip map

Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.

End of map
Start

Put-in

Shoals Access at Pilot Mountain State Park
Open mapDirections to put-in

Yadkin County lists both accesses and the 6.8-mile spacing; Pilot Mountain State Park and NCWRC identify the Shoals and Donnaha public endpoints. Donnaha is currently documented as open to the public with dawn-to-dusk use.

Finish

Take-out

Donnaha Yadkin 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 accesses and the 6.8-mile spacing; Pilot Mountain State Park and NCWRC identify the Shoals and Donnaha public endpoints. Donnaha is currently documented as open to the public with dawn-to-dusk use.
  • 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
  • Public access and day-use hours do not authorize informal camping on the riverbank or at the ramp.

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

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

Browser plans

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.

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

Checking preferred range.

Checking trend.

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

Weather

Hourly forecast

Checking weather.

Loading today's forecast.

Next 8 hours

Short-route forecast

Checking the next several hours.

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

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 pairShoals Access at Pilot Mountain State Park to Donnaha Yadkin River Access

    Yadkin County lists both accesses and the 6.8-mile spacing; Pilot Mountain State Park and NCWRC identify the Shoals and Donnaha public endpoints. Donnaha is currently documented as open to the public with dawn-to-dusk use.

    Source

  • Published route length and paddling context6.8 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 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

    Public access and day-use hours do not authorize informal camping on the riverbank or at the ramp.

    Source

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

    Wear a PFD and keep a daylight margin for the full section. Shallow water can move quickly around wood and bridge structures. Confirm Shoals and Donnaha parking, carry, hours, and landing conditions; Donnaha is dawn-to-dusk day use. Avoid paddling after storms until debris and water quality are checked. Take out at Donnaha before the documented mandatory-portage reach to Old 421.

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

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

Reports

Paddler reports

See recent photos and notes from people on the route.

Share your trip

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.

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, Forsyth, and Yadkin CountiesJump 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 milesCrater Park Access to Burch Station at Mitchell River AccessSurry CountyModerate · approximately 6.9 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 miles

Nearby routes within 75 miles

Dan RiverHanging Rock to Moratock Park · about 19 straight-line mi awayModerate · approximately 5.9 river milesMayo RiverHickory Creek Access to Mayodan Access · about 34 straight-line mi awayModerate · approximately 7.5 river milesMayo RiverDeshazo Mill Access to Anglin Mill / Mayo Beach Access · about 35 straight-line mi awayModerate · approximately 1.5 river milesMayo RiverAnglin Mill / Mayo Beach Access to Hickory Creek Access · about 35 straight-line mi awayModerate · approximately 3.5 river miles

Quick answers

Yadkin River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Shoals Access to Donnaha 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 Shoals Access to Donnaha Access route on the Yadkin River start and end?

This route starts at Shoals Access at Pilot Mountain State Park and ends at Donnaha Yadkin River Access, approximately 6.8 river miles on the water.

Is the Shoals Access to Donnaha 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.

Flag a change

See something outdated?

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

Report a changeEmail update