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North Carolina | Davidson County

Yadkin RiverUS 64 Access to Boone’s Cave Park

A roughly 12.9-mile beginner-to-intermediate Yadkin River paddle from the public US 64 canoe access to the carry-in canoe/kayak access at Boone’s Cave Park. The direct Yadkin College gauge and Daniel Boone Heritage Canoe Trail flow table provide a station-tied planning band.

Route location

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Plan this route

Distanceapproximately 12.9 river miles
DifficultyModerate
Typical time4–6 hours depending on flow
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

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Route overview

Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
On-water distanceapproximately 12.9 river milesUS 64 Access to Boone’s Cave Park
DifficultymoderateThe named segment is marketed as beginner-friendly, but it is a free-flowing river with sweepers, bridge-area access, low-water shoals, and changing current. Use conservative craft and skill matching.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage the downstream vehicle at Boone’s Cave Park, then drive to the US 64 access. Confirm the park parking pass, designated vehicle area, bridge-side carry, and river entry before unloading.
PermitsNone notedNo route-specific paddling permit is identified for the public accesses. Boone’s Cave Park requires a parking pass if leaving a vehicle there; follow current county, North Carolina boating, and posted access rules.
CampingOptions nearbyBoone’s Cave Park offers primitive and semi-primitive campsites by reservation/fee. Camping is an endpoint facility, not an assumption of dispersed riverbank camping; confirm current availability, gate hours, and rules with the county before planning an overnight.
SeasonMar-NovThe published segment bounds are planning cues for the Yadkin College gauge. Recheck the trend, recent rain, debris, temperature, daylight, and access conditions; avoid treating the lower bound as a guarantee of adequate depth or the upper bound as a universal safe limit.

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 Yadkin River day run with public canoe accesses, endpoint camping at Boone’s Cave Park, and a direct gauge-linked operating envelope.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

US 64 Yadkin River Canoe Access
Open mapDirections to put-in

NCWRC lists US Hwy 64 at 35.8558, -80.3853 and Boone’s Cave Park access at 35.79994, -80.46816. The latter is the mapped river-entry point rather than the park-center coordinate; follow current signs and safe water-entry paths.

Finish

Take-out

Boone’s Cave Park Canoe/Kayak Access
Open mapDirections to take-out

Davidson County says Boone’s Cave Park is canoe/kayak access only, does not offer rentals or shuttle service, and requires a parking pass for a vehicle left while paddling. Talk with park staff before unloading supplies.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • NCWRC lists US Hwy 64 at 35.8558, -80.3853 and Boone’s Cave Park access at 35.79994, -80.46816. The latter is the mapped river-entry point rather than the park-center coordinate; follow current signs and safe water-entry paths.
  • Davidson County says Boone’s Cave Park is canoe/kayak access only, does not offer rentals or shuttle service, and requires a parking pass for a vehicle left while paddling. Talk with park staff before unloading supplies.

Watch for

  • USGS 02116500 outside 1,000–5,000 cfs or 1.0–4.0 ft
  • rising trend
  • storm debris and sweepers
  • low-water shoals
  • bridge-area carry
  • private banks
  • cold water
  • Boone’s Cave Park parking and gate rules

Plan this paddle

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Conditions

Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

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Gauge detail

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Gauge

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Route gallery

Photos

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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

Score & sources

Why this score

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Data status
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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.

Why
  • Checking data sources and update times.
Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times

These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.

Gauge siteYadkin River at Yadkin College, NC
DischargeChecking
Gauge heightChecking
24h trendChecking
24h changeChecking
Current bandChecking
Rain last 24hChecking
Rain last 72hChecking
Air tempChecking
Water tempChecking
WindChecking
GustsChecking
Rain timingChecking
Preferred range1,000 cfs to 4,000 cfs
Low threshold1,000 cfs
High threshold5,000 cfs
Evidence strength behind the rangeOfficial and local sources
Gauge observedChecking
Paddle Today updatedChecking
Main source behind this scoreDaniel Boone Heritage Canoe Trail US 64 to Boone’s Cave Park flow table
Gauge sourceChecking
Weather sourceChecking
Rainfall sourceChecking
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.

  • Public endpoint chainUS 64 to Concord Church 9.4 miles, then Concord Church to Boone’s Cave Park 3.5 miles; approximately 12.9 miles total

    Piedmont Legacy Trails lists the consecutive access distances; the generated canonical river line measures approximately 12.84 miles between the named endpoint anchors.

    Source

  • Endpoint coordinates and canoe accessUS Hwy 64: 35.8558, -80.3853; Boone’s Cave Park access: 35.79994, -80.46816

    NCWRC identifies the park as canoe access; the mapped Boone’s Cave Access point provides the river-entry coordinate used here.

    Source

  • Boone’s Cave Park operationsCarry-in canoe/kayak access; parking pass required for a vehicle left during a paddle; primitive and semi-primitive camping

    Davidson County publishes the access trail, no-rental/no-shuttle restriction, parking requirement, and campsite information.

    Source

  • Station-specific flow table1.0–4.0 ft and 1,000–5,000 cfs for US 64 to Boone’s Cave Park

    The Daniel Boone Heritage Canoe Trail identifies USGS 02116500 Yadkin River at Yadkin College as its stream-flow source and publishes the segment bounds.

    Source

  • Gauge check during route review · 2026-08-29USGS 02116500; 1,260 cfs and 1.11 ft at 2026-08-29 17:15 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.

    Source

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Keep exploring

More routes to check next

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Quick answers

Yadkin River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the US 64 Access to Boone’s Cave Park route on the Yadkin River?

Paddle Today watches Yadkin River at Yadkin College, NC and treats 1,000 cfs to 4,000 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.

Where does the US 64 Access to Boone’s Cave Park route on the Yadkin River start and end?

This route starts at US 64 Yadkin River Canoe Access and ends at Boone’s Cave Park Canoe/Kayak Access, approximately 12.9 river miles on the water.

Is the US 64 Access to Boone’s Cave Park route on the Yadkin 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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