In some parts of the country, fall has been around for a while and winter is getting close.
But here in Edenton, the leaves are changing around Chowan County, and we’re just now starting to get to the good part of the season.
Fall is a great time not only to visit, but to enjoy all the outdoor adventures available around here. Whether you want to paddle, walk, fish, look for birds, camp, or play a round of golf, here are some of the fun activities you can plan your visit around.
Paddling
You can bring your own boat, of course, but if you need one, we have you covered. You can rent kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards every day from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. A single kayak is $5 an hour and a tandem is $7. Canoes are $10 an hour, or $35 for the whole day ($45 for two people), and paddleboards are $5 an hour.
Starting in downtown, the Queen Anne Creek trail is an easy four-mile route that takes about two to three hours. You can put in at Edenton Waterfront Park or Elizabeth Vann Moore Park.
Not far away is Bennett’s Millpond, open for canoeing and kayaking. Paddling up from the access, you’ll go through cypress and past beaver lodges. Dillard’s Millpond, a reservoir just north of Edenton, is another place to paddle. For a longer trip, the Catherine and Warwick Creek trail runs about five miles and takes three to five hours, with access off Cannon’s Ferry Road.
Hiking and walking
In town, you have the Historic Edenton Trail that offers a self-guided tour through all the historic locations around historic downtown Edenton
Outside of town, Bennett’s Millpond has a boardwalk, and up the Chowan River in Tyner, J. Robert Hendrix Park and the Cannon’s Ferry Heritage River Walk has a boardwalk with signs telling the story of the herring fishing industry and the part it played in the history Chowan County.
Fishing
The Chowan River Fishing Pier was built from the original Highway 17 bridge. It’s open to the public every day; there are restrooms on site, and public boat access is nearby. You’ll find it at 248 Wharf Landing Road.
Hendrix Park on the Chowan is another popular spot for fishing, and so is Dillard’s Millpond.
If you’d rather go out with a guide, OBX Inshore Fishing Excursions runs freshwater and saltwater charters year-round on the region’s sounds and rivers, planning each trip around the weather and the season (252-562-8216). Albemarle Fishing Charters fishes the Albemarle Sound, its tributaries, and the Elizabeth River (252-333-6524).
Birding
Bennett’s Millpond is a stop on the North Carolina Birding Trail. Species you’ll see include blue herons, hooded mergansers, and wading birds, among others.
The Catherine and Warwick Creek paddle trail is also a great spot for birding. Parking at the launch is limited, so plan ahead. You can also go bird watching at Dillard’s Millpond.
Camping
Bennett’s Millpond has primitive camping for the more adventurous. Or, if you’d rather camp from a canoe or kayak, the Albemarle Regional Paddle Trails have 22 camping platforms across ten counties and are open year-round. Five of them are on John’s Island, along the Pembroke Creek trail near the waterfront park, and five more are on Holladay’s Island along the Catherine and Warwick Creek trail. Call Chowan County Parks and Recreation at 252-482-8595 about reserving a platform.
Golfing
The Links at Mulberry Hill is an 18-hole, semi-private course along the Albemarle Sound, designed by Ellis Maples in 1962. It has a driving range, cart rentals, a snack bar, and a pro shop. Call 252-482-3606 for tee times.
In Merry Hill, Occano is home to an Arnold Palmer Signature golf course, along with a marina, a restaurant and bar, and a beach club. The course is open for public play, and you can call Occano at 252-482-4006 for tee times.
You’ll find more on our Outdoor Recreation page, including the full list of paddle trails. We’d love to see you in Edenton this fall.
