The Great Trails State is a coalition of trail agencies that advocate in developing the reputation of North Carolina being a Great Trails State. Since 1912, North Carolina has been recognized as the Good Roads State for its early adaptation to the needs that automobiles would place on transportation. In celebration of North Carolina trails, hiking, horse, biking, and of course paddle. We will paddle on the Yadkin River State Trail and enjoy the fall colors.

Due to the potential for severe weather from Hurricane Isaias, Yadkin Riverkeeper has made the difficult decision to cancel Yadktober Fest, which was scheduled for this Sunday, October 11.

Join Yadkin Riverkeeper, Watershed NOW / Friends of Big Elkin Creek, and the Reeves Theater for the It Starts With a River Film Festival, an evening celebrating clean water, local waterways, and the communities that depend on them.

Join the North Carolina Wildlife Federation's Uwharrie Wildlife Stewards Chapter and Yadkin Riverkeeper for a shoreline and access area cleanup on September 18 as part of Rowan Creek Week.

Join us for a fun-filled evening outdoors at Water Wednesday at City Park Lake! Enjoy free fishing provided by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, along with kid-friendly activities hosted by local community organizations.

Meet us at the Happy Valley Jamboree to spend Saturday morning paddling. We will paddle from the campsite by the river down to Elk Creek. This area is all of the best scenery mixed with some of the most interesting river banks along the Yadkin.

Heading back to the waters above the dam, we will paddle the clear waters and search for all the litter that we can fit in our boats. At 1:00 we’ll lead a group of people on this gentle section from Community Park to the Jones Farm the site of the Happy Valley Jamboree.

August 8 Tanglewood to Hwy 64

Join us on this 17 mile paddle on Saturday August 8th from Tanglewood to Hwy 64. Often people have asked me what that section is like, and how complicated it is getting around the dam. This will be your chance to find out first hand to see that it’s a beautiful stretch of the river. It will also be part of the “Long Paddle” and you will have a great opportunity to join the group and hear the stories from earlier in the week while they are still fresh.

Join us on July 27th at RiverPark at Cooleemee Falls for a presentation to learn about the establishment of the South Yadkin River Paddle Trail and increasing recreational access. We will have a light meal provided for registered participants starting at 5:30pm with the presentation starting at 6:00pm.

Once again, we take to the waters Surry and Yadkin County. This time will be a relaxing paddle instead of a work day. We’ll launch from Crater Park in Elkin and paddle down to Burch Station, passing the new access at Double Bluff landing along the way. When we get off the water, we’ll make our way up the hill to meet the new owners of Carolina Heritage, Michael and Amanda Grenier.

This is a new, exciting event for NC Trail Days 2026! If you're all for kayak and canoe racing, mark this one down! Register as a team or individual for Saturday, June 6th and get ready to rush through 6.8 miles of easier rapids for a chance at taking home bragging rights. Competitive divisions to be announced soon.

Join Yadkin Riverkeeper (YRK), the Elkin Trails Association, and other volunteers to remove debris from our Yadkin River while paddling from Crater Park to Burch (about 6 miles) near the confluence of the Yadkin and Mitchell Rivers.

Tickets are now available for Yadkin Riverkeeper’s 4th Annual Farm to Fork, and we would love for you to join us!

The South Yadkin River is a beautiful river that is the border of Davie and Rowan Counties. Farmland and Wildlife Resource properties line the river giving it a feeling of remoteness in the heart of North Carolina. Enjoy this easy flowing paddle with Yadkin Riverkeeper and help pick up trash along this section of the South Yadkin.

Earth Day Jam is a FREE Earth Day music + arts celebration and farm-to-festival benefit concert for Happy Roots, right in the heart of Downtown Salisbury! Join us to celebrate live music , local art , local foods , community , and the love—and responsibility—we all share for our planet .

Yadkin Riverkeeper is a proud sponsor of the Piedmont Earth Day Fair on April 18th from 10AM - 4PM at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds.

Volunteer at CraftHalf and Support Yadkin Riverkeeper!

We have a fun opportunity to support Yadkin Riverkeeper while being part of one of Winston-Salem’s most energetic spring events. For every volunteer who signs up from Yadkin Riverkeeper, we receive $25 in support of our clean water work.

Join the Yadkin Riverkeeper staff at Salem Lake from 5pm to 9pm for a little paddling in the moonlight. Weather permitting, the moon will rise at 4:30p and the sun will set at 7:40p. While the moon won’t be full, it will have 90% luminance to make paddling in the evening a beautifully memorable experience. Twilight is an excellent time to catch nature’s nightshift start to stir. Gliding from the seat of a canoe or kayak gives you a vantage point that is more open than woods. Paddlers are encouraged to bring their own boats. Yadkin Riverkeeper will have a limited number of boats if you do not have your own.

Come enjoy an early paddle on the Yadkin River with the Yadkin Riverkeeper and hosted by the Town of Lewisville. The section from Old 421 to Huntsville access is so close and yet feels so far away. Paddling it in the early spring is a great way to see further into the woods before the foliage cloaks the landscape. This easy paddling will have a few quick spots but leaves much time to enjoy the natural area so close to Winston-Salem and Lewisville.

Learn about the most pressing issues facing our waterways in Forsyth County and ask questions of local water experts from environmental organizations, local government stormwater departments, and utility providers. Light snacks, beverages, and door prizes will be provided.

Come out with Yadkin Riverkeeper for a cleanup of Salem Creek. Gloves, trash bags, and a limited number of trash grabbers will be provided. So bring your friends and meet us at the Anderson Building parking lot (WSSU campus)!

Yadkin Riverkeeper is hosting, with local steering committee members, a series of educational forums to discuss the High Rock Lake Rules, a state-led nutrient management strategy for the High Rock Lake watershed.

Yadkin Riverkeeper is hosting, with local steering committee members, a series of educational forums to discuss the High Rock Lake Rules, a state-led nutrient management strategy for the High Rock Lake watershed.

Already one of the paddling volunteers of Yadkin Riverkeeper and want a refresher course in rescues? Perhaps you would like to join the team but are unsure on how to help other paddlers in need? Or maybe you are missing summer and want to spend time with paddle buddies. Come to the pool on Saturday, February 7th and enjoy time to explore unique circumstances and how to have a better outcome.

**Our Annual Membership Meeting will now be virtual!

Calling all Yadkin Riverkeeper members! Please join us on Tuesday, February 3rd for our Annual Membership Meeting!

Yadkin Riverkeeper is hosting, with local steering committee members, a series of educational forums to discuss the High Rock Lake Rules, a state-led nutrient management strategy for the High Rock Lake watershed.