NC Anchorages – AICW, Adams Creek to Beaufort and Morehead City (Statute Mile 185 to 207)
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Cedar Creek Anchorage
Statute Mile: 188
Lat/Lon: near 34 55.990 North/076 38.861 WestLocation: off the eastern flank of the ICW, east of flashing daybeacon #9
Minimum Depth: 6 feet
Special Comment: note, there is a sunken sailboat with its mast exposed at the entrance to this anchorage, so proceed slowly to avoid this wreck. Entrance into this anchorage may or may not be impeded by the presence of crab pots and fish traps
Swing Room: sufficient room for vessels as large as 50 feet
Foul Weather Shelter: ExcellentRating:
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Town Creek Outer Anchorage
Statute Mile: 201
Lat/Lon: near 34 43.564 North/076 40.002 West
Location: on the western waters of Town Creek, east of unlighted daybeacon #1
Minimum Depth: 7 1/2 feet
Special Comment: cruisers must negotiate the confusing Gallants Channel, or cruise through the restricted Grayden Paul Bridge to access this anchorage.
Swing Room: sufficient room for vessels as large as 45 feet
Foul Weather Shelter: Very good, except open to strong northwesterly windsRating:
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Town Creek Inner Anchorage
Statute Mile: 201
Lat/Lon: near 34 43.467 North/076 39.784 West
Location: on the rear portion of Town Creek, north of the charted south side shoal
Minimum Depth: 5 ½ foot depths
Special Comment: cruisers must negotiate the confusing Gallants Channel, or cruise through the restricted Grayden Paul Bridge to access this anchorage.
Swing Room: sufficient room for vessels as large as 40 feet; swing room restricted by resident vessels on permanent moorings
Foul Weather Shelter: ExcellentRating:
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Comments from Cruisers (2)
Taylor Creek/Beaufort Waterfront Anchorage
Statute Mile: 201
Lat/Lon: near 34 42.955 North/076 40.014 West
Location: on the westerly waters of Taylor Creek, abeam of the Beaufort downtown waterfront
Minimum Depth: 7 feet
Swing Room: sufficient room for vessels as large as 48 feet
Foul Weather Shelter: GoodRating:
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Comments from Cruisers (7)
- Reply to Lew
We were there in May, 2010. Lots of moorings with little space to anchor. Lots of current. Lots of Fishing boats on the docks. Not suggested.
- Reply to Rick
This anchorage is filling with moorings which, as far as I can tell, are not legal but remain nonetheless. While there is good depth in the part of the cut east of G”7″, the narrower channel causes the current to run much faster than to the west of G”7″. It’s easy to find enough water for boats drawing 7-8′.
At the moment, there are two boats riding to Bahamian moorings, many boats riding on moorings, and the rest riding on one hook (our boat included), some with excessive amounts of scope out. The different swing circles makes finding suitable swing room a challenge (we saw one boat spend over an hour to find a usable spot and it took us three passes to get the hook set in the right place). A quick check shows very few boats are showing anchor lights or even a cockpit light as a low-level anchor light – not good news for an after sunset dinghy ride.
There is some fetch from the west and somewhat less from the east, and virtually nothing to the north or south. But there’s very little wind shelter from any direction save to the north, and that from the buildings and trees on shore. While Beaufort has much to commend it, Taylor Creek is probably best rated as “advanced skills or better needed”.
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Shackleford Banks Anchorage (off the AICW, near Beaufort Inlet)
Shackleford Banks Anchorage
Lat/Lon: 34 41.629 North/076 39.337 West
Location: east of the gap between Beaufort Inlet’s markers #19 and #17
Minimum Depth: 15 feet
Special Note: the main purpose of anchoring here is to facilitate dinghy exploration of adjacent Shackleford Banks. Overnight anchorage should not be attempted except during fair weather, with not even a hint of strong winds or thunderstorms in the forecast
Swing Room: sufficient room for most any size vessel
Foul Weather Shelter: Poor, fair weather and light air anchorage onlyRating:
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Shackleford Banks/Jetty Anchorage (off the AICW, east of Beaufort Inlet)
Shackleford Banks/Jetty Anchorage
Lat/Lon: 34 41.245 North/076 38.596 West
Location: east of the charted jetty and marker #2, north of Shackleford Banks
Minimum Depth: 8 feet
Special Note: you must pass hard by the northern side of marker #2 to reach this anchorage safely. The charted shoal north of #2 is now much closer to the marker than is depicted on chart 11545. Also, be sure NOT to attempt to pass south of #2
Swing Room: sufficient room for vessels as large as 48 feet
Foul Weather Shelter: Fair, wide open to northern, northeastern, northwestern and eastern windsRating:
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Comments from Cruisers (1)
Cape Lookout Bight Anchorage (off the AICW, via Beaufort Inlet and the Atlantic Ocean)
Cape Lookout Bight Anchorage
Lat/Lon: 34 37.395 North/076 32.931 West
Location: lies east of Cape Lookout Bight’s marker #1
Minimum Depth: 15 to 30 feet
Special Note: Be sure to cruise to Cape Lookout Bight by way of Beaufort Inlet and the ocean. While it is possible to enter Cape Lookout Bight from the rear by way of Back Sound and Barden Inlet, this route is shallow and subject to continual change. Don’t even think about attempting this back door without very specific, up-to-date local knowledge
Swing Room: sufficient room for most any size vessel
Foul Weather Shelter: Good, but somewhat open to northern and northeastern windsRating:
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Comments from Cruisers (7)
- Reply to steven
Best place on earth
- Reply to Will
Labor Day Weekend August 30 – September 2nd 2014
Wow! Just Wow!This was our first time to Cape Lookout. This place is fantastic. The water is warm and clear enough to snorkel. About 7 -10 feet of visibility, The water has a green tint to it.
We anchored about 3/4 of the way into the bite. We were in 25 feet of water and just a short dinghy row from the beach.
When we first arrived I was concerned because there must have been close to 100 boats in there. However, we had no problem finding a place to drop the hook. The very next morning most of the boats were gone, By day 3 there were only a handful.
The sunsets and sunrises are super. The light house looks great. Although we didn’t make it up to the top. Good fishing, nice walks on the beach,
Anybody who is sailing the coast and doesn’t stop by here is missing out.Will & Sheila
s/v Sheila B - Reply to George
This is worth a special trip. Cruisers who by-pass this on their way south are missing one of the most beautiful places on the eastern seaboard. If you are headed to the Exumas, well here is a preview for you. Clean water, miles of undeveloped gorgeous beaches inside the Bight and outside on the ocean with world-class shells (it’s a National Seashore). Break out the dinghy and stay a few days! Only 12 NM from Morehead City. You are on open ocean, so mind the surf and current forecast for navigating the inlet and the trip over there. In good conditions you can cut straight to Masonboro Inlet 70NM from here and miss some of the less attractive parts of the ICW (in our opinion)
George and Ann aboard Hatteras 56MY
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Comments from Cruisers (14)
We anchored in Cedar Creek last week. Absolutely no problem entering at the green 9 and skirting around the sunken sailboat, marked by at least four stakes, maybe more. Anchored in 8-9 feet of water just behind the wreck–a scenic stop where you can fish and watch the passing traffic on the ICW. There were very few crab pots and, on the day we visited, no fishing boats in or out.
Kathrine Noel
I used to anchor up in Back Creek a few years back.
There was a few holes around 6 ft. near the mouth it has a soft bottom of thick mud.
The wrecks marked on charts need to be given a wide berth. the wind and tides will move them on occasion.
Just be the prudent sailor,
Tom, formerly from MHC.
We used this anchorage more than once. According to this graphic, we enter slowly tracking from either the north or south “9″ foot symbols toward the anchor symbol. In either case we stop short of the wreck symbol. We draw 5.5 ft
This is can be rolly anchorage if you stop before sundown. Other boats just blast by.
Chris and Janet
Good easy off – easy on anchorage – sunken sailboat no issue
Gray Riddick
Gray Ghost
We tried Jonaquin Creek early in the summer 2012, after reading Chuck and Susan’s post here. It is a very narrow opening at the back left of Cedar Creek. Very nice anchorage, peaceful, about 5-6 foot of water. We came in very slow 2-3 knots with eyes glued to the depth finder at the entrance, checking for mud swirls behind the boat. We draw 3-1/2 feet in our trawler, and had no issues. Not much swinging room, but very calm and rustic. Black pudding bottom, outstanding wind protection.
Ben Matthews
We anchored in this spot June 30th [2011]. Saw zero crab pots. I was looking hard, arrived at night, left in the morning, came in here at about 2 knots, and anchored our trawler with two other sailboats already anchored. It was clear. Apparently the crab pots are moved around a bit.
Skipper Ben Matthews
Ceder creek bottom is soft mud, I’ve dragged here with my delta(20knt winds), but my fortress held firm.
Skipper Tom
I anchored in Cedar Creek last Thursday and had no problems with crab pots or fish traps. Actually there were four boats that night anchored and there was room for four or five additional boats. This is still one of our favorite places to drop the hook overnight as we sail out of Oriental quite often.
Regards,
Captain Jim
We anchored in Jonaquin Creek which is further back in the Cedar Creek anchorage. This too had floats in it but there was enough room for one boat to anchor.
Chuck
We anchored in this spot June 30th. Saw zero crab pots. I was looking hard, arrived at night, left in the morning, came in here at about 2 knots, and anchored our trawler with two other sailboats already anchored. It was clear. Apparently the crab pots are moved around a bit.
Claiborne,
We are sad to report that the Cedar Creek anchorage, one of our favorite anchorages at Adams Creek, just south of Oriental is now unusable. It is carpeted with fish or crab trap and the floats are so close together that there is no room in the anchorage where you won’t swing into the floats. This is unfortunate since this has been a popular stopping point for many over the years.
Capn Chuck & Susan
mast is gone from wreck but pvc pipe and floats marking it are very visable. Plenty of room nice spot
Ron & Audrey
Lucky Girl
Subject: Uncharted wreck
Cruising News: Caution is advised when entering or leaving Cedar Creek off Adam’s Creek in the ICW. The sunken sailboat, abandoned appproximately 2 years is completely underwater and marked only with a floating fender. The USCG has certainly not done it’s job here.
Richard Becker
Subject: Cedar Creek anchorage MM187
Message: Cedar Creek anchorage, just off Adams Creek at green “9” at MM 187 is a great anchorage. Room for a number of boats in water that runs about 7.5 feet deep. Only caution: a sailboat sunk in the anchorage several years ago – its mast used to be visible, but now the mast is gone and the sunken boat is marked with PVC pipe and several orange floats. Just avoid them as you pass and anchor further to the east.