Archive For: NORTH CAROLINA – All Cruising News

**Also, our 5th annual Dismal Day has been set for Saturday, October 28!!** I know fall is a long ways off, but we are already looking forward to it.

National Trails Day Hike, Sat, 06/03/2017 – 11:00am
Visitor Center
Take a guided hike with the ranger in honor of National Trails Day! We’ll take the open-air Dismal Swamp Express wagon out to the end of Canal Road and then follow the S Martha Washington Trail on foot. You’ll be able to see the park’s two largest water control structures. YOU MUST PRE-REGISTER for this special event!

Summer Paddle, Sat, 06/10/2017 – 1:00pm
Boat Launch
Join the ranger for a leisurely paddle along the historic Dismal Swamp Canal. Everything you need—boat, paddle, PFD, and basic instruction—will be provided. Paddlers of all ages and abilities are welcome. Trip is limited to 8 boats, so YOU MUST PRE-REGISTER.

Pack Walk, Sat, 06/17/2017 – 11:00am
Bridge
This will be a hike that goes to the dogs! Enjoy a leisurely hike with other dog lovers. Meet on the west (park side) of the bridge.
*One dog ONLY per handler.
*No retractable/flexi-leads.
YOU MUST PRE-REGISTER.

Summer Solstice Sunset Paddle, Wed, 06/21/2017 – 8:00pm
Boat Launch
This event will be a special after-hours paddle trip to celebrate the longest day of the year! We’ll watch the sun set over the historic Dismal Swamp Canal. Everything you need—boat, paddle, PFD, and basic instruction—will be provided. YOU MUST PRE-REGISTER.

Summer Paddle, Sat, 06/24/2017 – 10:00am
Boat Launch
Join the ranger for a leisurely paddle along the historic Dismal Swamp Canal. Everything you need—boat, paddle, PFD, and basic instruction—will be provided. Paddlers of all ages and abilities are welcome. Trip is limited to 8 boats, so YOU MUST PRE-REGISTER.

See you in the park!

~Katie
Katie Sanford, State Park Ranger
Dismal Swamp State Park
NC DNCR, Division of Parks and Recreation
2294 Hwy 17 North
South Mills, NC 27976
Office: 252-771-6593
www.ncparks.gov
katie.sanford@ncparks.gov

The canal, which was closed due to extensive damage from Hurricane Matthew in October, has ongoing debris and tree removal, and investigations of shoaling at many locations in the canal. Shoaling in the canal has reduced the depth to as little as 1 foot in areas.

Norfolk District engineers are using recent surveys of the canal to plot the 22 miles of the canal and the 3 miles of the Feeder Ditch to Lake Drummond. The data will be used to check for additional shoals and other obstructions.

Crews are currently dredging the canal at the Feeder Ditch using information from the canal survey. They will then perform additional dredging at Turners Cut, south of the South Mills Lock.

The Norfolk District is also working with the Wilmington District to remove a small shoal in the Deep Creek Channel. District engineers project the canal work at the Feeder Ditch work to take the longest; work there will be complete by late-June.

After canal repairs are completed, District engineers will evaluate whether to open the canal at a restricted depth until the 6-foot depth is achieved.

At Lake Drummond Reservation and the Feeder Ditch, crews have repaired damaged buildings. Additional work at Lake Drummond Reservation included repairs on the floating docks, roadway washout and the boat tram, which will be scheduled this winter.

Work on the Deep Creek Locks gates, which was scheduled before the storm, is progressing. Work on replacing the water control valves and deteriorated steel is ongoing and will be completed within the next week. Final work and painting will then be done and the gates will be placed back into the lock in June.

Kerry L. Solan
Public Affairs
Norfolk District, USACE
Desk 757-201-7258

Donna Stewart, Director
Dismal Swamp Welcome Center
2356 US Hwy 17N
South Mills, NC 27976
Phone – 252-771-8333
www.DismalSwampWelcomeCenter.com

Bird, Bike, Hike…..take in the sights!