Harmony on the Haw
Some days, especially hot days, nothing seems better than lying in a hammock, sipping lemonade and gazing at the tree tops. Even so, the call of adventure beckons, and TLC is prepared with a do-it-yourself tour to help you cool off with a paddle trip and chill out with live music.
The first leg of this adventure involves paddling, requiring more advanced planning than taking a hike in the woods. You need canoes or kayaks; if you don’t have your own you have to arrange for a rental. You also have to think about packing extra clothing in case somebody falls in the water. Check out our planning guide, which includes info on where to rent boats, packing checklists, and other information to help your paddle adventure run smoothly.
You’ll start your adventure at the boat launch at the intersection of the Haw and US 15-501 South. Once you are in the water, head away from the dam. Paddling on the Haw, you’ll feel miles from anywhere. Very little development has occurred in this area, and it’s a great way to see a variety of birds and other creatures. The Bynum Dam provides plenty of water for smooth paddling. Judge for yourself how far you’d like to paddle, then turn around and float back to the starting point.
View Harmony on the Haw in a larger map
TLC has worked on a variety of conservation projects along the Haw. The Pegg tract, just upstream from the boat launch, is the result of a generous gift from Eleanor Smith Pegg, who donated the 82-acre tract to the Botanical Garden Foundation in 2004. TLC negotiated to purchase the land on behalf of NC State Parks and secured funding from the NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund and the NC Parks and Recreation Trust Fund for the acquisition. The Botanical Garden used the proceeds from this sale to build their visitors center. The Pegg tract protects about 2,000 feet of frontage on the Haw and another 3,400 feet of buffer on both sides of two small tributaries. With Pittsboro’s drinking water intake directly across the river, these buffers help protect the community’s drinking water supply.
Across the river is the Stevens-West tract, 40 acres protected in a partnership effort of TLC, the Haw River Assembly and NC State Parks. This property, along with the Pegg tract, is now part of the Haw Slopes State Natural Area, created in 2003 when TLC helped the state buy from Duke University more than 1,000 land and river acres between Bynum and US 64. Pittsboro’s drinking water supply intake, which sits on a small inholding of the property adjacent to the Bynum dam, benefits from the protective buffer this property provides. The property features a mixed hardwood forest and protects 4,373 feet of Haw River frontage and provides another 1,887 feet of stream buffer on Brooks Branch.
And farther upstream, Pace’s Mill Settlement is protected by a conservation easement donated to TLC in 1990. This is one of the most scenic areas of Chatham County, and its unique geology supports a locally uncommon plant community. The easement protects approximately 4,000 feet on the Haw River and another 3,500 feet on Dry Creek.
By now, you’ve worked up quite an appetite, so let’s grab a bite to eat. Head north on US 15-501, and you’ll see Allen & Son BBQ on the right. (You’ll need to drive south first when you leave the canoe launch, and do a U-turn after you cross the bridge to get headed in the right direction.) Their specialty is barbeque, or course, but TLC staff also recommend their slaw, potato salad and baked beans. And be sure to try a milkshake and fries, too!
In addition to paddling, this adventure really centers around two events in Bynum, a small community that was originally a cotton mill village. As the mill grew, the town became a vibrant community, supporting five stores, a movie theater and a school. The mill shut down in the 1970s and most of the businesses eventually closed.
Although it is now a sleepy little town, this village is hoppin’ on Friday nights and Saturdays. On Friday nights, you can catch the Front Porch Friday Night Music Series at the Bynum General Store 7-9 p.m. You can listen to live music again on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Before you leave Bynum, take a stroll through the community. Be sure to check out Clyde Jones’ house, also known as Critter Crossing. Since 1982, Clyde has been creating critters, whimsical animal figures he crafts from fallen trees and found objects. You can find them throughout Bynum and beyond, including at the Great Wall of China, the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, and the N.C. Art Museum in Raleigh. Although there seem to be hundreds in Clyde’s hilltop backyard, they can only be obtained through charitable raffles and auctions.
Best time to visit: Anytime, but live music happens on Fridays and Saturdays.
Photo by Jennifer Peterson
"I just really love the outdoors. For me, it’s the belief in something bigger than myself and also having the ability to leave a legacy, because this is all we’ve got."