Paddles and Battles one-day adventure

This one-day adventure includes: visiting House in the Horseshoe state historic site, paddling the Deep River from Carbonton Dam Park to TLC’s McIver Landing access in Gulf, exploring the J.R. Moore & Son store in Gulf, and enjoying a barbecue dinner at Bud’s Barbecue in Cumnock.

This could be a long day, so pack your car Friday evening and get a good night’s sleep. Get up early Saturday morning, eat a healthy breakfast, and pack up a picnic lunch. Then climb in the car and head down to the Deep River.

The first thing you’ll want to do is set up your paddle trip shuttle by leaving a bicycle or car at TLC’s McIver Landing river access in Gulf. Pick up TLC’s Deep River Paddling Guide while you’re there.

You also might want to check out the inimitable J.R. Moore & Son store in Gulf now, since they close at 3 pm on Saturdays. This place is a throwback to the general stores of long ago, featuring hardware, work clothing and footwear, general merchandise, groceries, and even antiques. A visit to J.R. Moore & Son is a quick trip back in time.

From there, head to House in the Horseshoe state historic site in Moore County. Named for its location on the rise of a horseshoe bend in the Deep River, this was one of the first big houses of North Carolina’s frontier country back in the 1770s. Kids and adults alike will be fascinated by the house’s history as the site of a Revolutionary War skirmish, and the kids will be thrilled to see the bullet holes still in the walls and to check out the Revolutionary War-era cannons on display.

Now that you’ve had a North Carolina history adventure, it’s time to have a North Carolina outdoor adventure! Head up to the Carbonton Dam Park where you can enjoy your lunch at one of the park’s well-shaded picnic tables. Or even better, bring your lunch into your canoe to enjoy while you’re on the river.
Carbonton Dam Park sits at the site of the former, yes, you guessed it, Carbonton Dam. Several years ago, a private firm removed the dam that had blocked the Deep River for 80 years. The dam removal project improved the water quality and wildlife habitat on the river. The park also provides a safe, legal access to the river.

Put into the river below the historic brick power plant structure. The 6.5 mile trip from Carbonton to McIver Landing is mostly flat water, with a couple of easy Class I rapids. TLC’s La Grange Riparian Reserve property lies on the left bank from mile 1.4 to mile 4.0 (it’s not marked). For the entire trip you will be surrounded by nature; there is almost no human encroachment to this river on this section. Enjoy the sounds of the birds and the bugs and the river. As you approach McIver Landing you’ll start to hear the sounds of civilization again, particularly the roar of cars and trucks up and down US 421. The McIver Landing take-out is on the left, just past the Plank Road bridge.

Your paddle trip completed, it might take you an hour to complete your shuttle and load up your gear. Now you’ll really be ready for a hearty dinner to cap the day, and the place to go is Bud’s Barbecue in Cumnock, open 5 to 8:30 pm on Saturdays. If you haven’t gotten enough of the river yet, get your barbecue to go and bring it a mile back up the road to Deep River Park and enjoy it in the shadow of the old Camelback Bridge.
 

Paddles and Battles weekend adventure

This weekend adventure includes: staying one-night at the BelleHavre Bed & Breakfast in Gulf, exploring the J.R. Moore & Son store in Gulf, visiting House in the Horseshoe state historic site, checking out the Devil’s Tramping Ground near Harper’s Crossroads, touring a portion of the Devil’s Stompin’ Ground Road NC Scenic Byway; enjoying one of several local restaurants; and paddling the Deep River from TLC’s McIver Landing access in Gulf to Deep River Park near Cumnock.

By making a weekend of this adventure, you can slow the pace down quite a bit. You’ve already made your reservation, so begin Saturday late-morning by stopping in at BelleHavre Bed & Breakfast in Gulf. BelleHavre is located in the magnificently restored Haughton-McIver House, built in 1842 with Greek Revival and Queen Anne architectural influences, and now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. BelleHavre offers a taste of antebellum, southern style elegance.

While you’re there, step across the road to the inimitable J.R. Moore & Son store for a very different historical experience. J.R. Moore & Son is a throwback to the general stores of long ago, featuring hardware, work clothing and footwear, general merchandise, groceries, and even antiques. A visit to J.R. Moore & Son is a quick trip back in time to mid-20th century rural America.

Ready for one more historical experience? Now it’s time to head to House in the Horseshoe state historic site in Moore County. Named for its location on the rise of a horseshoe bend in the Deep River, this was one of the first big houses of North Carolina’s frontier country back in the 1770s. Explore the period architecture, hear tales of the notable North Carolinians who lived here, and learn the fascinating history of the house as the site of a Revolutionary War skirmish complete with bullet holes still in the walls.

Your visit to House in the Horseshoe complete, you have time for a leisurely return trip to your B&B. We suggest a route that will take you along beautiful country roads, including the Devil’s Stompin’ Grounds Road NC Scenic Byway, with a side trip to one of North Carolina’s spookiest curiosities, the legendary Devil’s Tramping Ground. Legend holds that this 40-foot circular path in the woods is barren of growth due to the devil’s visits to tramp and brood and conjure evil in the darkness of night. We suggest a visit during the less spooky, daylight hours.

After seeing for yourself what it’s all about (disclaimer: we hear that daylight visits can feel kind of anti-climactic), continue on the Scenic Byway and find somewhere to eat dinner (we have a couple of suggestions on the map below) and return to enjoy the luxuries of the BelleHavre B&B.

After a good night’s sleep and an elegant southern-style breakfast, you might have to change gears to get ready for your paddling trip. On the other hand, there really is no more relaxed paddling in the Piedmont than on the Deep River, with enough current to make paddling easy but not so much to make it difficult.
Set up your shuttle by dropping a vehicle or bicycle at Deep River Park (or maybe the folks at BelleHavre will pick you up–it would be worth checking on when you make your reservation). Then make the short drive–literally a quarter-mile from BelleHavre–to TLC’s McIver Landing where you will begin your paddle journey. Pick up one of our “Deep River Paddling Guides” at the kiosk before you get on the river.

The 6.3 mile trip from McIver Landing to Deep River Park is mostly flat water, with a couple of easy Class I rapids. With the exception of the US 421 crossing about 4 miles into the trip, you will be surrounded by nature, with almost no human encroachment to this river on this section. Enjoy the sounds of the birds and the bugs and the river. The Deep River Park take-out is on the left, just past the beautiful and historic Camelback Bridge. End your adventure with a stroll across the bridge before you load up your gear and head home, your mind clear yet full of thoughts about this beautiful, magical area.