The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

TNC’s Chuck Peoples stands next to the state champion Shumard’s Oak tree in TNC’s Big Oak Preserve © Debbie Crane

Open to the Public

Yes

Things To Do

Hiking / Birding / Canoeing / Kayaking / Boating / Camping on River Platforms / Hunting / Fishing View All

Plan Your Visit

TNC's Roanoke Preserves are only accessible through the Chapter's field trip program. For other ways to enjoy this area, see the Visit tab. View All

Get Directions

The 5th annual
Roanoke River Ramble paddle from Weldon to Halifax
takes place this year
Nov. 3, 2012 at 9am.
Please see our informational sheet.

ABOUT THE ROANOKE RIVER:

The Roanoke River stretches for 137 miles across North Carolina's Coastal Plain and is up to five miles wide in some places. Its floodplain contains the largest intact and least-disturbed bottomland hardwood forest ecosystem remaining in the mid-Atlantic region. The middle section of the Roanoke River is characterized by alluvial forests and large backswamps, while the lower section contains vast tracts of bald cypress and water tupelo swamp forests. The Roanoke River provides a haven for a host of plants and animals, including more than 200 bird species.

CONSERVATION HIGHLIGHTS:

The Conservancy has worked with many public and private partners who have participated in the complex task of protecting significant natural areas along a 137-mile river corridor.

In 1989, the Conservancy purchased 10,626 acres in Bertie and Martin counties from Georgia-Pacific Corporation to create the Roanoke River National Wildlife Refuge and add land to the state-owned Roanoke River Wetlands. In 1994, Georgia-Pacific Corporation and the Conservancy entered into an agreement to jointly manage and protect approximately 21,000 acres on the Roanoke. And in 2006, The Nature Conservancy purchased 22,000 acres along the Roanoke from International Paper, as part of the largest-ever land conservation project in the southern United States.

PLACES TO VISIT:

Public Natural Areas
Roanoke River Paddle Trail - Information about the paddle trail and camping platforms from the Roanoke River Partners.

Roanoke River Wetlands Game Land (Ducks Unlimited website) or contact the NC Wildlife Resources Commission at (800) 662-7137.

OTHER RESOURCES:

RoanokeRiver.com - restaurants and places to see along the Roanoke; fishing report; paddle trail information.

Things To Do

Hiking / Birding / Canoeing / Kayaking / Boating / Camping on River Platforms / Hunting / Fishing

For information on camping on the Roanoke River Paddle Trail, visit the Roanoke River Partners website at www.roanokeriverpartners.org.

Plan Your Visit

TNC's Roanoke preserves are only accessible through the Chapter's field trip program. For information on visiting the Roanoke River region, contact Chuck Peoples at our Roanoke Office: PO Box 327, Halifax, NC 27839; (252) 583-0007; cpeoples@tnc.org.

However, you may access the Roanoke River/Gardner Creek at Roberson's Marina, 25345 US Highway 64, Jamesville, NC 27846-9622; (252) 792-3583. GPS Coordinates for the marina are as follows:

Longitude: -76.93455035370
Latitude: 35.81127330530

For information on accessing the Roanoke River Paddle Trail, visit the Roanoke River Partners website, www.roanokeriverpartners.org.

For information on the hunting at the Roanoke River Wetlands Game Land, contact the NC Wildlife Resources Commission at (800) 662-7137 or www.ncwildlife.org

Directions

For information about the best access places on the Roanoke, visit the Roanoke River Partners' website.

Discussion

Have you been to this preserve? Are you thinking of visiting? See what others are saying about their experiences and add your comments below.

Add Your Comments

Time for you to join the discussion. Tell us about your experience at this preserve. What plants and animals did you see? When did you go? You can help others plan their visit when you share your thoughts. And thank you for visiting one of our nature preserves!

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