2022 Paddle for the Border - Dismal Swamp Canal

17th Annual Paddle for the Border
Saturday May 7th, 2022
Dismal Swamp State Park - South Mills, North Carolina (launch)
Great Dismal Swamp Boat Ramp - Ballahack Rd., Chesapeake, VA (finish)
* Registration Closed *

Dismal Swamp Canal

The 2022 Dismal Swamp Canal Paddle for the Border is expected to attract paddlers from all over Virginia. In February, due to popularity, registration closed for the annual 7.5-mile paddling excursion to the North Carolina/Virginia border. The event is sponsored by the City of Chesapeake Parks and Recreation.

After enjoying a traditional pre-launch breakfast at the Dismal Swamp State Park, in South Mills, North Carolina, paddlers will embark on the leisurely three-hour journey to cross the state line.

Paddlers finish the day out with a picnic lunch on grounds of the Dismal Swamp Canal Trail at the Great Dismal Swamp Boat Ramp at Ballahack Rd. in Chesapeake, VA.

The 2022 Paddle for the Border in Dismal Swamp Canal will begin on May 7, 2022 at 7:30 a.m. and end around 2:30 p.m. Mariners are requested to use caution when transiting the area.

More information about the event can be found at www.dismalswampwelcomecenter.com or www.cityofchesapeake.net.

Related Information

Best Areas for Kayaking in Hampton Roads Virginia

Highland Park Veterans Kayak Launch - Norfolk VA

In October, members of the Highland Park Civic League honored military veterans and their dedication to service with a ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the opening of the Highland Park Veterans Kayak Launch.

The launch is located at the corner of 44th Street and Colley Avenue in Norfolk. The new launch site features a floating pier and launch ramp which extends into Knitting Mill Creek, a tributary of the Lafayette River.

The Highland Park Civic League consists of residents and business owners in the Highland Park neighborhood in Norfolk, VA. The organization works to encourage and promote civic improvements in the local community of Highland Park.

Best Areas for Kayaking in Hampton Roads Virginia

Hampton Roads Virginia is one of the best areas in the Mid Atlantic for kayaking. Paddlesports enthusiasts can explore the Atlantic Ocean, Chesapeake Bay, local rivers, creeks, canals, lakes, ponds, salt marshes, and other areas.

Ocean kayakers launch along beaches or inlets from Virginia Beach to Sandbridge. To reach the Chesapeake Bay, kayakers depart from Hampton, Norfolk, or Virginia Beach. All three cities provide parks and ramps where kayakers can launch their craft.

Virginia's Hampton Roads region is a maze of rivers, creeks, and tidal lagoons. Kayakers explore the James, Nanesemond, Elizabeth, Lafayette, Back, and Lynnhaven Rivers. Some estuaries, such as the Elizabeth River, contain designated water trails.

Dismal Swamp Canal

Canals are another option for kayakers. In the heart of Hampton Roads, numerous canals interconnect between the Elizabeth River, Lake Drummond, and Albemarle Sound.

Once part of the Intercoastal Waterway, the canals sustain a variety of wildlife, fish, wild plants, and other inhabitants.

Hampton Roads is home to two National Wildlife Refuges, Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge and Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Both facilities contain areas for recreational kayaking, kayak fishing, wildlife watching, and other activities.

Areas suitable for kayaking can also be found at First Landing State Park and False Cape State Park. Both parks contain sheltered areas as well as open water for more experienced paddlers.