May Days on the First Broad River Paddle Trail, Zion to Shelby, NC 5/24-CANCELED

Broad Riverkeeper is sad to announce that all May Saturdays Guided Outings will have to be postponed indefinitely. We just learned that contractors, hired by Cleveland County to remove Hurricane debris from the First Broad River, will be working in the entire 50 miles of the waterway over the next few months. We scouted and cleared the first three sections that we had planned for outings. But we don’t have a schedule from the contractors to know when and where they will be working. New potentially dangerous obstacles may be created as the work continues. We recommend that paddlers stay off the First Broad River until we know more as the work progresses. Stay safe! Contact David, your Broad Riverkeeper, david@mountaintrue.org if you have questions.

Making our way out of the Foothills countryside and into the city. The put in spot is privately owned by the Pentecostal Church. They have been very generous in allowing access for Broad Riverkeeper special outings and events, including 9 years of the annual Sarah Sweep! Shelby folks who see this river from a boat often comment that they had no idea of the river’s beauty here, a real wilderness just outside the city.

Meet in the Church’s lower parking lot at 10:00 am sharp! We will unload boats and gear, then take all the vehicles to the take-out spot and shuttle back to begin paddling. This section is approximately 6.5 miles and includes a difficult portage around Shelby’s water intake dam. We will be on the water for about 5 hours, including a stop for lunch.

Meetup: Pentecostal Apostolic Church, 125 W Zion Church Rd, Shelby, NC 28150
Coordinates: 35.345901, -81.545462

Please bring your boat, paddle, lifejacket (PFD), water, lunch, sunscreen, sturdy water shoes or sneakers (no flip-flops), towel and a dry change of clothes.
* we have some kayaks available to rent, max. 4 rentals
If you reserve a boat, please call David at 704-300-5069 to confirm PFD (life jacket) size. 

Please no children on this section of the river.