Paddle And Row Your Way Into Natural Beauty

From Latta Plantation Nature Preserve program brochure

Naturally Wonderful, by Rich Haag – March 27, 2012

I grew up a mile from Lake Ontario and within an hour’s drive of some of the most amazing lakes in on the East Coast – the Finger Lakes of New York. Imagine glacier-formed lakes several hundred feet deep and so clean that you could look down 20 feet and see the bottom. Needless to say, our family grew up on the water.

My earliest memories of boating are on Galway Lake in the Adirondack Mountain foothills. Gasoline-powered boats were prohibited to protect the water. A few wealthy neighbors had massive battery-powered mahogany cruisers and sailboats. We tooled around in a rowboat, with no worries of being swamped by high-powered ski and bass boats. Of course, the water was pristine.

Mecklenburg’s two lakefront nature preserves offer great opportunities for to get out on the waters of our lakes without worrying about polluting them with gasoline. Both Latta Plantation and McDowell nature preserves have canoe and kayak launches that you can use for free, and many programs to help you enjoy the water with others. You can rent canoes at Latta Plantation Nature Preserve.

Canoe rentals

You can rent a canoe at Latta Plantation Park by the hour on weekends and holidays (call the park at 704- 875-1391 for details).

Note about programs

Many programs require registration and have limited space available. To ensure that you can participate, please register by calling 311 or 704.336.7600. All programs require pre-registration unless otherwise noted. For more information, call McDowell Nature Center at 704-588-5224 or Latta Plantation Nature Center at 704- 875-1391. You can also register online at www.parkandrec.com.

Park details

• McDowell Nature Preserve (Lake Wylie) 704-588-5224;  15222 York Road (NC 49), Charlotte, NC 28278 
• Latta Plantation Nature Preserve  (Mountain Island) 704-875-1391, 5226 Sample Road, Huntersville, NC 28078. Visitors with their own canoes and kayaks can launch from either the North Canoe Access directly into Mountain Island Lake or from the Gar Creek Canoe Access into the Gar Creek inlet.

Upcoming programs

• Boats and Bites: Canoeing – 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, March 31. Pack yourself a lunch and come out to McDowell Nature Preserve to let a skilled instructor teach you the basics of flat water canoeing. This class will begin with canoe instruction to familiarize you with paddling skills or to give you time to brush up on your skills. Beginners are welcome! After learning tips and tricks for canoeing we will head out on Lake Wylie to find a sunny spot for lunch. Bring your favorite snacks and lunch foods along with plenty of water.  Ages 10 and older - $35/ boat. Program No. 30883
• Family Sunset Kayak Tour – 6:30-8:30 p.m. April 18. Join the McDowell Nature Preserve staff for a relaxing kayak tour. During this class you will learn the basics of flat-water kayaking while watching the sunset over Lake Wylie. You will also learn some of the history of the lake including Buster Boyd Bridge, which connects North Carolina to South Carolina. Children ages 5-9 are required to share a tandem kayak with an adult. Registration required. Ages 5 and older - $15/single, $20/tandem. Program No.  30907 (single); Program No. 30908(tandem)
• Kayaking and Segway Adventure Day – 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, March 31. Spend the day with Latta Plantation Nature Preserve staff exploring the nature preserve’s trails on all-terrain Segways and enjoying the beauty of Mountain Island Lake by kayak. The adventure starts with the Segway Tour and a catered lunch, followed by the Mountain Island Lake kayak tour in the afternoon. All equipment provided. Meet at Segway Building at Waterfront Parking Lot. Ages 18 and older - $55. Program No. 30732.
• Sunset Paddling and Fishing – 6:30-8:30 p.m. April 14. Enjoy the “magic hours” of fishing and canoeing as the sun sets over Mountain Island Lake. Join the Latta Plantation Nature Preserve staff as they fish the areas not accessible from the shore and enjoy a peaceful paddle on the lake. Bring your own equipment or use park equipment for no additional charge. Some live bait provided. At least one adult required in each boat. Maximum three people per boat. Meet at Waterfront Picnic Area. Ages 12 and older - $15 per boat. Program No. 30741.
• Sunrise Paddling and Fishing – 7-9 a.m. Sunday, April 15. Get up early and enjoy some early morning fishing and canoeing on Mountain Island Lake. Bring your own equipment or use park equipment for no additional charge. Some live bait provided. At least one adult required in each boat. Maximum three people per boat. Meet at Waterfront Picnic Area. Ages 12 and older- $15 per boat. Program No. 30742.

About Rich Haag -  Rich gained his love for the outdoors while roaming the woods and river gorge near his upstate NY home. He has spent many vacations – one lasting eight weeks -  camping with his wife, Karen, and their sons. Rich still roams the woods nearly every day, either walking with Karen at Reedy Creek Nature Preserve or cycling on the Mallard Creek Greenway.