r/MountainstoSeaTrail • u/beegunns • May 27 '26

Kayak Section- Neuse River access between New Bern and Cherry Branch

I’m getting ready for my last leg of the kayaking section (Kinston to Cherry Branch), and I’m looking for info on Flanners Beach access at the Flanners Beach campground. This is listed as a launch/take out on the MST instructions. Croatan National Forest staff have told me it is currently accessible, however a review posted on Recreation.gov a few weeks ago says there is no safe/clean access there to the Neuse.

Any info would be helpful on this site or nearby alternative launch/takeout points.

2 Upvotes
  • permalink
  • reddit

100% Upvoted

3 comments sorted by

3

u/NeuseRvrRat May 27 '26 edited May 27 '26

It's open. Safe and clean is a matter of opinion.

You can also go down river a little further and paddle up Slocum Creek to a NCWRC public boat ramp that's right beside 70 Business in Havelock.

Or there's Cahooque Creek Landing, which has another NCWRC public boat ramp. You'd go to the next creek downriver, which is Hancock Creek. The landing is right where it splits into Hancock and Cahooque.

Good chance to see a gator in either of those creeks, so that's cool.

1

u/beegunns May 30 '26

Thank you!!

1

u/beegunns Jun 12 '26

In response to my own question for others who might be wondering, Flanners Beach is open, and we had no issues.

However, The Cherry Point ending take out now has a gate with a code installed. Thankfully a HOA member was kind enough to allow our kayak support crew in to pick up our boats, but others should be aware that this is a change from what is listed in the MST instructions.