Boating in North Carolina

 

Boaters can explore more than 5,000 miles of North Carolina waters. Find a boat ramp near you. Title and register your vessel. Get information on regulations and safety requirements here.
 

Registration and Titling 

Information about vessel registration and titling requirements, fees and frequently asked questions.
 

Where to Boat

The Wildlife Commission manages 250 free, 24-hour public Boating Access Areas.

 

Weigh-in & Special Use Permits 

N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission issues fishing tournament weigh-in and special use permits for each NCWRC Boating Access Area (BAA) to ensure that only allowable activities occur and that multiple large events do not occur at any site, thereby helping to manage congestion and user accessibility.

 

Laws & Safety

Learn about no wake zone and boating regulations, safety requirements, and recommendations.
 

Boater Education Courses

Information about boater education courses is available.

 

Marina Resources

Learn about Clean Marina Program and Clean Vessel Act.
 

Abandoned and Derelict Vessel Program

The NCWRC inspects, investigates and removes abandoned and derelict vessels along the coastline.
 

Boating Publications

Boating-related publications produced by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.

 

Rhodes Pond Dam Updates

View a timeline on Rhodes Pond Dam dating back to 2005 and other information regarding the lake.

Boating Access Area Full and Partial Closures

Boating Access Area County Body of Water Date Ranges Closed Reason for Closure
Cedar Cliff Jackson Cedar Cliff Lake Until Fall 2024 Drawdown and Dam Maintenance - see Duke Energy Water Access Alerts
East Lake Ferry Dare Alligator River Closed indefinitely  
Great Lake Craven Great Lake Until Further Notice Hurricane Damage
Hyco Afterbay Person Hyco Lake Until Further Notice Low water conditions
Old Sparta Edgecombe Tar River 9/18/2023 - 2/1/2024 Construction Work
Pine Creek Jackson Glenville/Thorpe Lake Until Further Notice Low water level - see Duke Energy Water Access Alerts
Pinnacle Iredell Lake Norman 10/27/2023 - 2/1/2024 Paving operations - see Duke Energy Water Access Alerts
Rhodes Pond BAA & PFA Cumberland Rhodes Pond Until Further Notice Dam Renovation
Straits Landing Carteret North River Until Further Notice DOT Bridge Construction Work - intermittent closures and limited parking
Wittenburg Alexander Lake Hickory 10/27/2023 - 12/8/2023 Paving operations - see Duke Energy Water Access Alerts
Wolf Creek Jackson Wolf Creek Lake Until Further Notice Low water level - see Duke Energy Water Access Alerts