Falls Lake

Named after a whitewater section of the Neuse River that was submerged during construction, Falls Lake was completed in 1981. Located north of Durham near Wake Forest, North Carolina, the reservoir is fed by the Eno, Little, and Flat rivers. The state recreation area surrounding the lake was established in 1992 and covers more than 5,000 acres.

I visited on a Monday morning shortly after hurricane Helene flooded most of western North Carolina.  Like all of the waterways in the state, the lake was very high, covering large portions of the shoreline and boat ramp.  It was the first time I have ever launched my kayak directly from a flooded parking lot.

Once I paddled out passed the trees along the shore, I was the only person on the lake. Most of the park trails and facilities were closed. I wish I could say I felt alone, but I felt just the opposite.  Watching clouds slowly change shapes in the sky while floating in the middle of a serenely calm lake is something I’ll never get tired of.