Green Creek is the home to Oriental, one of the most popular stopping spots on the North Carolina portion of the Intracoastal Waterway. Oriental is located off the Neuse River near ICW Mile 180, and is 20 miles north of Beaufort and almost 70 miles southwest of Cape Hatteras.

Inside Oriental’s harbor you will find two excellent marinas and both of them accept transient guests. If you need repairs, there is Whittaker Creek to the north, where boaters can find additional marine facilities with haul-out capabilities and dock space for tie ups.

Use NOAA Chart 11541.

From the Neuse River south of Garbacon Shoal, chart a course to pick up flashing green buoy “1,” about three-quarters of a nautical mile east of the 45-foot fixed bridge in Oriental. Once you have successfully cleared flashing green “1” (just barely visible in the middle of the image above), head in toward Green Creek to intercept green daybeacon “3,” green daybeacon “5,” flashing red “6,” and flashing red “8,” which is on the south end of the town harbor jetty. Depths in the channel are reported to be eight and a half feet.

There are two fine marinas inside the harbor jetty, both of which accept transient guests. If the marinas are full, you may want to try radioing the marinas to the north in Whittaker Creek. Anchorage is available just inside the harbor as you enter (outside the channel), and you May also find protected spots to drop the hook above the fixed bridge if your vertical clearance is less than 45 feet. There are plenty of provisioning and dining opportunities ashore within walking distance.

Local Notices to Mariners are now exclusively available online from the U.S. Coast Guard.