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Boating & Fishing


Lake CrabtreeLake Crabtree is ideal for water sports such as fishing, sailing, rowing and paddling. The park has a boat rental facility open from early May until Labor Day. The park also has a year-round public boat launch area, which includes a two-lane boat ramp and a car-top canoe/kayak launching area. All lake users are cautioned that shallow waters less than three feet deep exist in some areas.

Only electric motors are to be operated in Lake Crabtree; no gas-powered motors allowed. Please be off the lake 30 minutes before closing.


Boat Launch Fees
Please deposit daily launch fees in yellow honor boxes. To purchase an annual pass, please call 919-460-3390. Your fees help to maintain the park facilities.

Type of Boat Daily Annual
Boats on a trailer $3 $45
Car-top boats $2 $30


Sailing Classes:

Lake Crabtree tower

Lake Crabtree County Park offers sailing classes and camps for ages 8 to Adult.

Junior OPTI Sailing Camps

(8–12 years old; maximum 110 lbs)
Lake Crabtree County Park has partnered with the Carolina Sailing Foundation to offer these sailing camps to younger students. The OPTI boats, provided by the Carolina Sailing Foundation, are excellent boats for younger sailors. Please note the age restrictions for these classes. We do not make exceptions for age and weight requirements.

OPTI Level 1 (8–10-year-olds) – Introduction to OPTI Sailing

Learn the parts of a sailboat, how it works, and how to rig an OPTI. Students will have the chance to get on the water and sail around marks. Classes run Monday through Thursday for 4 hours each day. Appropriate for novice sailors ages 8–10. Participants must meet age requirement and weigh less than 110 pounds. Registration form. Fee: $150 per session.

Session dates:

  • July 5–8, 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
  • July 5–8, 12:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m.
  • July 12–15, 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.


OPTI Level 2 (10–12-year-olds) – Basic OPTI Sailing

Learn the parts of a sailboat and how it works. Rig your own boat and sail around marks, going upwind and downwind. Appropriate for students age 10–12 with little or no sailing experience, but who are mature enough to be comfortable in a boat alone. Classes run Monday through Thursday for 4 hours each day. Participants must meet age requirements and weigh less than 110 pounds. Registration form. Fee: $150 per session. Session dates:

  • July 12–15, 12:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m.
  • July 19–22, 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
  • July 19–22, 12:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m.


OPTI Learn to Race

Prerequisite: OPTI Level 2. (Participants must know how to rig, launch, and beach an OPTI without assistance. On the water, students should know basic body position, how to tack, jib, get out of the No Go Zone, and have the ability to sail to an upwind mark.)

Learn to Race covers basic racing maneuvers, starts, mark rounding, and finish. We teach the boat handling skills necessary to handle your OPTI on the starting line, upwind and downwind, and Basic US Sail Rules of Racing. Expect to spend a lot of time on the water performing drills to emphasize the skills needed to race an OPTI. Registration form. Fee: $150. Session date:

  • July 26–29, 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Sunfish Sailing Classes

These classes are offered to participants 12 years old to adult. Learn to sail on a Sunfish Sailboat. Please note: Learn to Sail Clinics (formerly TEEN Sunfish Sailing Lessons) are targeted to participants ages 12–17, but are open to adults (minimum 90 lbs). Evening classes are also open to all participants age 12 or older who weigh a minimum of 90 pounds.


Learn to Sail Clinic

Learn basic sailing and boat handling, with shore instructions, reinforced by on the water drills. Participants must be at least 12 years old and weigh a minimum of 90 pounds. All sessions run Monday through Thursday, for 4 hours each day. Registration form. Fee: $150. Session dates:

June 7–10, 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. August 2–5, 8:30 p.m.–12:30 p.m.
June 14–17, 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. August 2–5, 12:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m.
June 21–24, 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. August 9–12, 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
June 21–24, 12:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m. August 9–12, 12:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m.
June 28–July 1, 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

August 16–19, 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

June 28–July 1, 12:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m. August 16–19, 12:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m.


Evening Sunfish Beginner Sailing Classes

The Sunfish is a single-handed boat and the most popular boat worldwide. Each class will start with a lesson on shore and end with sailing practice on the water to reinforce the skills learned. Participants must be at least 12 years old and weigh a minimum of 90 pounds. All sessions run Monday through Wednesday from 5–7 p.m. Registration form. Fee: $75. Session dates:

May 10–12 July 5–7
May 17–19 July 12–14
May 24–26 July 26–28  - (Class is Full)
May 31–June 2 August 2–4 - (Class is Full)
June 7–9 August 9–11
June 14–16 August 16–18
June 28–30


Evening Sunfish Intermediate Sailing Classes

If you have taken the Beginner Sailing class or Learn to Sail Clinic with us, this class is for you! You’ll use the basics you’ve learned and expand on that knowledge, and practice new, advanced skills. Participants must be at least 12 years old and weigh a minimum of 90 pounds. Each session runs Monday through Thursday from 5–7 p.m. Registration form. Fee: $100. Session dates:

  • June 21–24
  • July 19–22
  • August 23–26


Senior Sailing Clinic

This half-day course is desinged for sailors age 55 and up. Learn how to sail on a Sunfish sailboat! Learn the parts of a sailboat and how it works. Rig your own boat and sail around marks, going upwind and downwind. Each class will include instructions on shore, followed by practice on the water. No prior sailing experience needed. Each session runs Monday through Thursday, from noon–4 p.m. Registration Form. Fee: $150. Session Dates:
  • May 17–20
  • May 24–27
  • May 31–June 3


Boat Rentals

sailboats on the shore at Lake CrabtreeSailboats, canoes, kayaks, rowboats, and pedal boats are available for rent on the park's waterfront from May through Labor Day. All rentals are on a first-come, first-served basis and by the hour. A $20 cash deposit is required as well as photo identification. A customer must be at least 18 years of age to rent a boat. A customer at least 16 years of age may take a boat out, but must have a parent or guardian sign the release form. Sorry, no credit cards accepted.

For hours of operation and fees, see the Boat Rental information sheet.

Note: The Boat Rental staff reserves the right to deny rental for any appropriate reason, including weather conditions and skill level. 


Fishing

Lake Crabtree Fishing PlatformFishing is a popular pastime at Lake Crabtree County Park. A fishing pier and platform provide handicap accessibility. The park offers a Tackle Loaner Program through the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. Fishing is permitted in designated areas only.

Beginning January 1, 2007, any person 16 and older fishing in public waters MUST have a fishing license. Additionally, anglers fishing with natural bait (i.e., worms, crickets, etc.) will no longer be able to fish in public, inland water in their county of residence without a license.
NC Wildlife Resources Commission Rules and Regulations.


PCB Information and Fishing Advisory
link to Lake Crabtree and Brier Creek Fish AdvisoryIn mid-May 2004, Lake Crabtree County Park was notified of elevated levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the fish. Since this time, a North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS) fish consumption advisory has been in effect. The following documents contain information on the state's advisory:

Wake County adopted a catch-and-release-only policy at Lake Crabtree and Crabtree Creek. The following documents contain information on Wake County's policy: