Blaze your own trail with a paddle!
The sun is coming out and the waters are calling! There are so many great rivers, lakes and ponds to paddle in the OED!
You must check out PaddleSC if you want to learn everywhere to go throughout the state. They’ll have all your routes, put ins, distance, ratings, and reviews/recommendations for you to tickle your fancy.
Rivers:
Union County is a must for kayakers! The Broad River is one of the most beautiful and fun rivers in the state. There’s links to three nice routes below:
Broad River - Union County
https://www.gopaddlesc.com/waterways/trail/broad-river
https://www.gopaddlesc.com/trips/trail/broad-river-lockhart-sc-to-broad-river-landing
https://www.gopaddlesc.com/trips/trail/broad-river-neal-shoals-dam-to-sandy-river-landing
Unon County also has the Tyger, Pacolet, and the Enoree. Check them out at PaddleSC.
Of course one of the highlights around here is the Rocky Shoals Spider Lilies that bloom on the Catawba River at Landsford Canal State Park every mid-May through June. Discover South Carolina has a great video about them!
Any trip down the Catawba is a good time full of great scenery and plenty of put ins. Check out the river map below.
Catawba River - York, Chester, Lancaster Counties
https://www.gopaddlesc.com/waterways/trail/catawba-river
Leaving Lake Wateree and Lake Wateree State Park is the Wateree River.
Wateree River - Fairfield and Keshaw Counties
https://www.gopaddlesc.com/trips/trail/wateree-river-lugoff-landing-to-highway-1
The Lynches River rolls through a few SC counties but one of the prettiest parts is in Chesterfield County.
Lynches River - Chesterfield County
https://www.gopaddlesc.com/waterways/trail/lynches-river
If a calmer, more peaceful day out floating appeals to you, take a look at the list of lakes and state parks to enjoy:
Lake Wylie - York County
Lake Monticello - Fairfield County
Stumpy Pond - Chester County
Lake Wateree at Lake Wateree State Park (great little swimming area too!)
Lake Juniper at Cheraw State Park - Take a look at this paddle trip at Cheraw State Park from CarCon Project. They also offer yearly Twilight Floats!
Civil War era Mill Pond at Goodale State Park - Check out this video from Steven Gonzalez geocaching at Goodale State Park in his kayak. Awesome!
On a side note: we highly recommend Cheraw State Park and Goodale! Both are full of the ideal Southern Gothic atmosphere, complete with big Bald Cypress trees and Spanish Moss dangling from limbs. Very cool places!!
Chester State Park - Has a great fishing bridge! A very well maintained ramp and put in area. Great place to get out and paddle around! Chester and Cheraw offer Twilight Floats yearly.
Lake Haigler at Anne Springs Close Greenway - 2573 Lake Heigler Dr., Anne Springs Close Greenway, Fort Mill, SC. 803-547-4575. can rent single and tandem kayaks and paddleboards on weekends starting at 9am. Advance reservations required. Offers annual Twilight Float in early May.
https://www.ascgreenway.org/play/kayaks-paddle-boards-fishing/
Fishing Creek Lake at Edgewater Community Marina - 4272 Catawba Ridge Blvd., Lancaster, SC. 803-577-0195. Can rent single and tandem kayaks and canoes daily 1hr to 5hr rentals.
https://www.edgewatergc.com/marina/boat-rental/
We hope to see you out on the water!