Everyone is welcomed to join us for a fun, relaxing trip on Congaree Creek. We will paddle from the landing on Highway 321 in West Columbia/Cayce to the take out at Old State Road in Congaree Heritage Preserve. The put-in is several blocks east of I-26. The trip length is about 5 miles and should take us 3 or 4 hours to complete. It is a good trip for all types of kayaks, canoes and paddlers with some experience. The Creek is narrow, has many turns and some current and requires pretty good boat-handling skills. It is a great place to sharpen your boat control skills or begin to develop some. The trip is pretty straightforward but we have encountered a few pullovers and duck-unders in the past.

We did a scouting trip on the 10th of August and found lots of limbo logs to slither under; some quite challenging. Also lots of wasps nests at about eye level from a kayak, poison ivy in abundance and, Ed reports, when he put the canoe on his shoulders to carry up the take-out hill, there were about 12 spiders inconvenienced by the ride away from the water!! Also, the put-in is tricky and take-out is arduous but short. So, this is a trip for adventurers and those who want to improve their skills and are looking for a good time and a beautiful, isolated river to paddle. Note: there is water flowing in this creek! so it is a good choice in these drought-laden days! Bring lunch, change of clothes, plenty to drink and good cheer.

If you plan to attend, just be present at the put-in by 10am

Previous trip reports: here and here.