Edisto River Kayaking
The Edisto River is the longest free flowing black water river on the North American continent. It begins its journey in North Western South Carolina and boasts over one hundred and seventy-five miles of contiguous navigable water on its journey to the Atlantic Ocean. The Edisto is also the 'E' in ACE Basin which is the largest protected fresh water river basin in existence and a world model of cooperation in conservation. The most intimate and unvisited portions of this river are cypress tupelo hard wood bottoms flowing with tannic rich black water twisting and meandering through the forest. This habitat is abundant with wildlife including warblers, finches, hawks, owls, eagles, snowy egrets, great blue herons, white tailed deer, otters, beavers, and timid alligators to mention just a few. Our adventure will take place on the remote sections of the black water wilderness. We will sleep on the banks of the river serenaded by the amphibious orchestra of the local choir of frogs complimented by the inquisitive call of the barred owls. We will also visit the eco-chic Edisto River Tree Houses and overnight in primitive luxury high above the river bottom, remote and totally off the grid. Join us on a four day three night adventure as we will unlock the hidden mysteries of the wild and scenic Edisto River.
Important Notice: Day 1 is the day you should plan to arrive at the meeting point for the trip. This may require departing your hometown one or more days in advance.
Edisto River Kayaking Itinerary:
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Day 1
We will meet 10:00am at our waterfront outfitter cabin just outside Walterboro SC. We will start with an orientation talk, gear introduction, and lunch before our 30 minute shuttle to our river put-in location. Our river adventure begins today west of Branchville SC, at KillKare Landing. This seldom seen section of the mighty Edisto River is intimate, pristine and remote. We will focus on the botanical diversity as we meander down the river corridor assisted by the flow of the gentle current. Native American culture will be the human history focus throughout our adventure as we explore the routes they paddled more than three thousand years ago. We will explore about ten river miles before we stop to create our waterfront camp site. Dinner will be prepared sourcing local organic food supply from the farmers of the area. Our day will conclude with a round table discussion of the day's events, and a overview of the itinerary for our next full day on the river. Paddling approximately 10 miles. Lunch and dinner included.
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Day 2
Our first full day will begin with morning yoga for those who choose to participate, followed by fresh organic breakfast. We will continue down the river corridor with a focus on the avian diversity and how the migratory, raptor, and wading bird populations contribute to this diverse ecosystem. Our destination will be the Edisto River Tree Houses! These eco-chic rustic facilities are natural gas powered and completely "off the grid." Our accommodations are equipped with futons, lofts, lounging porches, rocking chairs, and river front hammocks. Nestled into 150 acre Edisto River Refuge are diverse hiking opportunities to explore for naturalist guided walks and self guided exploration. We will proceed with our fresh organic dinner followed by the evening round table lighted by tiki torches and a bon fire. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.
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Day 3
Today will begin with yoga opportunities followed by breakfast. We will travel back in time some 60,000,000 years as we begin to broaden our understanding of the geology involved with rising and falling water levels and impact on watershed. Our route today will carry us by unearthed marl banks along the river; rich in fossils from millions of years ago. The culmination of our exploration will begin to create a more round idea of how the river corridor reveals itself to us as we become more familiar with the history, geology, flora and fauna. Tonight we will make camp on the river bank after about a ten mile river journey and feast on a traditional southern barbeque provided by the local farmers. Vegetarian options are of course provided. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.
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Day 4
After optional morning yoga we enjoy our final breakfast together before breaking camp. Today's paddle is the shortest of the trip, leading us 9 miles to our take-out at Stokes Bridge. The focus of today will be a culmination of our river adventure as we attempt to draw some conclusions from our experiences. Our group will be shuttled back to our parked vehicles to return equipment and pick up personal items left in storage. We say our final goodbyes around 1pm today. Breakfast included.
Although we do our very best to adhere to the schedule listed above, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control. This trip is operated rain or shine.
Contact REI Adventures prior to purchasing your airline ticket to confirm the trip has the minimum number of participants required to operate.
Professional instruction and guiding; meals as noted in the daily itinerary; shuttle services; 2 nights camping, 1 night tree house accommodations; kayaks and related paddling gear.
Transportation from your hometown to Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant SC; insurance of any kind; alcoholic beverages; soft drinks; guide gratuities and items of a personal nature.
Charleston International Airport (CHS), Charleston, SC
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Atlanta, GA
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), Charlotte, NC
This trip is rated Moderate (3) as we plan to kayak 4-6 hours per day in calm to moderately rough conditions. To maximize your enjoyment of the trip and to avoid sore muscles, we suggest that you engage in a regular exercise regimen beginning at least three months prior to your departure. Most important to your enjoyment of the trip is your overall fitness level.
Daytime temperatures are usually mid 70oF, with evening temperatures dropping to about 60oF. You may encounter cool and rainy conditions, including fog and wind. Rain is a possibility so adequate raingear is important.
This trip is subject to the booking information set forth in the current REI Adventures Weekend Reservation Information. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A full gear list and detailed pre-trip information is sent upon sign-up. We highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance through REI Adventures. If coverage is purchased at the time of your initial reservation, the 'Pre-existing Conditions Exclusion' is waived (certain exclusions apply).
We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Why wait? Space is limited, reserve your adventure today.
Edisto River Kayaking
The key to staying comfortable while on an active trip is layering. To obtain maximum comfort with minimum weight, you need versatile layers that mix and match to create the right amount of insulation, ventilation and weather protection. This gear list has been created to help you choose equipment for the trip. Try to bring only what is necessary - this will help you and the field staff.
Weather
Daytime temperatures are usually mid 70oF, with evening temperatures dropping to about 60oF. You may encounter cool and rainy conditions, including fog and wind. Rain is a possibility so adequate raingear is important.
Gear Checklist
- Kayaks
- Life jacket and spray skirt
- Dry bag - 1 small for personal gear
- 2 person tents, double occupancy
- Cooking gear and eating utensils
- Group first-aid kit
- Sleeping bag rated to 30º - 40ºF
- Sleeping pad
- Rain jacket with hood, waterproof and breathable
- Rain pants, waterproof and breathable
- Sweater or jacket, wool or fleece
- Thermal underwear top and bottom
- T-shirts (no cotton)
- Long sleeve shirt
- Long pants
- Shorts
- Underwear
- Wool or warm synthetic socks
- Lightweight hiking boots
- Wetsuit booties, water sport sandals, or old tennis shoes
- Paddling gloves
- Bandana
- Swimsuit
- Beach towel
- Wool or fleece hat
- Sun / rain hat
- Sunglasses and retainer strap
- Toiletry kit
- Sun block and lip balm
- Plastic bags - Ziploc for wet clothes
- Water bottle - 1 quart is best
- Favorite snacks
- Headlamp or flashlight
- Insect repellent
- Seat/back cushion for kayaking
- Camera and film spare, batteries
- Small dry bag for personal gear
- Small binoculars (7x or 8x are best)
Things to Consider
- We plan to paddle double (two-person) kayaks on this course for their stability, good tracking, and speed. If you are planning to bring your own kayak, please contact us in advance of departure with the type of boat so that we can be certain it will be adequate for the kind of paddling we'll do on this trip. REI will require that boats meet a certain standard for type and size suitable to the demands of the paddling we plan to do on this trip.
Feel free to give us a call at 800-622-2236 should you have any questions regarding the gear list. The staff at our stores and Direct Sales (800-426-4840) will be happy to help you with gear questions. Or visit REI's website at www.rei.com. The "Expert Advice" section has great information to help you prepare for your trip.
