Edisto River Kayaking
This trip is not available at this time.
Be sure to check out our other trips. 7/16/2010
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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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 also be happy to help you with gear questions. Or check out www.rei.com/learn. The Expert Advice section on our "Learn" page has great information to help you prepare for your trip.
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviewsPros
- Group camaraderie (4)
- Food (3)
Cons
- Activity level (4)
- Fell short of expectations (3)
- Poorly organized itinerary (3)
Best Uses
- Reviewer Profile:
- Casual adventurer (4)
- Why Did You Choose to Travel with REI Adventures?:
- Destination (3)
REVIEWS
Reviewed by 4 customers
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Displaying reviews 1-4
Pros
- Food
- Group Camaraderie
- Quality Equipment Provided
Cons
- Activity Level
- Fell Short of Expectations
- Poorly Organized Itinerary
Best Uses
Comments about REI Adventures Edisto River Kayaking:
If a lazy paddle down the river with plenty of down time and time to chit-chat on the banks of the river is what you want ? Then this trip is for you! If you want a level 3 activity with the advertised 4 to 6 hours of paddling with hiking trails to explore? Then this is NOT the trip for you. This is an easy 2 day trip that was dragged out to last 4.
The guides were very experienced with kayaking and very willing to give us pointers so we could become stronger kayakers. They were knowledgeable of the river and local area and we often had decisions about it. They taught us about leaving no trace of ourselves behind which I really felt strong about. They seemed to know of the issues with the trip literary and always were dragging things out to compensate for the lack of paddling time.
On the last evening of the trip at our remote river location; I lie in my VERY nice REI tent glazing up at the stairs, only 5 feet from the banks of the river and listen to the rush of I95 traffic in the distance.
On the up side, the food was delicious and our fellow companion Kayakers were delightful.The camp sights were picturesque and most were well thought out.
I do realize the trip was shortened do to uncontrollable issue but then the days on the river should have been shortened to compensate. It could easily have been done in 2 days. This trip needs to be revamped and as it is now is not worth the money.
- Why Did You Choose to Travel with REI Adventures?:
- Destination
- What would be your advice to potential travelers?:
- Try another REI trip.
Pros
- Accommodations
- Food
- Group Camaraderie
- Quality Equipment Provided
Cons
- Accommodations
- Activity Level
- Fell Short of Expectations
Best Uses
Comments about REI Adventures Edisto River Kayaking:
There was way too much down time on this trip. In fact, the trip could have been done in 2 days rather than the extended 4 days. The last night we could actually hear the highway from our camping site - a disappointment. The REI material said the trip takes place in the "remote sections of the black water wilderness." We saw many others on canoes and tubing down the river. Another disappointment was the amount of time actually kayaking. It says in the information that there will be 8-10 miles per day. The longest day we traveled was about 6 miles. The supply list REI sends is way to large for the space in a kayak. Think before you pack! We had to repack at the launch site to minimize the load.
- Why Did You Choose to Travel with REI Adventures?:
- Active Adventures, Commitment to Sustainability, Destination, I Liked the Itinerary, Travel with Like-minded Outdoor Enthusiasts
- Why did you choose this trip?:
- It was close to home and I wanted to try a short REI tour before committing to an international adventure.
- What was the highlight of your trip?:
- I probably would not have traveled down the Edisto River had I not done this trip. The first two nights were nice. The group we traveled with was very nice too. And the food was fine with the exception of no marshmallows for the camp fire!
- What would be your advice to potential travelers?:
- This is not a level 3 trip. It's more like a beginning level float down the river.
Pros
- Food
- Group Camaraderie
Cons
- Activity Level
- Fell Short of Expectations
- Guides
- Poorly Organized Itinerary
Best Uses
Comments about REI Adventures Edisto River Kayaking:
The trip is listed as a 3, but it should be reclassified as a 1-2. On the itinerary, it states that we should expect 4-6 hours of kayaking each day. One day 1, we kayaked 2-3 hours. On day 2, we kayaked 4 hours. On day 3, we kayaked 2 hours, then had lunch. We then kayaked 10 Minutes to our camping location. We were only 1 hr and 20 mins from the end of the trip. 10 out of 12 members in the group wanted to skip the final night and finish the trip early.
At the campsite, we could hear I-95 in the distance, which was only 1/2 mile from the campsite.
During the night, the roar of I-95 was louder than the crickets. We were expecting a remote location, not to be kept awake by I-95 traffic. Also, we were awaken at 2:30am by police sirens, after hearing the sound of gun shots in the background.
Also, it is apparent that the guides never read the description of the trip. Most of the group were expecting 4-6 hours of kayaking per day, not 2-4 hours. I should also mention that this 2-4 hours is floating down the river, not paddling. Every time the group tried to maintain a good speed, we were told to slow down.
The group was only assigned 2 guides. There was no other support for the guides. Oftentimes, the guides were too busy preparing food and etc, instead of spending time with the group and making it a unique experience. Also, it was felt by most of the group that we were kept in the dark of the itinerary and our meals. It was very strange.
I understand that this is a new trip. I really believe the local company and REI are not communicating. The guides stated that 15 miles were cut from the trip due to the low water level of the river. However, day 3 has remained the same on the schedule since this trip was planned. There is only a total of 3.5 hours of kayaking combined for days 3 and 4. It was never planned for 4-6 hours of kayaking per day.
This trip should and can be easily completed in 2 days instead of 4. If you want to have a leisurely trip on the Edisto, this may be the trip for you. If you want a level 3 trip of activity, this is not the trip for you. This trip never met the description listed on this site and documents sent directly by REI. Very disappointing.
- Why Did You Choose to Travel with REI Adventures?:
- Active Adventures, All the Details Planned for Me, Travel with Like-minded Outdoor Enthusiasts
- Why did you choose this trip?:
- I picked the destination because it was close to family members and it appeared to be a great trip. Also, kayaking in the Edisto River was a unique experience.
- What was the highlight of your trip?:
- The highlight of the trip was spending time with family members and interacting with the rest of the group.
- What would be your advice to potential travelers?:
- This trip was rated a 3. However, it should be reclassified as a 1-2. If you are expecting a lot of activity this trip is not for you.
Pros
- Activity Level
- Group Camaraderie
- Guides
Cons
- Activity Level
- Poorly Organized Itinerary
Best Uses
Comments about REI Adventures Edisto River Kayaking:
I'd like to start out by saying that I thoroughly enjoyed myself while on the Edisto river. We chose some beautiful campsites and the one night spent in the treehouses was pretty cool. The guides were knowledgeable and helpful, and our naturalist guide, Ian, did a great job of telling the story of the river's history and all of it's wildlife. I really feel in love with the area.
I was a bit disappointed with what seemed to be a lack of planning with the trip when it was originally set up. I felt that a couple of days were too short paddling-wise. Frankly too many days were alloted to this trip for the distance we ultimately covered. It could have been 1 to almost 2 days shorter I think. I felt there was too much time spent with nothing to do. I know there were reasons for changing the distance we paddled, but the itinerary needs to reflect the adjustments.
I realize this is a new trip and hope that REI and the outfitter can work together to find a proper distance, number of days and a good balance of activity vs. relaxation.
Bottom line is the location was perfect, the guides were knowledgable, friendly and prepared to guide us down the river, and we were well outfitted, but the route and/or time spent needs to be adjusted to find a happy equilibrium in order to really make this a recommendable trip.
- Why Did You Choose to Travel with REI Adventures?:
- All the Details Planned for Me, Destination, Good Value
- Why did you choose this trip?:
- I wanted to go on a kayak camping trip in a location that was new to me and also drivable in one day.
- What was the highlight of your trip?:
- The Edisto river is just beautiful. I had never heard of it before this trip and am glad that it seems to be a lesser known destination, which added to the feeling of getting away from everything. It was great to paddle down the river and learn about the history of the area.
Bottom LineYes, I would recommend this to a friend
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(7 of 7 customers found this review helpful)
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