Kayaking Big Savannah Lake and the Waccamaw River, Longs SC

 

• Date Kayaked: May 15, 2020 (James and Cheryl) and August 2, 2020 (with family)
• Total miles Tracked: 2.67 miles and 3.62 miles 
• Type of paddle: Blackwater River - Tide influenced
• Best Features: Easy launch, beautiful trees, wildlife, remote
• Put-in/Take-out:  Easy, gravel launch
• Worst Features: Near an island adventure outfitter, so some jet-ski traffic on the river portion
• Wildlife spotted: Variety of typical coastal water fowl, river turtles, water snake.  No alligators on either trip, but we know they're in there
• Vegetation: Cypress trees, grand oaks reaching over the water
• Associated Websites: None.  Found by scouting on Google Earth
• Primary Author:  Cheryl

James and I are always looking for new places to bike, kayak and hike. James will spend hours searching on google for boat launches, nature preserves and greenways. The Waccamaw River provides multiple boat launches as it winds through South Carolina.  The river changes from a flat and glassy river to the broader, choppier river closer to where is meets the ocean.

We've kayaked in Conway, SC before, and were awed by the still beauty of the river in this part of the state.  We were looking for another section to paddle on and James found this boat launch.  It is obscure and the access point is a couple of miles down a dirt road. On our first attempt to reach it, Google routed us onto a road that was closed off by a gate and we had to backtrack to find another route. The real road you're looking for is Waccamaw Lane off of Loop Circle. Once you start down it, you'll be pretty sure you're lost and wondering how difficult it's going to be to describe your location to the tow truck company if a storm comes up and the dirt road turns to impassable muck. Have faith! The destination is worth the journey. 

James and I first visited back in May as we were heading down to meet up with family for other kayak adventures.  You can check out our posts about Sandy Island, Murrells Inlet, and J. Todd Landing to catch up on those adventures.  

From the second we finally found the place, we knew we had a winner. To start, this boat launch is nothing but a couple of flat, sandy spots.  Kayak launching is a breeze.  Other small watercraft also launch here and there is a whole parking lot available across the road.  

Notice the tea colored water

Big Savannah Lake is an oxbow lake on the Waccamaw River.  It provides a nearly current free paddle as you go around the perimeter and admire the large cypress trees. Despite the name, it's not really all that big. It's less than half a mile from the ramp to the furthest reaches of the lake. Both times we visited there were fishermen among the cypress. Apparently its a good place to catch small-mouth bass. 

 

We left the lake section and headed into the river.  At this section of the river, the water flows around an island.  We paddled with the current and wound our way around.  We spotted spider lilies and river turtles, along with a heron and some other coastal birds.  We also spotted a juvenile water snake resting on a limb.

This snake looks huge, but it's really only about 8 inches long.  Brown water snake (Nerodia taxipilota)

The best part about these sections of the Waccamaw are the little creeks you can paddle into.  They create such dramatic photos with the still reflections.  It is breathtaking!

We kept talking about our paddle on this section of the Waccamaw with the other paddlers in the family.  Finally in August we returned to the beach for some more kayak adventures.  That Saturday, we had planned a trip to Bull Island, but the tide, wind, and an incoming hurricane thwarted our plans.  We tried, but were on the kayak treadmill.  After an exhausting paddle on Saturday, we returned to Big Savannah Lake on Sunday with James' sisters Joy and Gina and our niece Madeline.  

Alligators hunters ready for the search! (although none were spotted)

The water was higher this trip, and it allowed us to weave between some trees and make it into another oxbow lake. It's safe to say that no motor boats ever make it back into this area. It's a sight for kayakers only. We heard a big splash as we entered.  Was it an alligator or just a turtle?  

After the oxbow, we hopped out of our boats on a sandy shore for some snacks.  From there  it wasn't far to the river bend where the Waccamaw splits around the island. We paddled upstream a little ways. This section has several shacks and houses along the shores, and one outfitter for kayaks and jet skis. The water here is deeper, and motor boats blew past without any regard for their wake, which discouraged us from exploring further upstream. 

Going back downstream, we could take it easy. The current wasn't hard to paddle against coming upstream, but gave a pleasant burst of speed heading back. When the river splits around the island, it gets too narrow for motorboats to speed recklessly along, and kayaks can easily drift over the shallow sandbars and around the half-submerged logs. 

If you have the opportunity to take a side trip on your way to the beach, this is a lovely place for a paddle.  The launch site is leisurely, since even on weekends there wasn't a line to put in and take out, unlike almost any other boat ramp in South Carolina. The views are magnificent, and all the little flooded alcoves and oxbows are wonderful to explore at your leisure. Maybe we'll finally spot an alligator next time.  Meanwhile, we still have miles and miles of the Waccamaw to explore.