Kayaking the Wambaw Creek, SC

 

• Date Kayaked:  May 2, 2021
• Total miles Tracked: 3.31
• Type of Paddle: Blackwater creek, tide influenced
• Put in/Take Out:  Dirt ramp
• Conveniences:  None!
• Best Features: Chock full of natural beauty
• Worst Features: The dirt roads you drive to reach it might dislodge your internal organs
• Wildlife spotted: Very brief glimpse of a gator
• Vegetation:   Cypress 
• Associated Website: https://www.berkeleyoutdoorlife.com/
• Primary Author:  James

Midway between Myrtle Beach and Charleston on Highway 17 is the Santee River. We've been tempted to paddle it, but it's so close to the coast we worried the currents might make for a tough paddle. But, Google maps shows numerous creeks feeding the river, winding through miles of wilderness and state parks, which led us to finding out about the Wambaw Creek Paddle Trail, which is accessed via Still Landing. 

Lots of this, for many miles.

Sometimes, we throw our kayaks into the back of my Hyundai Elantra hatchback. Luckily, this trip we had the kayaks on top of our Subaru Forester, because the dirt roads leading to Still Landing will not be kind to anything with a low wheel clearance. These roads have intimidating pot holes and go on for miles. If you want to kayak Wambaw Creek, you've got to work for it. 

Lots of this, for many miles.

Of course, the remote location has its advantages. You won't be facing a crowded parking lot, and no one is going to haul jet skis or a big motorboat down this road. You're far removed from pavement, so you can paddle miles without hearing even the whisper of a passing car. We encountered a couple of guys fishing from a small john boat, but odds are good you can make this trip without seeing another person at all. 

Other people. But we brought them with us, so they don't count. 

On the other hand, while this is a beautiful blackwater creek, once you're on it it doesn't feel dramatically different from the more remote reaches of the Waccamaw or the Lumber River. You can see spider lilies, not to mention humongous spiders, alligators, and endless miles of cypress without bruising your kidneys on the ride to reach the boat ramp. On the other, other hand, it may be that you own a monster SUV or rugged big truck and are looking for a difficult road to justify owning such a vehicle, in which case, this should definitely be on your bucket list! 

Now, as long as you are willing to make the drive to reach Still Landing, you might as well drop in at the Hampton Plantation Historic Site. Ordinarily, the idea of visiting a plantation holds zero appeal for me. Even setting aside the un-set-aside-able problem of marketing nostalgia for a slave economy, I generally steer clear of attractions whose underlying appeal is "seeing how rich people lived." It's why I never went to Biltmore House when I lived in Asheville. But, Hampton Plantation is free and, most importantly, features the only public restrooms within 10 miles of Still Landing. Also, you can ignore the house and still gawk at the live oaks. 

To wrap up, in case I'm sounding lukewarm about the trip, once  you reach the creek you can expect a great paddle and explore a wilderness that can be explored for hours. Every wind in the creek is going to open onto stunning views, and the banks will be full of flowers, butterflies, and birds well worth a closer look. You won't be disappointed if you make the journey.