Catawba River in South Carolina

Trip Overview

We put in at the the Lake Wylie Dam and paddled to River Park (~6.5 miles). We had actually planned to get out at River walk (3.6 miles) but missed the take out spot.

The river was moving super fast because of all the rain we have had in the area and the dam letting out a bunch of water. All the take out spots were flooded. We had 2 tubers tied to a tandem. If they had not been tied up they would have had a very hard time taking out because the current was so strong. I do not recommend tubing when the current is this strong.

Accommodations:

No bathroom facilities at dam or river park that I know of. Riverwalk probably has a bathroom.

Directions:

I-77 Southbound (from Charlotte and points north):
I-77 South to Exit 85, Hwy 160. Turn onto Hwy. 160 toward Tega Cay. Turn left onto Dam Road, Left onto Gardendale Road, then right onto New Gray Rock. The Dam Access and Boat Landing will be located on the left. Be ready, you can't see the sign from the road until you've already turned in to the access area.

To get to River Park from the Dam, head back to Hwy 160, turn right onto US 21/Cherry Road, cross the river, go past Riverwalk, turn left onto Red River Rd./Cel-River.