Saluda River in South Carolina

Trip Overview

I have been looking for a family friendly day trip, and I found it! This is around 7 miles(estimated). My wife dropped my 11 year old daughter and I off at the Highway 25 bridge. Beacham Road is right there at the bridge. As soon as you turn off Hwy 25 on to Beacham Road there is a gravel parking lot on the right. Go to the end of the gravel and you will see the trail going down through the woods. It is about a 50 yard portage to get to the water. But it is all down a pretty steep hill, and it makes it easier. My 100 pound wife only had to rest 3 times while helping me carry the canoe down. Once at the bottom, there is a nice 20 foot long flat rock that makes launch easy as well.

My daughter and I set sail at 4:20. The first half mile has some rocks. No whitewater or rapids. Navigating through the rocks is very easy. After that, I allowed her to take the life jacket off. It was smooth paddling. We reached the powerlines at 6:20. Shortly after the powerlines the river widens and slows.

We hit the Souls Harbor Landing at 7:20. The trip was 3 hours total. That is only stopping 1 time for a restroom break. Around halfway there is a big C shaped curve. This would be the perfect spot to stop for a picnic, and turn it into a 4 hour trip. At the end you will come upon a long skinny island, go left. It is a little deeper, but you can still push off the bottom. Look straight ahead while passing the island and you can see the cement boat ramp across a small open body of water. That ramp is on Ridge Road. Free Public ramp.

Fees:

none

Directions:

Highway 25 at the Saluda River bridge in Ware Shoals. About 15 miles north of Greenwood. Take out point, Leave the 25 bridge and go south toward Greenwood. Go 6 or 7 miles and make a left on Highway 254. Ridge Road will be the 3rd road on the left once on 254. Go down Ridge Rd until it turns to gravel. You will see lake and ramp on the left about a half mile once you hit gravel.