Upper Saluda River in South Carolina

Trip Overview

We put in below Lake Greenwood Dam off of SC Hwy.34. This throw in requires around 150 yards of walking down hill. The river was up and moving very rapidly. They usually lower the river on the weekends so that the class 1 and 2 rapids that are throughout the first 15 or so miles of this river are exposed for paddlers, but a fairly heavy rain the day before fixed that. We started out with a fast current making for an effortless paddle. Along the way we saw a couple of otters, several Wood Ducks, and a lot of turtles sunning that were the size of large dinner plates. Also here and there you would have an isolated rapid or two to play with. I had hoped for more whitewater but the rolling landscape and wildlife made up for anything we missed in river action. We were able to do 21 miles in a little more than five hours. We took out at a landing just below the SC Hwy.121 Bridge.

Accommodations:

There are hotels in Newberry and in nearby Columbia SC. There is also a state park near Columbia.

Directions:

This river trail starts below Lake Greenwood off of SC Hwy.34 near the town of Ninety-Six, East of Newberry. The closest interstate exit is off of I-26 exiting into Newberry.

Resources:

Paddling South Carolina by Gene Able and Jack Horan.