Wadboo Creek in South Carolina

Trip Overview

I love the Wadboo! It is a beautiful blackwater cypress grove run. The main precaution is to find out when they are going to open the flood gates to the hydroelectric dam in the Tailrace as the water can run out very quickly. Contact Santee Cooper.

I have run it several times and been startled by deer and thoroughly coated in spider webs. You will have to get out of your canoe several times to climb over and portage tree falls and strainers. It can be very challenging with all the twists, turns, and submerged obstacles. I would suggest you take a short length canoe. There is a designated camping area about half way through. It is very primitive. It is not a place for the faint of heart, but I think even a beginner can handle it with a little patience. You can also put in at the take out and paddle up stream to avoid the thick of it and still enjoy the day. It is very quiet and peaceful back there. I suppose if you are not used to the heat of the summers 'round here you might want to wait till spring or fall as it can get stifling. My glasses fog up when we stop moving. However, it is about the most pristine cypress grove I have ever run across. I know I haven't done the place justice but still hope to see you there.

Accommodations:

Primitive camping halfway through at designated area (POSTED).

Directions:

Take out: 52 north to 17A out of Moncks Corner. Over the tailrace. Right at light (402) to Huger/Cordsville. You will come to bridge with a boat landing on the left. This is the take out.

Put in: continue north on 17A (don't veer left on 35 at the fork) into the Francis Marion National Forest. You will see a sign on the right that says Wadboo Palmetto trail. Turn in there and follow to a dead end. If you pull straight the trail to the creek is directly to your left. It is about 300 yards of carrying your equipment to a boardwalk. We drop over usually right as the handrail begins on the right side and put in there. Head down stream to the right. Watch for the yellow guide markers on the trees.