# 10 Santee River 2: HWY 52 to Arrowhead Landing — Rated: Strenuous, 13 Miles
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Summary: This section of the Santee River terminates at Arrowhead Landing on the Santee Cooper Rediversion Canal. This adventure has many sandbars, as well as islands for breaks, lunch or camping. There are two landmarks on this paddle: a railroad trestle at mile 4.9 and a set of high-tension power lines crossing the river at mile 8.0. This is a fun day trip for experienced paddlers.
Difficulty: Very strenuous, only due to distance
Distance: 13 miles
Time: 6 – 8 hours
Crowds: Light. You’re likely to see motorized boats up and down the river, however, the river is wide enough where this shouldn’t bother the paddler. You’re likely not to see many other paddlers on this trip.
Boat Type: Kayaks or canoes 12-feet or longer. Paddle boards are not recommended.
NOTE: Requires staging 2 vehicles or arranging pickup!
Put In: HWY 52/Santee River Bridge, 15 US 52, Salters, SC 29590. GPS: 33.497546, -79.959332 or 33°29’50.8”N, 79°57’33.7”W
Take Out: Arrowhead Landing, Arrowhead Road, St. Stephen, SC 29479. GPS: 33.404235, -79.863481 or 33°24’15.3”N, 79°51’48.5”W
Fees/Permits: None
Current: Flows downriver in a southeast direction.
Tidal Influence: Extremely negligible tidal influence this far up the river.
Precautions: Motorized boats go up and down the river near the two landings. While normally not a problem for paddlers, dam water releases could inundate sandbars. Call 800-925-2537 for scheduled releases.
[headline size=”medium” align=”center”]Photo Gallery[/headline]
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- It’s an easy float and paddle down this long section of the Santee River.
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- You’ll see lots of large waterfowl like this Cormorant on the Santee River.
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- The Santee River shoreline has lots of willows and hanging moss.
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- This is a quiet, beautiful section of the Santee River.
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- Winter canoe camping trip near HWY 52 on the Santee River.
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- Beautiful summer storm clouds over the Santee River.
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- Santee River- Highway 52 Aerial