# 10 Santee River 1: Wilson’s Landing to HWY 52 — Rated: Very Strenuous, 25 Miles
Click Here for Downloadable Santee River # 1 Trail Guide
Click Here for COMPLETE Downloadable Berkeley Blueways Guidebook
Summary: Wilson’s Landing is located on the tailrace of the Lake Marion Dam. This is the longest paddle in the Berkeley Blueways program. This 25-mile section of the Santee River is best attempted by camping overnight and making two days of the adventure. During most water levels, there are many sandbars along the trip. There is very little sign of human habitation and wildlife is abundant.
Difficulty: Very strenuous, due to distance and the potential of Class 1 riffles. Tenured paddlers only!
Distance: 25 miles
Time: 9 – 12 hours of paddling
Crowds: Very light. You’re likely to only see motorized boats near the two landings. Not many paddlers make this journey either.
Boat Type: Kayaks or canoes 14-feet or longer, with room for overnight camping provisions. Paddle boards are not recommended.
NOTE: Requires staging 2 vehicles or arranging pickup!
Put In: Wilson’s Landing, 1541 Wilson Landing Road, Pineville, SC 29468.GPS: 33.448418, -80.158270 or 33°26’54.3”N, 80°09’29.8”W
Take Out: 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
Fees/Permits: None
Current: Flows downriver in an east 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 campsites. Call 800-925-2537 for scheduled releases.
Water Level: For this Blueway paddle trail, the Lake Marion Tailrace gauge height should be less than 32.00 with a discharge rate of less than 2,000 cubic feet per second. For gauge height, click HERE. For discharge rate, click HERE.
History on the Trail: Information coming soon – May 2021
.
SHOP LOCAL – Support Berkeley County Business
Food Nearby: Information coming soon – May 2021.
Guide Service and Kayak Rentals: Contact Blueway Adventures, 843-697-2812. www.bluewayadventures.com. Berkeley County’s only kayak guide service.
- There are a few class 1 riffles on this section of the Santee River.
- Great Blue Heron in early morning near the Wilson’s Landing boat ramp.
- Beautiful early morning light and fog rising from the Santee River.
- Fishing is always great on the Santee River
- Parts of this section of the Santee River are lined with beautiful cypress trees.
- At the end – paddling under HWY 52 bridge.
- Dam at Lake Marion/Santee River, just upstream from Wilson’s Landing.
- Santee River-Wilson’s Landing Aerial
Santee River-Wilson’s Landing
Santee River-Wilson’s Landing Aerial
Berkeley County Blueways Map
.
.
Website, design, guidebooks and original professional photography by: