Kayaking into Francis Marion Forest from Paradise Landing

Surrounded by fog, ten of us launched from Paradise Landing at 11 a.m. to catch the tail end of a rising tide.  (High tide forecast at 1:30 p.m.)  Temps were around 60 but with no wind.

We were headed up the Wando River to its headwaters and the Francis Marion National Forest.  Near the launch, we paddled between marshgrass-covered islands riding the gentle current.

Google street view from Guerins Bridge points downstream. The scenery is typical of the first half of this paddle

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Other than assorted birds including a few buzzards, we saw no wildlife.  Finding a place to get out for lunch is always challenging on this paddle.  By the time everyone gets hungry, the channel (an old rice field canal) has narrowed and is edged with steep banks.  On the map, I've marked where we stopped on this trip and where I've stopped in the past.

This trip's stop was superior to the one I've used in the past but requires agility in exiting the kayak.

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We paddled 5.5 miles upstream before encountering a tree blocking further progress.  At that point the channel had narrowed so that the longer boats had to back paddle a ways to find sufficient width to turn around.

Notes:  It's important to catch a rising tide so that you reach your turnaround at high tide.  This is important because as the tide falls, more tree blockages emerge.  Poor planning will either force you to turn around sooner OR trap you above a tree blockage.