South Carolina is home to some incredibly beautiful rivers. So much so, that the state has designated segments of some of our rivers as bona fide South Carolina State Scenic Rivers. There are 10 such river designations in the Palmetto State. Check out nine of them below. Can you guess which one is missing? Don’t worry… the answer will follow…
Born at the confluence of Cedar Creek and the Scape Ore Swamp (home to the famous Lizardman), the Black River has a 75-mile segment that was designated in 2001 as a state scenic river. The scenic portion runs from Clarendon County to Georgetown County.
A whopping twenty-four miles of the Ashley River leading into Charleston is designated as a South Carolina Scenic River. The designation applies to the inbound river to the I-526 bridge. Up to that point you'll experience a black water swamp, and drift past a couple of plantations filled with history of the area. Of course, being so close to the ocean, you'll also experience the incoming and outgoing tides.
From the Lake Wylie Dam down to Landsford Canal State Park, this portion of the Catawba is designated as a state scenic river. Float past a riparian forest and into a magical section of water filled with the largest stand of rocky shoal spider lilies in the world when you explore this beauty in May each year.
The scenic part of this river is found between the US-378 bridge and Winyah Bay. A wonderful place to explore the river is from the Great Pee Dee River Heritage Preserve in Darlington, although note this is slightly north of the portion of the river that is designated by the state as "scenic."
The Little Pee Dee is marked by sand bars and cypress trees. From US-378 to where it merges with the Great Pee Dee, its' 14 miles of scenic charm will beguile you.
The segment of this river just below Lake Murray is designated a state scenic river. For 10 miles as the river winds to the confluence of the Broad River, it meanders slowly through the midlands.
Five miles of the Middle Saluda River passes through Jones Gap State Park and the entirety of that passage is protected by a 600-foot-wide corridor established to protect the river. Large, moss-covered boulders, shallow water, and astounding beauty are the earmarks of the Middle Saluda.
The longest state-designated scenic river in South Carolina runs for 102 consecutive miles and features deep swamp and pine forests. Public access is available in a number of places, but Lynches River County Park in Coward is an easy choice.
Fifteen miles of the Broad River from the 99 Island Dam are designated as a state scenic river. It's easy to see why. The 99 Islands boat ramp is a wonderful place to gain access.
How many of these scenic river segments have you had to pleasure to explore so far? If you’re wondering what is the tenth designated river segment that is not included in this list… it’s a second segment of the Little Pee Dee River (a river that’s already on this list once) that happens to run through Dillon County.
For a peek at South Carolina’s top outdoor attraction, keep reading here!
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