South Carolina Kayaking
Charleston Family Vacations and Attractions
SALTWATER
KAYAK OR (CANOE) TOURS
The saltwaters around Charleston include a variety of habitats. You can explore bays, islands, marshes, indian ruins and more! Daily trips and overnight Expeditions available.
Expedition style and day touring sea kayaks available! - with or without rudders - your choice!
Canoes are acceptable in the marshes. Island expeditions are for Experienced Canoers only if you prefer a canoe.
Ages 14 and up can paddle their own sea kayaks
Ages 13 and under in tandems
*some exceptions allowed
   
wildlife we see on our saltwater tours
Saltwater Tours:
Sewee Indian Shell Ruins and the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge
Shem Creek and Crab Bank Island Preserve (bird rookery)
Capers Island State Heritage Preserve
Awendaw Creek Indian Ruins and Marsh Paddle
McClellanville Shrimping Harbor and Refuge
Folly River Marshes and Bird Island
information on our Blackwater Tours »
SEWEE INDIAN SHELL RUINS AND AWENDAW CREEK
This is a wonderful tour that meanders through the saltwater marshes of Awendaw Creek where the Sewee Indians once resided. We'll explore Indian Ruins and see beautiful barrier islands as we paddle through waters surrounded by the Cape Romain Wildlife Refuge. Paddlers often see Dolphins and numerous wetland shore birds, including some endangered species, as well as eagles as they paddle through the waters and once in a while are greeted by Loggerhead Seaturtles.
2 Hour, 3 - 3 1/2 Hour and 5-6 Hour Tours available. Awendaw area (24 miles from Charleston)
 
Indian
Shellmounds Salt Water Marsh Tour
 
Exploring Indian
Ruins
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SHEM CREEK & CRAB BANK ISLAND PRESERVE- We have our own On site location!
Located in the Mt. Pleasant area, just minutes from Downtown Charleston. Your paddle begins down historic Shem Creek among shrimp boats and festive restaurants that line the creek. We then journey out to a 22 Acre Island Preserve called Crab Bank, which is home to thousands of nesting shorebirds including the state threatened species Wilsons Plover and EasternBrown Pelicans. Frequented by dolphin and sometimes manatee, this is a nice wildlife paddle. This tour also includes incredible views of the historic Charleston Harbor, Castle Pinckney, Ft. Sumter, the Sullivans Island Lighthouse and Patriots Point.
2 Hour, 3 – 3 ½ Hour and 5-6 Hour Tours available. Mt. Pleasant – ( 3 miles from Downtown Charleston)
 
Beautfiul sandy beaches to explore Eastern Brown Pelicans watching kayakers!
 
Historic Shrimping Village Guide interpreting sharks teeth and shells
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CAPERS ISLAND STATE HERITAGE PRESERVE
Capers Island is a beautiful undeveloped pristine barrier island. Home to the orignal "Boneyard Beach", it gives way to incredible natural beauty. We do two different tours here. You can paddle through Sewee Bay 2 1/2 miles each way (round trip 5 miles).... to the South Side of the island. For the more experienced paddler who wants a little more challenge, you can paddle with us 5.5 miles each way (round trip 11 miles) to the North End of the Island across from Bulls Island. Both areas are wonderful. The North end offers a little more privacy, with less visitation.... Full Day Tours available only or Overnight Expeditions:
12 or 20 miles fron downtown Charleston - 2 DIFFERENT Departure Areas
 
Our kayaks on Capers Island Sunrise over Capers and Bulls Island
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McCLELLANVILLE SHRIMPING HARBOR
We begin our paddle on Jeremy creek, located in the Historic Shrimping Village of McClellanville. As we kayak past historical coastal homes and shrimp boats we head out into the harbor. Islands of spartina, bull rush and wild rice line the banks of our journey as we paddle through saltwater creeks to see remaining rice trunk gates, still functioning and left from the rice era of the 1700's and 1800's. The area is bordered by 43,000 acres of the Cape Romain Wildlife Refuge and another 11,000 acres of the Santee Coastal Reserve. This pristine wilderness is famous for it's "Bulls Bay Oysters" and delicious "Shrimp". As we explore the creeks we usually see dolphin, alligator, and several species of coastal birds. You can rent a home right on the water or camp in the National Forest only minutes away. It's a favorite place to paddle for the locals! 2 Hour, 3 - 3 1/2 Hour and 5-6 Hour Tours available.
McClellanville are (38-40 miles from Charleston)
 
McClellanville Shrimping Harbor on Jeremy Creek Over 300 species of birds in our area!
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OTHER SALTWATER TOUR AREAS WE TOUR AND BRING RENTALS TO:
FOLLY RIVER & BIRD ISLAND - 20 min. from downtown Chas. - near Folly beach
KIAWAH ISLAND AND RIVER - 30-35 min. from downtown Chas. - next to Kiawah and Seabrook Islands
SULLIVANS ISLAND NARROWS - on Sullivans island - 15-20 min. from downtown Chas.
Explore saltwater marshes and hummock islands through a maze of saltwater creeks or simply ride the tides out and back down the Folly or Kiawah Rivers. This tour gives us a good chance to see dolphins and nesting shorebirds and the elusive loggerhead seaturtle once in a while!
2 Hr., 3 - 3 1/2 Hour and 5-6 Hour tours available.
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Like to Fish? We have customized Creek Fishing by Kayak! - Let our guides take you saltwater fishing!
Discover Redfish, Seatrout, Whiting, Croaker, Flounder and more! $75/ 3 hours/ person
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Dolphin and
Birdwatching
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