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Flowing through the heart of Congaree National Park, Cedar Creek is a major part of this dynamic floodplain wilderness area. It could be the finest canoe trail in the Midlands, too, since floating this dark waterway feels like taking a trip back to prehistoric times.

Starting near Camden, the oldest inland city in South Carolina, the blue trail offers paddlers opportunities to learn about the area’s rich history along its rocky shoals. Continuing downstream, paddlers cross the fall line and enter the coastal plain known for its countless sandbars, high bluffs, and extensive floodplain.

Paddle down the canal to the Combahee River on this trail. On the Beaufort side you will pass Parker’s Plantation (former home of W. Summerset Maugham).

Cuckhold’s Creek offers scenic beauty, especially during the spring when the rare white spider lilies are in bloom along the banks, and the sight and sounds of many birds fill this serene area.

The first part of this float will be through a canopy of hardwood trees, which will open and you will pass old tidewater rice fields. If you want to do a shorter trip, or just make a lunch stop, Price’s Bridge Landing is on the right bank of the creek after about an hour.

This area is especially beautiful in the fall when the trees are in color. As the river widens you will start to see old rice fields and plantations.

At about 2.5 miles into this trip, Penny Creek empties into the Edisto River where you will pass a number of rice plantations, and if you are adventurous, many small creeks to explore.

On the Hutchinson Island trail, you will come to St. Helena Sound where you may be treated to a wide range of birds such as pelicans, terns, gulls, cormorants, and loons. Later, you will follow towards the narrow entrance to Rock Creek. The water can be rough in this area during bad weather.

The Saluda Scenic River (commonly known as the "Lower Saluda") is recognized as an outstanding recreational resource. The tailrace waters from Lake Murray reservoir provide a cold water fishery and varying river flows for recreational boating. Popular activities on the Lower Saluda include fishing for trout and striped bass, whitewater and flat-water paddling and tube floating.

Goodale State Park is sure to please those who love wilderness canoe trips and kayaking in South Carolina, as paddling is one of the park’s main attractions.