Like its sister the Black River East, the 41-mile Black River West is a genuine Lowcountry stream: Dark stained and snaking like a corkscrew through a swampy forest. But this moderately difficult river is less traveled than the Black River East and thus potentially slower going. Nonetheless, it’s a lovely place to experience blackwater paddling. In the early 1980's, the National Park Service even surveyed the Black as a candidate for the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. On the upper portions, the trail is a snarl of downfall and overhanging branches, so carry an axe or bush saw to make some portages easier. In some of the swampy sections, its easy to miss the main channel, because rising water levels form oxbow lakes that resemble the main throughway. Float time for this portion of the Black River is approximately 10 hours.  

A brochure on the entire Black River Water Trail by the Sea Grant Consortium is available from the Georgetown Visitor Center.

Camping: Primitive camping and fresh artesian well water available on Black River (East) at Pine Tree Landing with more camping available at Pea House Landing and Brown’s Ferry Landing. Contact Georgetown Chamber of Commerce for additional information.

Access Points (mileage and GPS coordinates are approximate and for reference only):

Mile 0 - (GPS N 33.6672 W 79.8452) - Gilland Memorial - This is public ramp located at Gilland Park, just west of Kingstree.

Mile 1 - (GPS N 33.6614 W 79.8367) - Highway 52 Bridge - This is a public ramp on US 52 just west of Kingstree.

Mile 9 - (GPS N 33.5865 W 79.8182) - SC 377 Bridge - This is a portage landing on the southeast side of the bridge. From Kingstree, drive south approximately 5.5 miles on SC 377.

Mile 21 - (GPS N 33.4897 W 79.5455) - Simm’s Reach Bridge - A dirt throw-in landing. From Kingstree, drive south on SC 377 and turn left onto US 521. Drive approximately 10 miles on US 521 and turn left onto Williamsburg County S-45-30. The bridge is approximately 1.5 miles. About .5 mile from the bridge is a recreational area where you can camp.

Mile 30 - (GPS N 33. 5277 W 79.6167) - Ervin Park and Landing - This is a public park that includes a picnic shelter, parking area and boat ramp. From Kingstree, drive southeast on SC 527 for approximately 16 miles, and turn right onto Williamsburg County S-45-688 (Ervin Road). The landing is at the end.

Mile 41 - (GPS N 33.4897 W 79.5455) - Pump House Landing - This is a public landing with a concrete ramp. From Kingstree, drive southeast on SC 527 for approximately 21 miles, and turn right onto SC 41. At the railroad tracks turn left onto Williamsburg County S-45-303, then left onto Georgetown County S-22-699. The landing is at the end.