Edisto River Canoe and Kayak Trail Commision (ERCK)

Home
United States
Walterboro, SC
Edisto River Canoe and Kayak Trail Commision (ERCK)

Welcome to the Edisto River Canoe & Kayak Trail.

With over 63 miles of paddling opportunities we feel certain you will come to love the beauty of the Lowcountry of South Carolina and the magnificent Edisto River.

08/31/2026

🚣 **ERCK 2026–2027 WINTER PADDLE SERIES** 🌲

It’s almost time to get back on the water! The **Edisto River Canoe & Kayak Commission (ERCK)** is excited to announce our **2026–2027 Winter Paddle Series**, running from October through March!

Each winter, our paddle series gives participants the opportunity to explore different sections of the **Edisto River and surrounding Lowcountry waterways** while enjoying some great scenery, good company, and a side of the river that you don’t always get to experience during the warmer months.

This year’s series includes **six scheduled paddles** featuring a variety of routes throughout the Edisto River system and the ACE Basin. Whether you’ve been paddling with ERCK for years or you’re looking to join us for the first time, we’d love to have you come along!

Most trips will meet between **9:00 and 9:30 a.m.** at the designated meetup location. Our January and March trips are **tide dependent**, so meetup times for those events will be announced as we get closer to the trip dates.

📌 **Check out the attached schedule for all six paddle dates, routes, mileage, and meetup locations.**

As each paddle approaches, we’ll post a separate event announcement with **registration information, kayak rentals, shuttle details, what to bring, and any weather or river condition updates.**

Winter is one of our favorite times to experience the Edisto. Cooler temperatures, fewer bugs, beautiful scenery, and miles of blackwater river make for some great days on the water.

So save the dates, share the schedule with your paddling friends, and make plans to spend some time on the river with us this winter!

🚣‍♀️ **We’ll see you on the water!**

08/12/2026

🌊 Help Us Clean Up the Edisto! 🛶

ERCK is proud to partner with Keep Walterboro Beautiful for the 2026 SCDNR Beach Sweep/River Sweep on Saturday, September 19th!

We’re looking for volunteers to help clean up several public access points along the Edisto River in Colleton County, including Mars Old Field Landing, Good Hope Landing, and Long Creek Landing. We also need boaters and paddlers willing to help tackle sections of the river between Colleton State Park and Givhan’s Ferry State Park.

📍 Meetup: Mars Old Field Landing
🕘 Time: 9:00 AM
📅 Date: Saturday, September 19th

You don't need a boat to participate! We need plenty of volunteers on land to help clean up our boat landings, riverbanks, and access areas. If you do have a boat, kayak, or canoe and want to help on the water, we'd love to have you. Pickers and trash bags will be provided; volunteers should bring gloves, water, sturdy shoes, and sun protection.

Bring your family, friends, church group, scout troop, civic organization, or workplace crew and help us give back to one of the Lowcountry's greatest natural resources.

The Edisto gives us a lot — let's spend a Saturday morning giving a little back.

♻️ Every bag of trash removed makes a difference!

Please share and help us spread the word!

See our flyer below for more details!

06/26/2026

We're having a surprise kayak trip starting at 9:30 AM tomorrow and still have a few spots open! ERCK (Edisto River Canoe & Kayak) will be providing the guides on this roughly 4 hour program into the heart of the ancient swamp and out.

Preregistration for this program is required, and while you can bring your own equipment (provided that you can fit it in or on top of your vehicle, no trailers permitted), we have all the equipment you'd need!

Photo by Richard Covey

06/23/2026

🌿 Paddle Through the Ancient Swamp at Beidler Forest! 🛶

The Edisto River Canoe & Kayak Commission is excited to announce a special guided paddle through the breathtaking waters of Francis Beidler Forest on Saturday, June 27th.

This unique experience takes participants deep into Four Holes Swamp, where towering bald cypress and tupelo trees create one of the most remarkable natural landscapes in the Southeast. Along the way, participants will learn about the ecology, wildlife, and history of this incredible ecosystem while enjoying a peaceful paddle through one of South Carolina's hidden gems.

📅 Saturday, June 27, 2026
📍 Audubon Center at Francis Beidler Forest
336 Sanctuary Road, Harleyville, SC 29448
🕤 Check-In: 9:30 AM

Space is limited and registration is required through Beidler Forest.

🔗 Register Here:
https://tickets.audubon.org/beidler/events/6ec06b4e-ed32-880a-e852-00f0c03d3ff2

We look forward to seeing everyone on the water for a memorable morning exploring one of South Carolina's most unique natural treasures!

05/16/2026

We had a great day out at Aiken State Park for the Kayaking 101 class, where participants learned the basics of paddling, boating safety, and open water awareness while building confidence on the water.

Throughout the day, participants practiced proper paddle techniques, safety equipment use, and general on the water safety practices. The class also included kayak rollovers, self rescue techniques, getting back into a kayak from the water, and safely swimming a kayak to shore.

As part of National Safe Boating Week, South Carolina State Parks and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary partnered with the South Carolina chapter of the American Canoe Association (ACA) to offer these low cost beginner kayaking classes at Aiken State Park, Black River State Park, and Chester State Park. ERCK was proud to assist alongside ACA certified volunteer instructors and safety teams helping introduce more people to safe and responsible paddling on South Carolina’s waterways.

This year marks the fifth year of the event, which has now grown to 40 participating locations across eight states. We appreciate everyone who came out and all the volunteers who helped make the day possible. There’s no better classroom than the outdoors, and we’re proud to help more people safely enjoy South Carolina’s waterways.

04/22/2026

Really cool to see this happening at Beidler Forest Audubon Center & Sanctuary. The Prothonotary Warbler has always been one of the signature birds of the swamp, and it’s great to see that recognition at the state level.
Four Holes Swamp feeds directly into the Edisto River, so this is all part of the same system we’re lucky to paddle and protect. What happens in these wetlands carries downstream, supporting the wildlife, water quality, and overall health of the Edisto.
Proud to be connected to a place like this and to see it getting the attention it deserves.

04/20/2026

Just a heads up for all fellow paddlers and boaters:

A major blockage on the Edisto River just downstream from Sullivan’s Ferry Landing (Stumpknocker Landing) has been cleared. A large pine that was completely obstructing the channel has been removed, making passage safe again.

Huge thanks to Southern Solution Tree Care LLC for stepping up and putting in the time and effort to get it done. That kind of work doesn’t go unnoticed and makes a real difference for everyone out enjoying the river.

We appreciate folks like this who help keep the Edisto open and accessible.

Safe paddling out there!

04/04/2026

Looking for more paddling opportunities this spring and summer? 🛶☀️

Our partner organization, the South Fork Paddlers out of Bamberg County, has announced their 2026 paddle schedule on the South Fork and mainstem of the Edisto River. These trips are a great complement to our winter series and offer a fun way to stay on the water through the warmer months.

They’ll be hosting monthly trips from May through October at various landings, with free shuttle service provided and donations accepted. Trip distances vary throughout the season, and boat rentals are available. See their flyer for full details.

Planning to make a weekend out of it? Several South Carolina State Parks within the general area offer great overnight accommodations. Barnwell State Park, Colleton State Park, and Givhans Ferry State Park offer cabins or camper cabins, as well as traditional campgrounds. Aiken State Park also offers a scenic campground option for those looking to stay nearby. These parks provide excellent access to the Edisto River region and are a great way to turn your paddle trip into a full outdoor getaway. 🌲🏕️

Barnwell State Park: https://southcarolinaparks.com/barnwell
Colleton State Park: https://southcarolinaparks.com/colleton
Givhans Ferry State Park: https://southcarolinaparks.com/givhans-ferry
Aiken State Park: https://southcarolinaparks.com/aiken

Be sure to check out the attached flyer for dates, launch locations, rental information, and contact details. We’re proud to partner with this great group and encourage you to support their efforts! 🌿

Hope to see you out on the river!

Address

147 Wayside Lane
Walterboro, SC
29488

Telephone

+18435388206

Website

http://www.ercktrail.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Edisto River Canoe and Kayak Trail Commision (ERCK) posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Want your establishment to be the top-listed Arts & Entertainment in Walterboro?