Water Trail

Aiken State Park Canoe 

(Aiken State Natural Area)

TrailMap

Description: In Aiken State Natural Area, the South Fork Edisto River meanders for an easy 1.7 miles between two canoe landings. It’s an opportunity  to make a shorter excursion on a river that usually takes days. The surrounding land in Aiken State Natural Area is a combination of river swamp and dry sandhills, with the latter area offering evidence of an era when the ocean pushed this far inland. The park is extremely popular among fisherman and campers because of the easy river access and four spring-fed lakes. But paddlers have the extra bonus of a cleared canoe path, giving people a chance to explore the South Fork’s narrow waters. In the state park, the river doesn’t have the width of the lower Main Stem. Instead, a tight channel delves through a canopy of trees for an unusual tunnel effect. Signs will guide you along the way.

Length: 1.7 miles one way