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Author Topic:   Scenic rivers in southeastern United States
David Jenkins posted 05-04-2006 09:12 PM ET (US)   Profile for David Jenkins   Send Email to David Jenkins  
Please use this thread to recommend scenic rivers in the southeastern United States that we might explore in Boston Whaler boats.

If you have experience with a specific river, please tell us the best place to launch the boats, how many miles the river can be navigated, are there hotels or campgrounds on the water, etc.

Thank you!

fno posted 05-05-2006 08:06 AM ET (US)     Profile for fno  Send Email to fno     
Suwannee River, North Central Florida. About 90 miles of navgable waterway for Whalers. Basically from Banford, FL to the Gulf of Mexico. Boat ramps are abundant as there are county ramps, state park ramps, etc. A triple A map shows them all. Amenaties like dining and motels are on the slim side. You can find a motel in either Old Town or Suwannee at the Gulf entrance. This is a big river and is mostly worry free except for the shoals above Branford and a sandbar below Manatee Springs State Park. Speaking of parks, you will have access to several on the Suwannee and some of them offer camping facilities as well. In addition, a large portion of the Southern end of the Suwannee is surrounded by National Wildlife Preserve. The big attraction will be the crystal clear springs of Manatee, Fanning, and Little River Springs. Millions of gallons of fresh water rises up from the underground caves each day. One note of caution is that the river sometimes floods during the Winter and or Spring and always if a hurricane has passed through in the last 3 months. When this happens, a lot of debris comes down the river, docks and ramps are under water. It's generally unsafe and not a fun time on the river. The river levels can be checked online at the NOAA flood site.
fno posted 05-05-2006 08:06 AM ET (US)     Profile for fno  Send Email to fno     
Suwannee River, North Central Florida. About 90 miles of navgable waterway for Whalers. Basically from Banford, FL to the Gulf of Mexico. Boat ramps are abundant as there are county ramps, state park ramps, etc. A triple A map shows them all. Amenaties like dining and motels are on the slim side. You can find a motel in either Old Town or Suwannee at the Gulf entrance. This is a big river and is mostly worry free except for the shoals above Branford and a sandbar below Manatee Springs State Park. Speaking of parks, you will have access to several on the Suwannee and some of them offer camping facilities as well. In addition, a large portion of the Southern end of the Suwannee is surrounded by National Wildlife Preserve. The big attraction will be the crystal clear springs of Manatee, Fanning, and Little River Springs. Millions of gallons of fresh water rises up from the underground caves each day. One note of caution is that the river sometimes floods during the Winter and or Spring and always if a hurricane has passed through in the last 3 months. When this happens, a lot of debris comes down the river, docks and ramps are under water. It's generally unsafe and not a fun time on the river. The river levels can be checked online at the NOAA flood site.
Mambo Minnow posted 05-05-2006 09:12 AM ET (US)     Profile for Mambo Minnow    
St John's river, northeast to central Florida. One of the few rivers in North America (also New river, in VA) that flows south to north. Starts in central Florida near Sanford and is navigable all the way to the Atlantic Ocean near Mayport, FL.

This is a big, slow flowing river in it's lowest stretches, so big and small whalers alike can navigate. There was an excellent Trailer Boats magazine article two years ago on cruising the St Johns. They parked their tow vehicle in Sanford, FL and took the Amtrak train to Jacksonville, where they launched the boat to cruise up river to Sanford. There are countless marinas, restaurants and ramps for transients along it's entire length.

One can still see the "old" Florida of fish camps, spring fed creeks and gators and manatees. But, it's disappearing quickly due to hungry developers. Marinas are disappearing, sold out to the latest condo development and public access to the river is decreasing. Water quality is suffering too from too much fertilizer and pollution unregulated. Best times to go are April-May and October-November to escape the oppressive heat/humidity.

If a group comes, count me in. I have lived here two years and love it. I have boated with my Dauntless 15 and now my Conquest 21.

runpasthefence posted 05-05-2006 11:01 PM ET (US)     Profile for runpasthefence  Send Email to runpasthefence     
The Cooper River, Charleston SC.
My version is a little longer than most. I leave from my house on James Island which is on the second of the Twin Sisters creeks. This would be similar to using the Folly Beach boat landing site.
From here I travel past Morris Island, through Govenors Cut, and into Clark's Sound. Next, passing the northern tip of Morris Island on the right, and Ft. Sumter on the left, I head Northwest towards downtown Charleston. After passing Ft. Johnson bear North between the Charleston Battery and Castle Pinkney. Taking the leftmost river under the new Cooper River Bridge will set you on a course up the Cooper River towards Lake Moultrie.
There are far easier ways to get to this point, but this happens to be my favorite. Many would prefer using the Wappoo Cut landing instead. The path previously stated tacks on an additional 15 miles.
From the base of the Cooper to Pinopolis Lock is about 48 miles very navigable waterway, very scenic waterway. Pinopolis Lock grants access to Lake Moultrie. A twelve mile jaunt in Moultrie will Land you in Lake Marion. 22 miles in Lake Mario will situate you at the convergence of the Congaree and Wateree Rivers.
This will probably be one of the first things I do when I get back from New Zealand in July. CW members are more than welcome to tag along.

Mick

runpasthefence posted 05-05-2006 11:22 PM ET (US)     Profile for runpasthefence  Send Email to runpasthefence     
Also, one of my favorite day trips is taking the Intercoastal Waterway from Charleston to Beaufort with the option of staying overnight in Beaufort or heading back to Charleston the same day.

I am curious about the navigability of the Savannah River. After looking at my MapSource sofware, there appears to be about 175 miles of navigable river that lies north of the ICW. I think a Charleston to Savannah to Augusta run would be a lot of fun. Maybe have someone meet me in Augusta with my trailer, or even make the run back. My software says the river is not navigable beyond North Augusta, but there is a lock at the Augusta Dam. Any CW members have experience with the Savannah River?

Mick

runpasthefence posted 05-08-2006 02:07 AM ET (US)     Profile for runpasthefence  Send Email to runpasthefence     
I was really hoping this thread would take off, so I'm going to give it a little bump.
kingfish posted 05-08-2006 08:24 AM ET (US)     Profile for kingfish  Send Email to kingfish     
Apalachicola River - many miles of undeveloped scenery that I know of starting from it's mouth at the town of Apalachicola. I have been 45 miles upriver from there, and I understand it goes on up into Georgia in a navigable fashion. I believe there to be at least 100 miles (maybe more) to explore, and I believe as you get into the northern 50 miles, there are more ramps to be found. Not many in the lower 50 (45) miles, maybe 12 dozen and some pretty primitive, with the exception of a number of ramps and lifts around Apalachicola itself. Highly recommended.

John

David Jenkins posted 05-08-2006 03:33 PM ET (US)     Profile for David Jenkins  Send Email to David Jenkins     
We have explored the Suwannee River a couple of times. We enjoyed camping at the Manatee Springs State campground but were disappointed that the park ranger would not allow us to tie up the boats over night (we had to haul out). Another time we camped on a sandbar upriver but it was private land and I am not sure if it is still possible to camp there. We did not see any hotels with docks on the Suwannee (we must have missed them?), so we boated over to the Crystal River and the Homosassa River and found great hotels there.

We have also enjoyed boating on the St. Johns River and have camped at Hontoon Island State Park. I am not sure my family wants to go back there though as it was hot, the bugs were bothersome and the kids did not find a lot of activities to keep them busy (no beaches, swimming hole, trails, biking, museums, or other kids).

We are excited about exploring the Cooper River. If someone organizes a rendezvous, count us in for that one. Same for the Apalachicola River.

The Savannah River looks gorgeous but is it safe?
http://www.ananuclear.org/waterreportpressrelease.html

Does anyone have experience on some of the other South Carolina Rivers such as the two Pee Dee Rivers, the Black, the Santee, the Edisto, or the Coosawhatchee?

skiprobinson posted 05-15-2006 01:31 PM ET (US)     Profile for skiprobinson  Send Email to skiprobinson     
Hey David,
I hope you are well!

If you will forgive a small amount of interest I think I can share a bit of data with you. I was telling a friend about our recent Waccamaw trip and he shared with me a similar one starting in the middle of the state of SC. He and deveral friends took put their boats in the water on the northern end of Lake Moultrie, below Columbia and then traveled across the lake. There is a Lock system on the Dam and they went thru the locks , dropped down 150 feet and then were in the Cooper river ( I am pretty sure its the cooper) and it was less then 50 miles downstream to Charleston, where they spent a weekend night and then reversed the trip on Sunday AM. If its the Ashley rather then the Cooper, please forgive me, but I think you get the gist of the trip, he said it was great fun and there is no shortage of things to do in Charleston for your wife and daughters.

As a side note, if you are still looking to rent a coastal vacation spot, my friend Bill who was with me on the waccamaw trip owns a 3 br 2 ba condo on the marsh side of Bald Head Island and there is direct dock access straight to his place without using the BHI marina, If you are interested, please e-mail me and I can get you a good rate, I vacation there every year and I cant wait to take my boat out there this summer.

Regards,
Skip

David Jenkins posted 05-15-2006 10:55 PM ET (US)     Profile for David Jenkins  Send Email to David Jenkins     
Skip,

I like both of those ideas. Thank you. I will email you about Bald Head Island.

As for the trip to Charleston, could your friend post a trip report here?

David

GAwhale posted 05-16-2006 11:34 AM ET (US)     Profile for GAwhale  Send Email to GAwhale     
Count us in on a Cooper River Trip.

It would be a great idea for a Whaler Rendezvous.

There is a very nice public launch facility near the Cooper River Bridge (North end) called Remley's Point. We have launched there several times, but have never gone exploring up the Cooper River.

Philip

skiprobinson posted 05-16-2006 09:20 PM ET (US)     Profile for skiprobinson  Send Email to skiprobinson     
David and Phil,
Do y'all think we could run the Cooper for our Southern Rendezvous next Spring? I am willing to do some exploration and make a pre run if I can get one more boat to go along for safety especially since I was the designated towee last time around!

What do y'all think?

I will get trip details and get them posted.

Tight Lines

Skip

david...BHI is AWESOME in summer and you can boat out of the Cape Fear or stay inshore, I cant wait to spend my week there this summer!

runpasthefence posted 05-16-2006 10:05 PM ET (US)     Profile for runpasthefence  Send Email to runpasthefence     
Skip
In my above post about the Cooper I said it'll be one of the first things I do when I get back. I've made the run a few times, of course I start in Charleston end in at Lake Moultrie, rather than what ya'll have been talking about. If you or anyone would like to tag along, you are more than welcome. But this is kind of a tentative plan depending on when I'll be de-rigging my 15'.
Aldog posted 05-17-2006 05:35 PM ET (US)     Profile for Aldog  Send Email to Aldog     
I hope to make the trip from the top of Santee Cooper's Lake Moultrie to Charleston in the next few weeks in "Tabasco". As my schedule solidifies I will post my trip date and see if anyone is interested. I live here in SC and have fished the lakes but have never made the entire run.
RobinB posted 03-24-2007 01:43 PM ET (US)     Profile for RobinB  Send Email to RobinB     
I realize this thread was a year ago but I would like to take a trip from the northside of Moultrie to as far south as possible. I would appreciate any info about motels and good food that I could dock at along the way. I would like to take a 5 to 10 day trip.
Thanks for the HELP!
PeteB88 posted 03-25-2007 01:05 PM ET (US)     Profile for PeteB88  Send Email to PeteB88     
Perfect timing - we'll scout as many as we can on our road trip to FL beginning this weekend. We decided not to take the 13 but you never know.

THANKS

ej posted 03-27-2007 04:43 PM ET (US)     Profile for ej    
The Appalchicola is 110 miles long. It is formed by the Flint and Chattahochee Rivers at the town of Chattahoochee.
The Flint and Chattahoochee are dammed forming Lake Seminole and the Apalachicola empties out of the lake.
The river channel had been maintained by the corps of engineers but the dredging permit has not been renewed in several years (I think). You can pass through the locks and enter into Lake Seminole and either take the Flint to Bainbridge Ga. or you can take the Chattahooche which runs along the Fla./Ga. border until you reach the Alabama state line. The Chattahoochee is then the Al./Ga. state line before it takes an eastward turn toward Atlanta. I have never been up the Chattahoochee past the Fl./Al. state line, but I understand it is very scenic.
If you have a smaller Whaler (17ft. or under) you may want to check out a smaller lesser known river that empties into the Apalachicola called the Chipola River, you will not find many facilities along the way, make sure you have food water, and fuel because it will be hard to find after you launch. Happy Boating.
ej posted 03-27-2007 10:36 PM ET (US)     Profile for ej    
Another scenic river you may be interested in if you are in the area would be the Wakulla. South of Tallahassee.
It is very short, only a few miles and a lot of no wake zones, a nice lazy afternoon cruise.

One more note about the Apalchicola, if you go and decide to cool of in the water, be aware there are some very large critters (gators) in the water.
Also if you do the Apalchicola, you will find no lodging other than Apalchicola that I am aware of. You may be able to find some fuel and snacks in Wewahitchka on the way, There is a nice boat landing in Blountstown which is about 75 miles north of Apalachicola and about 30 miles south of Chattahoochee. There are some marinas on Lake Seminole, I think the lock operator knocks off around 3:00 pm or 3:30 if you decide to go into the lake.

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