Black River: This cleanest of east coast blackwater rivers originates as a narrow swamp-stream system north of Sumter S.C., widening as underground springs and other tributaries add to it, flowing southeasterly to merge with the Great Pee Dee River, and eventually emptying into Winyah Bay in Georgetown County. This riverine system consists of hardwood bottomland forest, limestone bluffs, numerous side creeks and oxbow lakes, cypress-tupelo swamps, freshwater springs, abandoned rice fields, and tidal marshes. Discover over 100 miles of the ancient roads of commerce which served South Carolina’s rice and indigo plantations from the 1700’s. The Black River Canoe & Kayak Trail begins where SC Hwy. 50 crosses the Pocotaligo River between Manning and Kingstree (Clarendon Co.) and flows through Kingstree and Andrews (Williamsburg Co.) to Winyah Bay (Georgetown Co.) for a total of 115 miles. It was designated a South Carolina Scenic River by the S.C. Dept. of Natural Resources in 2001 and a Tide Water Trail by Georgetown Co. Parks & Rec. Dept.. in 1995. The river flows through 1300 acres of The Nature Conservancy’s Black River Swamp Nature Preserve near Andrews.

"Paddling South Carolina" by Gene Able and Jack Horan (pg. 54-56,80)
"Kayak Charleston" by Ralph Earhart (pg. 85)
"Favorite Canoe & Kayak Trails of South Carolina" by Palmetto Trails (pg. 16-17, now out of print)
"Tide Water Trails Guide" by S.C. Sea Grant Consortium, Geo. Co. Chamber of Commerce tel. (800) 777-7705

Upper Black River: The Upper Black River can be very slow moving, and shallow sandbars are exposed during the dry season. The water is clear enough to see fish, but it is a dark tea color nearing black because of the tannins released by its towering cypress trees. The upper reaches to Pinetree Landing in Georgetown County are narrow and winding with very little sign of development except near Kingstree and Andrews where dry land meets the river shore. Many tributaries feed into the Black River and provide opportunities for secretive trips miles into the swamps to explore hidden ponds and islands.

Length: Total 63.8 miles; 24.0 miles -- East of Manning where SR 50 (Brewington Lake) crosses the Pocotaligo R. to Kingstree (Clarendon Co.); 39.8 miles -- Kingstree to Andrews (Williamsburg Co.)
Travel Time: from Georgetown to Kingstree 1.25 hr
Flow Rate: 929 cfs / 25 mm gpm @ US Hwy. 52 (Kingstree)
Flood Stage: 12 ft @ US Hwy. 52 (Kingstree)
Minimum Level: runnable year round @ 3 ft below US Hwy. 52 (Kingstree) but sandbars during drought
Streamflow: US Geological Survey
Gradient: 66 ft / 0.6 ft/mi

USGS Topo Maps 1:100,000 Sumter, Kingstree, Georgetown
USGS Topo Maps 1:24,000 Foreston, Workman, Kingstree, Salters, Kellahan Crossroads, Warsaw, Andrews

River House downriver from S-50, Philip Smith, weekday (843) 661-4710, cell (843) 621-7417
Scout Cabin Improved Camping at Gilland Park, Kingstree City Hall, Patricia Graham tel. (843) 355-7484 or Michelle James, town Manager
Browns Landing (aka. Dock Kellehan) half way between Kingstree and Andrews just downriver of Sims Reach Bridge
Cantley Landing (aka. Robt. D. Ervin) Improved Camping half way between Sims Reach and Andrews
Bark Landing Hunting Lodge Cabin & Improved Camping 5 mi west of Andrews, Johnny Ackerman tel. (843) 221-5770 / 221-4047
Wallinda Beach Improved Camping (aka. Rogers River House) at Hwy. 41 near Andrews, R. Staley Rogers tel. (843) 221-5024

Lower Black River: The Lower Black River becomes tidal a few miles above Pinetree Landing, and below Peahouse Landing it is much wider and deeper. The Lower Black River is always deep enough to paddle, even during times of drought. Although there is no development below Pumphouse Landing for about 12 miles, housing does begin appearing intermittently thereafter along the higher shore and bluffs, and power boating during summer weekends can be very heavy beginning just upriver of Browns Ferry for about 20 miles to US Hwy. 701. It is joined by the Great Pee Dee a few miles north of Georgetown to flow into Winyah Bay.

Length: Total 50.5 miles; 40.5 miles -- Andrews to G&W Shrine Club Landing, US Hwy. 701 in Georgetown (Georgetown Co.); 10 miles -- Shrine Club to East Bay Park on Georgetown Harbor, Sampit River.
Travel Time: from Georgetown to Andrews 30 min
Minimum Level: runnable year round
Tidal: 1’ to 3’ Andrews to Pinetree Landing; 3’-5’ below Pinetree Landing

USGS Topo Maps 1:100,000 Georgetown
USGS Topo Maps 1:24,000 Andrews, Olin, Rhems, Carvers Bay, Georgetown North, Waverly Mills, Georgetown South

Pinetree Landing Improved Camping east of Andrews, Geo. Co. Parks & Rec Dept.. tel. (843) 546-2481
Peahouse Landing Primitive Camping east of Andrews, Mt. Pleasant Pltn., manager Hubert Powell tel. (843) 221-5255 or owner Dr. Howell B. Holmes, Conway, after 3pm tel. (843) 347-7291
Old Pumphouse Landing Primitive Camping
River House downriver east of Andrews off Indian Hut Road, Ron Willis, (843) 902-0547, rwillis52@hotmail.com
River Cabins downriver east of Andrews off Indian Hut Road, Kay Sanders, (843) 527-2580
Browns Ferry Landing Improved Camping at SC Hwy. 51, Geo. Co. Parks & Rec Dept. tel. (843) 546-2481
Rocky Point Improved Camping near Dunbar, Geo. Co. Parks & Rec Dept. tel. (843) 546-2481
Mansfield Plantation Bed & Breakfast downriver from Hwy. 701 and before confluence with Great Pee Dee River