Tel: (843) 546 4840
Email:
info@BlackRiverOutdoors.com
A. Our tours meet at different locations, depending on tides and your location, so get directions when you call the store to make reservations. You can print directions from your tour's description page.
A. Cancellations must be made at least 24 hours in advance to avoid being charged. We plan for the number of guides and boats needed based on advance reservations and may turn away people if the tour fills up. Please do not sign up members of your party if you do not think that they will attend. We may cancel tours at our discretion with no charge to you in the event of bad weather or other circumstances. Special cancellation policies apply to private groups. Contact our office for details.
A. Visa or MasterCard is accepted for payment, however we cannot take American Express or Discover. If you make tour reservations with a credit card number, you must present your Visa or MasterCard card for processing on the day of the tour. Payment by cash, check or traveler's check is also accepted.
A. Brimmed hats, caps or sun visors and footwear that you do not mind getting wet. Sneakers, sandals, or surf slippers are appropriate. You may want to be prepared to swim in warmer months. If the weather will be cooler in the morning, then dress in layers since it can warm up rapidly during the day. If it will be cold and windy, gloves and a windbreaker are a good idea.
A. You should bring sunglasses with a strap, sunscreen, bug repellent, waterproof or disposable camera in a zip lock bag, a sack lunch or snacks, and plenty of liquids to drink such as bottled water. There is room for a soft-sided or small 6-pack type cooler in your kayak. Be sure to bring any personal emergency medications, e.g. for allergies, that you may require. Leave valuables that you do not want to risk dropping into the water locked up in your car or at home.
A. There are no age limits for children. We expect parents to decide whether their children will be entertained enough to last the duration of the tour. However, children under age 13 must ride in a tandem (two person) kayak with a parent to help with the paddling. Some of our tandem kayaks also accommodate a jump seat so that a very young child can ride with both parents in the same boat. Let us know if you need one when you make your reservation. We will also ask the age and weight of children to properly determine PFD sizes.
A. If you are concerned about a medical condition that you have, you should consult your physician before participating. Our guides and store personnel are not qualified to determine whether you should be paddling with a bad back, heart condition, tennis elbow, pregnancy, etc. Moderate physical ability, but no prior kayak paddling experience is necessary to participate.
A. People of all ages with a spirit of adventure and an appreciation of nature and history will enjoy paddling the slow moving waters of the Tidelands of South Carolina. Moderate physical ability, but no prior kayak paddling experience is necessary to participate. We have had guests as old as 92 enjoy our tours, by pairing them with a stronger paddler in a tandem kayak.
A. Although we do not cancel tours for passing showers, we do not intentionally conduct tours during thunderstorms. If there is a problem anticipated, we will cancel, delay, or reschedule the tour and call you early enough in advance to let you make other plans. You may hear weather forecasters on the radio and television announcing thunderstorms for days in advance. Please do not be alarmed; go ahead and make your reservations anyway. We have become very adept at checking current weather satellite photos and Doppler weather radar on the Internet in the morning. Although we can never be 100% accurate, we can better assess our local weather than the general statewide alarms that the radio and TV weather broadcasts offer.
A. Alligators, like all wildlife, can be unpredictable. But with some luck, maybe we will see one! As with all other wildlife, they would rather not encounter humans. We leave them alone, and they leave us alone.
A. Stable river kayaks, either solo (for one person) or tandem (for two people), are used on our tours. It is your choice. Some of our tandem kayaks also accommodate a jump seat so that a very young child can ride with both parents in the same boat. Let us know if you need one when you make your reservation.
A. Introductory kayak paddling instructions and a safety talk are provided by a trained guide prior to launching the kayaks. All necessary paddling equipment is provided to you. The guide also carries communications and emergency equipment and a first aid kit.
A. If you have extensive canoeing experience then we may provide you with a canoe to paddle if you wish. However, paddling a canoe requires far more skill and partner coordination than paddling a kayak. We do not provide canoe paddling instruction on our tours. Canoes are also more likely than kayaks to be blown about, especially in the salt marshes where there are no trees to block the wind.
A. See our Canoe & Kayak Rental page for availability and prices. Rentals include PFDs, paddles and cartop carriers. Multi-day rental discounts and delivery available. Sorry, we are not located on the water, but there are many fresh and salt water paddling locations within a 15-45 minute drive including five river systems: Winyah Bay, Pawleys Island, Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge, and Francis Marion National Forest. Plan your own exploration! We have maps and paddling guide books available in our store. Last minute rentals are possible, since we usually have plenty of boats and equipment available. Or call to make advance reservations, especially for week long rentals.
A. Naturalist guided kayak tours are regularly scheduled throughout the year, and locations vary weekly depending upon the time of the tides. Half day tours are scheduled year round in the mornings. Summer Full Moon tours are scheduled the week preceding full moon. Evening Harbor tours are scheduled mid-April through mid-September. In the spring, summer and fall, a two-hour Huntington Beach State Park tour is scheduled on Monday, March through mid-November. Visit our Kayak Tours page for planned dates and complete descriptions.
A. Yes you can! Gift certificates make great birthday or holiday presents and they are available for tours or to be used toward a purchase. Call during store hours with your Visa or MasterCard ready and we can mail it to you or the recipient. There is no expiration date for purchased gift certificates, and the recipient can use it at any time.
A. Unfortunately, as much as we like dogs, we cannot allow dogs on our guided tours for insurance reasons. If you would like to take your dog out on the water, you can rent a canoe or kayak. Dog PFDs are available for purchase at time of rental.