Ecotourism: Canoeing and Kayaking Around Summerton, Santee, and Lake Marion, S.C.

When you visit the Summerton area and nearby Lake Marion, you will find many waterways to explore in your canoe or kayak, e.g. rivers, creeks, islands, swamps. The area is attracting kayakers from across the U.S. in ever greater numbers as ecotourism in the country continues to grow.

Canoeing is a paddle sport in which you kneel or sit facing forward in an open or closed-decked canoe, and propel yourself with a single-bladed paddle. Canoeing was once the primary mode of long-distance transportation throughout much of North America. Kayaking involves the use of a kayak for travelling across bodies of water. It is distinguished from canoeing by the sitting position of the paddler and the number of blades on the paddle. In a kayak the paddler faces forward, legs in front, using a double-bladed paddle. Most kayaks also have closed decks.

Key bodies of water to explore in this region near Summerton, Santee and Lake Marion include:

• Cantey Bay
• Jack's Creek
• Potato Creek
• Sparkleberry Swamp
• Santee National Wildlife Refuge
• Taw Caw Creek
• Wyboo Creek

* Read about the "4th Annual North Shore Kayaking Race" on Lake Marion.

Selected Information Sources

• American Canoe Association
• Canoe & Kayak Magazine
• Paddling.Net

Annual North Shore Kayaking Race on Lake Marion

Also, make sure you check out the following:

• Blacks Camp Eco Tours
• FishEagle Wildlife Tours

* For more detail, visit the Summerton SC: Nature & Outdoor Recreation web site.