Givhans Ferry Condition Park & the Edisto River

Have you visited Givhans Ferry State Park or the bordering Edisto River location? KAG contributor Liene explored the Lowcountry, which includes the Edisto River area and Givhans Ferry State Park, as a correspondent to the South Carolina 7 Wonders expedition. What she found is that not only is the Edisto deserving of the title 5^th Speculate of South Carolina, but collectively with the encompassing area tends to make a distinctive spot for a loved ones weekend in the Lowcountry!

Spots to Continue to be In close proximity to Givhans Ferry Condition Park and the Edisto River Area

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The Edisto River

The Edisto River is the longest, cost-free-flowing, blackwater river in North The us, the h2o showing tea-like from the tannins introduced by decaying vegetation. Blackwater rivers these types of as the Edisto are commonly sluggish-shifting waterways that move through forests, swamps, or wetlands. From the spring-fed headwaters in the central Sandhills, the Edisto flows by means of the heart of aged-advancement stands of tupelo-cypress forests to the loaded estuary of the ACE Basin. 

Edisto River’s name originated from the phrase edisto, a Native American time period that suggests “black.” It was most very likely named as these kinds of by the Edisto Tribe, a member of the Cusabo loved ones of tribes that lived alongside the river in present-day Edisto Island and surrounding Charleston and Colleton counties. This tribe disappeared from the location in the early 1700s as a end result of disorder and warfare, nonetheless, the Kusso-Natchez Tribe adopted Edisto Indian Organization as their new identify in the 1960s in honor of their ancestral settlements along the river in existing-day Dorchester and Colleton counties, and communities of their descendants dwell there today.

Paddle the Edisto River Canoe and Kayak Trail

There are a lot of techniques to experience the Edisto, but 1 of the most effective methods to examine it is from the drinking water: by kayak, canoe or tube. The Edisto is a paddler’s paradise, with 62 of its 250 miles formally element of the Edisto River Canoe and Kayak Trail (ERCKT), and amid a multitude of community and non-public camping and obtain details to the ERCKT are two condition parks, Colleton and Givhans Ferry. The two provide camping & picnicking sites and have practical launch web sites for an Edisto paddle – it is 23 miles from one particular park to the other through the river. 

For maps, river entry factors, and far more information, check out the ERCKT site.

Go fishing, mountaineering, or tubing at Givhans Ferry Condition Park

Givhans Ferry Point out Park is a person of 16 SC Point out Parks constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps, like its 4 cabins and Riverfront Corridor on a bluff overlooking the river. It is the closest park to Charleston with overnight amenities, and also has 25 entire-service campsites and 2 picnic shelters. The two Givhans Ferry and Colleton take part in the SC Dept. of Purely natural Sources sponsored Deal with Loaner Application, with rods and reels available for bank loan at the park business office. With a valid SC fishing license, your family can fish the Edisto for flathead, catfish, bass, and eel. 

The Park also features hiking, with the 1.5-mile River Bluff Character Trail boasting scenic views and prospects to birdwatch, bicycle, and geocache. It is a extremely quick walk down to the kayak launch, exactly where there is a modest beach region and riverfront. Though there are no lifeguards on obligation, the Edisto obtain is really well-liked with family members hunting to awesome off for the duration of the very hot summer months. For admission details, remember to go to the SC Point out Parks web-site for Givhans Ferry.

A preferred Givhans Ferry exercise is tubing with Edisto River Adventures. Just after launching from the kayak launch, you will float the two miles to the Edisto River Adventures take-out exactly where you can participate in a match of sand volleyball or cornhole, picnic, and make the most of the transforming rooms in advance of the generate dwelling. For a lot more information and facts and pricing, be sure to check out the Edisto River Adventures web-site.

Find the wildlife of Audubon Beidler Forest

A further terrific way to practical experience the location is with a stop by to Francis Beidler Forest, the 18,000-acre hen and wildlife sanctuary in the South Carolina Lowcountry. Beidler is the world’s most significant virgin cypress-tupelo swamp forest, dwelling to thousand-year-outdated trees and a large assortment of wildlife. It is a terrific area to go to for households, as the overall 1.75-mile path is a boardwalk: straightforward to adhere to, and supplies secure viewing of wildlife without the need of having muddy or soaked. On our current stop by, we saw a lot of lizards and snakes, as perfectly as birds of all measurements, even in the warmth of a summertime afternoon!

Tickets are needed for boardwalk admission, and the Center’s several hours are now restricted remember to go to the Audubon Beidler Forest internet site for additional info. The next Saturday of each individual thirty day period is no cost admission, or if you are not able to sign-up for a walk on the boardwalk, there is the new Grasslands-Woodland Trails near the entrance to the heart alternatively that doesn’t have to have tickets. You can abide by Beidler on Instagram and also Beidler Forest on Facebook for a virtual appear at the Sanctuary and the animals that call it house!

For the adventurous kayaking the ERCK Path to Givhans Ferry: a shorter facet journey will acquire you to the confluence of the Edisto River and Four Holes Swamp in Beidler Forest continue to keep your eyes open up for wild turkey, beaver, kingfisher, excellent blue heron, and egrets together the way!

An unsure long run: America’s Most Endangered Rivers

In 2014 the South Fork of the Edisto appeared in America’s Most Endangered Rivers report, and the year immediately after that Edisto was included as very well. As the state’s most closely employed river for irrigation, extreme water withdrawals continue on to be a major threat decrease h2o ranges let daylight to penetrate even further into the water, allowing for for a lot more vegetation in the drinking water as perfectly as algae blooms, as very well as brings about saltwater to encroach better upstream. 

Collectively with the Ashepoo and Combahee Rivers, the Edisto is aspect of the ACE Basin. A lot more than 130,000 acres of land have been guarded through general public/personal partnerships in the coronary heart of the ACE Basin, and companies these types of as American Rivers proceed to operate to provide sustainable h2o supplies for all, when supporting river health and fitness and recreation on the Edisto and neighboring rivers. 

The South Carolina Condition Parks these kinds of as Givhans Ferry and Colleton are great places for us to find out more about these exclusive ecosystems of South Carolina, such as the black waters of the Edisto. It is less complicated to guard the destinations that we know and really like, and the option to get our people outdoors and to be energetic in these attractive destinations is a blessing. I hope you’ll delight in discovering the splendor of this area of South Carolina as considerably as our household has! 

Givhans Ferry Condition Park
746 Givhans Ferry Street, Ridgeville, SC, 29472

Have you at any time been swimming in a blackwater river? You should permit us know about your family’s favorite place to pay a visit to on the Edisto River!