Kayaking the Congaree National Park

Local Company offers guided kayak tours of the Park. Carolina Outdoor Adventures began operating in the Spring of 2015. The company was started by Billy Easterbrooks after several years of hosting kayaking trips and event planning for friends.

“We started with guided kayaking trips on the Congaree River and are still the only outfitter in Columbia that does trips of that type. We expanded to include guided trips on Cedar Creek in Congaree National Park, Sunset paddles on Lake Murray and trips around Dreher Island State Park. We also offer custom trips on the lake that include campfire lunches! We’re not in the business of selling merchandise so our rates for guided trips are usually much lower than other outfitters who have locations to pay for”.

The tour is down Cedar Creek. This is a beautiful black-water stream running through Congaree National Park. The trip is a 3 hour “out and back” guided trip through a section of Cedar Creek.

Easterbrooks says, “You will see Bald Cypress, Tupelo, Pine and Willow Oak trees. Some of the trees in Congaree National Park are record holders! The park is also teeming with wildlife from wild boar, otter, deer, various birds and yes, creepy crawlies! Our trips focus on the history in and around the park.”

The trip includes all equipment and a guide familiar with the area.

All of the equipment is disinfected between uses and social distancing is practiced as best as possible during all activities.

Check out all of Carolina Outdoor trips at Carolina Outdoor Adventures. If you don’t see a trip scheduled on a day you would like to go on, give them a call at 803-381-2293. Depending on the schedule they may be able to do a custom trip.

Carolina Outdoor Adventures was voted the “Best Guided Tour” for 2018 by the readers of the Free Times.

Easterbrooks said, “Don’t forget to bring bug spray, sunscreen, water and dress for conditions.”