Sumter National Forest

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Sumter NF Paddling

Chattooga River
Enoree River
Tyger River
Turkey/Stevens Creek

It is no overstatement that Sumter National Forest offers extreme paddling opportunities. Whitewater does not get more thrilling than Section III of the Chattooga River, which borders the Forest's Andrew Pickens Ranger District. The Chattooga River is one of the few remaining free-flowing streams in the Southeast. It flows through dense, undeveloped forests abundant with wildlife, although you will hardly have time to observe anything but the river ahead of you as it twists around boulders and plunges over ledges.

The Forest offers the other extreme in paddling, too. The gentle Turkey/Stevens Creek Canoe Trail in Long Cane Ranger District never has whitewater, unless it is at flood stage. On this river paddlers can enjoy observing life on the riverbanks. Wildlife watchers might see deer, turkeys, raccoons, hawks, and waterfowl. Plants such as bloodroot, anemone, geranium, wild ginger, cranefly orchid, and partridgeberry are present.

In the Enoree Ranger District, the Enoree—the River of Muscadines—will move you downstream at a rate of about two to three miles per hour. The Tyger River has no real whitewater, either, but runs fast enough from time to time to produce a mild frisson.