Special thanks to photographer Vanessa Kauffmann — you can purchase this photo and others on Vanessa’s website.

The part of the river shown above is called Fork Retch and is located near Mullins off SC 76.

There are many ways to enjoy the Little Pee Dee River. Many folks just grab a beer, hop on a float, and enjoy a lazy cruise downstream. Fishing, camping, canoeing, and kayaking are also great ways to experience this scenic river. Several parts of the Little Pee Dee have received State Scenic River designations, so make sure to take a moment to appreciate its quiet beauty while you’re traveling downstream!

If you aren’t interested in getting in the water, you can always visit Galivants Ferry – best known for its political rally the “Galivants Ferry Stump” – which is located along the river. For those seeking solitude, the Little Pee Dee has many retreats, like this beautiful old train trestle.

SCIWAY contributor Warren Bennett says in his opinion the Little Pee Dee River “not only exemplifies the beauty of the Pee Dee region, but offers a stark contrast to the economic hardships the area has faced in the past decade.”

Many thanks to Dick Hurlbut of McCormick who took this picture during the fall of 2010. He says that this picture “was taken from our back deck early in the morning during early fall when the trees were starting to turn. The air was beginning to be cool, but the water was still warm which created the misty conditions.”

The river is named for the Stono Indians, a small subtribe of the Cusabo, and is an integral part of the Intracoastal Waterway.

SCIWAY thanks Ralph Preston of Murrells Inlet for sharing this picture he took in May 2010.

The Santee River begins just upstream at the confluence of the Congaree and Wateree Rivers. This encompasses the Cowasee Basin.

SCIWAY thanks Leonard Vaughan of Lexington for submitting this picture and information.

He writes: “This photo is of Laurel Fork Creek just above Laurel Fork Falls where the creek empties into Lake Jocassee. It was taken while on a backpacking trip in May 2008. This creek has a lot of salamanders and small fish. It also happened that early May is a good time to see the Blue Ghost Fireflies that have the unique characteristic of not flashing. They emit a steady light and the woods were thick with them as soon as the sun went down. It literally looked as if someone had strung Christmas lights through the woods.”

More information, including directions: Laurel Fork Falls and Trail.

Designated a National Wild and Scenic River in 1974, the Chattooga is protected under federal law. The US Forest Service strictly monitors the 15,432-acre corridor to ensure its continuance as a place of natural beauty and recreation. The river contains several sections of whitewater rapids and is home to some of South Carolina’s most challenging kayaking and rafting.

The Chattooga is most well-known for being used as the fictional Cahulawassee River in the 1972 film Deliverance.

SCIWAY thanks Michael Traufler of Columbia for sharing this photo he took in May 2007.

In the center of the city, the river drops significantly to form Reedy River Falls, the focal point of beautiful Falls Park. From there it continues to flow south into Laurens County where it eventually joins the Saluda River at Lake Greenwood.

In the late 1700s, European settlers purchased land along the Reedy River and established grist mills and trading posts. The river became the center of Greenville’s growing economy, and by the early 1900s the grist mills had given way to textile mills. Unfortunately, the Reedy suffered greatly from the city’s progress as it became polluted and unsuitable for recreational activities.

It wasn’t until 1967 that the condition of the river began to improve. The Carolina Foothills Garden Club reclaimed 26 acres along the Reedy in downtown Greenville to be used for a park. Since that time, the Garden Club and the City of Greenville have worked alongside various state and federal agencies to develop the park and clean up the river. Recently, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and other groups have created a watershed planning guide to further ensure the health of the river.

SCIWAY thanks Jenny Munro of Greer for sharing this picture she took in October 2007.

The trail led from the Appalachian mountains to the coast. Archaeologists have found tools, pottery, and arrowheads in the Congaree Preserve which are believed to be from Native Americans who traveled through this area.

There is a 3-mile hiking trail loop at the park where you can enjoy a variety of flora and fauna. The Guignard Brickworks Trail runs through part of the preserve and is a designated Millenium Trail. Millennium Trails honor the past and celebrate the future through natural settings. If you would like to expand your adventure, Congaree National Park – the first national park in South Carolina – is close to the preserve and is a great place to paddle, tube, or fish.

Janae Davis of Gaston took this picture while she was visiting the Congaree Creek Heritage Preserve in November 2007. She says the preserve “is full of mystique, surprises, and beauty.”

Learn more about the history of SC Indians.

The Coosa tribe was a subtribe of the Cusabo, which loosely translates as Coosawatchie River people. Unfortunately, the Cusabo and its subtribes are now extinct. During the late 1600s and early 1700s, they suffered attacks by both colonists and the fierce Yuchi tribe. The enslavement of Indians was also officially sanctioned during this time, and many Cusabo were sold to plantations in the West Indies. By 1750 the Cusabo no longer existed as a distinct tribe, and it is commonly believed that its members merged with the Catawbas or the Creek of Georgia.

Altogether, the Coosawhatchie River flows through four South Carolina counties: Allendale, Hampton, Jasper, and Beaufort. The areas surrounding the river were home to several Civil War and American Revolution battles, including the Battle of Coosawhatchie in 1779.

Many thanks to Lamar Nix for sharing this photo he took during a low tide sunrise in 2010.