Alison Trenga told me about this new launch stie and I remarked back to her that the site was pretty much useless because the downstream section to Ashely River Park was too obstructed. (I have paddled upstream with several club members on at least two trips in the last two years and we could not get more than about 1.5 miles upriver from Ashley River Park). This section could be a “gem” in the low country.
Alison relayed my concern to her Dorchester County official who told her..and now us..that they are working on funding to clear at least a 4-8 foot path downstream.
There is a beautiful website for the launch. Google: Swan Drive River Access.
A few of you know that I am almost finished with an addendum to the 5th edition of the guidebook: Kayak Charleston: Trips Within an Hour of Charleton”. I have a section titled “Coming Soon”. This is what I say about this landing.
Ralph E.
Swan Drive Kayak Launch (On the Ashley River, upstream from Bacons Bridge). Use: 137 Swan Drive, Summerville
This landing is currently functional. It is approximately about 5 river miles upriver from “Ashley River Park” at Bacons Bridge Landing. However, the 5-mile trip between these 2 landings is currently not possible due to downed trees. In the past few years, I have been able to paddle about 2 miles upstream from Bacons Bridge before I was stopped by the fallen trees. Dorchester County is currently obtaining funding to clear a path through the deadfall. The plan is to remove some trees, but larger trees would be left for habitat, but with a 4 to 8 foot clearing cut to permit the passage of kayaks.
The Dorchester County web page for Swan Drive Kayak Launch says the 5-mile trip between the landings is suitable for experienced paddlers. I recommend trying to paddle upstream from Ashely River Park before launching at Swan Drive with the expectation of going all the way, no matter how experienced a paddler might be.
Important note to Swan Drive Kayak Launch: Why do I recommend paddling upstream from Ashey River Park for the exploratory trip? Why not paddle downstream? In my experience, paddlers are more likely to get caught by an obstruction (tree limb or fallen tree) and tip over when they are paddling downstream because the river current “relentlessly” forces paddlers into the obstruction. It is very difficult to back away. When paddling upstream, against the current, a paddler can easily back away from an obstruction.
There is a story behind this from this very section of the Ashley River. It was probably in February 2003 that the Lowcountry Paddlers launched from Jessen Landing, planning to paddle up to Bacon’s Bridge Road, eat lunch on the shore, and paddle back. About 6 of us decided to break away and explore upriver from Bacon’s Bridge. There had been a little rain the prior week, so there was a steady current going downstream. There was no problem paddling around obstructions going upstream against the current. We finally were stopped by too much tree fall, turned, and paddled back…with the current. All of a sudden, the obstructions “came upon us very quickly”. It was difficult to slow down to maneuver around them. When someone in the front stopped to carefully work around one, paddlers behind them found it difficult to stop their progress and became jammed up behind those in front. Two paddlers ended up in the water. A little later another paddler was in the water. Fortunately, we all knew to bring dry clothes on winter paddles, so the dunked paddlers were able to get to the shore and get dry. FYI, I was one of the dunked paddlers. I was tipped over trying to rescue the first person to be tipped. Please be careful paddling with the current when there are obstructions in the water.