Drift Down a River or Creek by Kayak or Canoe with a Local Outfitter

To truly appreciate the Carolina coast, get out on the water during your next visit. Even if you have never picked up a paddle, experienced outfitters make it a relaxing and enjoyable adventure for the entire family. 

Fueled by a passion for the outdoors, Surf the Earth wants to share the love by getting others out on the water. Take a two-hour Morning Kayak Tour through small creeks and the inlets of Pawleys Island. If conditions allow, the experienced guide will take you to a private beach. Or take the Sunset/Moon Rise Tour from the Shell Boat Ramp on Pawleys Island. Kick back and watch the sun set over a salt marsh, then see the moon rise over the Atlantic Ocean.

Take a two-hour Salt Marsh Kayak Tour with Black River Outdoors, which takes paddlers through an amazing ecosystem with a variety of wildlife. Or book the Cypress Swamp Kayak Tour, which has slow currents and is accessible for all skill levels. Guides share their knowledge of the swamp, its plans and the wildlife that resides there. The Huntington Beach State Park Morning Tour, Mondays through September and October, takes paddlers into an amazing salt marsh area loaded with birds and other wildlife. Watch for sea turtles along the way.

Book early, however, because Black River Outdoors has gone to private tours only due to covid, which means they fill up fast. 

Prefer to explore on your own? No problem. Those outfitters rent kayaks, as does Pawleys Kayaks, which will deliver equipment to your door. Their kayaks, canoes paddle-boards can be rented by the day (24 hours) or for the week. It doesn’t get much easier than Pawleys Kayaks when it comes to getting out on the water. Their staff can even recommend the best places to paddle and what you can expect to see along the way.

Put in directly on the beach from an oceanfront property. The Dinghy aka Little House on Pawleys Island isn’t exactly tiny. In fact, it’s four bedrooms with a deck and enclosed porch where you can enjoy the crashing waves right outside the windows. With the creek in the backyard, you have paddling options.

The four-bedroom Porch house is another oceanfront and creekside property, including a private creek dock to make an easy put-in with your kayak. Porches on both sides of the house allow spectacular views.