Waccamaw River Kayak / Eco Tour

The Waccamaw River is the antidote to the Myrtle Beach strip, and a guided kayak tour is the easiest way in. The river runs south from Lake Waccamaw through bald cypress and tupelo gum, and the section near Conway, about fifteen miles west of Myrtle Beach, threads the Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge through narrow, moss-draped channels of tannin-stained water.

The experience

You paddle stable sit-on-top kayaks for two to three hours on a gentle current, with no wind or wave exposure to wrestle. Guides talk you through the blackwater ecology: old-growth cypress, wiregrass banks, and the wildlife you actually see, including turtles, river otters, ospreys, and the occasional alligator. Book the morning departure. The light through the cypress canopy at sunrise photographs beautifully and the wildlife is most active before the heat sets in.

Logistics

Launch sites near Conway are a 20 to 30 minute drive from central Myrtle Beach. No prior kayaking experience needed. Bring water, sunscreen, and a dry bag for your phone. Operators run year-round, but March through May and September through November are the most comfortable. Cost runs $46 to $70 per person.