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South Carolina | Upstate to Columbia / Broad River
Broad RiverPeak-Alston Canoe Access to Harbison State Forest
A scenic 16.6-mile Broad River canoe-trail day through wooded islands and small shoals, ending at the permission-controlled Harbison State Forest hand-carry access.
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Need to know
Why this call
Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.
Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
Plan ahead
Tomorrow and the weekend
Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.
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Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
A scenic 16.6-mile Broad River canoe-trail day through wooded islands and small shoals, ending at the permission-controlled Harbison State Forest hand-carry access.
Access map
Put-in
Peake-Alston Canoe AccessCoordinates are map-level launch anchors from Paddle SC access data, not a survey of the water-entry edge.
Take-out
Harbison State Forest Canoe AccessPrivate banks and dam facilities are not assumed legal bailout or camping sites.
Road shuttle
Access notes and hazards
Access caveats
- Coordinates are map-level launch anchors from Paddle SC access data, not a survey of the water-entry edge.
- Private banks and dam facilities are not assumed legal bailout or camping sites.
- Recheck access status, gauge trend, weather and recent storm debris on launch day.
Watch for
- USGS trend and rapidly rising water
- Strainers, shoals, dams and portage decisions
- Private frontage, wind and limited legal exits
Plan this paddle
Choose your trip times
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Conditions
Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast
Check how the river is changing and what weather to expect.
USGS measurements
More about this gauge
These measurements come from the gauge station. Water depth and current can differ along your trip.
River camera · USGS
View at the gauge
Broad River at Alston, SC. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Gauge detail
Water-level history and forecastDetailed view
Gauge
Recent trend
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Gauge source
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Hourly forecast
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Short-route forecast
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Route gallery
Photos
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Score & sources
Why this score
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today’s call.
Why this scoreData reliability: checking
This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.
- Checking data sources and update times.
- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | Broad River at Alston, SC |
| Discharge | Checking |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
| Current band | Checking |
| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
| Water temp | Checking |
| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Preferred range | 2,000 cfs to 5,000 cfs |
| Low threshold | 500 cfs |
| High threshold | 10,000 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Paddle SC Broad River trip guides |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
NotesWhat to know before you go
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Named reach and distancePeak-Alston Canoe Access to Harbison State Forest; 16.60 miles
Paddle SC trip page documents this endpoint pair and distance.
- Numeric scoring evidence500 cfs minimum; 2,000–5,000 cfs is a practical planning band; review above 10,000 cfs
Paddle SC publishes the flow or stage cue for this trip. It is not a guarantee of clearance or safe passage.
- Access coordinate review2026-09-12
Endpoint coordinates are taken from Paddle SC’s downloadable Broad River access-point KML and should be rechecked against current ramp conditions.
- Direct telemetryUSGS 02161000
Direct Broad River telemetry for the Broad River at Alston, SC corridor.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Reports
Paddler reports
See recent photos and notes from people on the route.
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Keep exploring
More routes to check next
Compare another stretch on this river, or explore different rivers within 75 straight-line miles.
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All 36 routesMore on Broad River
All 19Nearby routes within 75 miles
Quick answers
Broad River paddling FAQ
What water level is best for the Peak-Alston Canoe Access to Harbison State Forest route on the Broad River?
Paddle Today watches Broad River at Alston, SC and treats 2,000 cfs to 5,000 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does the Peak-Alston Canoe Access to Harbison State Forest route on the Broad River start and end?
This route starts at Peake-Alston Canoe Access and ends at Harbison State Forest Canoe Access, about 16.6 river miles on the water.
Is the Peak-Alston Canoe Access to Harbison State Forest route on the Broad River suitable for beginners?
This is listed as a moderate route. Expect more planning than an easy float, and use the live score, route notes, and source links before committing.
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