South Carolina | Upstate to Columbia / Broad River

Broad RiverSandy River Landing to Shelton Ferry Landing

A 6.2-mile Broad River reach with moderate Class I–II current, wooded bends and the Tyger River confluence before the Shelton Ferry dirt ramp.

Route location

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Plan this route

DistanceAbout 6.2 river miles
DifficultyModerate
Typical timePaddle SC estimate: 3–3.5 hours. Confirm locally and allow additional scouting
ShuttleCar shuttle
The Broad River near Blacksburg, South Carolina.
Route photoBroad River near Blacksburg; same-river corridor contextPhoto by NOAA via Wikimedia Commons

Need to know

Why this call
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Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
DifficultymoderateA longer moving-water day with shoals, current, limited bailout options and public-access logistics; paddle within the group’s ability.
PermitsCheck posted rulesConfirm current county, SCDNR, state-forest, parking and landowner rules at both endpoints. A public map listing does not guarantee open gates or a maintained ramp.
CampingDay tripNo on-route camping is documented; use nearby established campgrounds or lodging.
SeasonJan-DecSpring through fall is the practical day-paddling window, but Broad River levels can change quickly after rain and dam operations. Check the live gauge trend and weather before departure.

Tomorrow and the weekend

Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.

TomorrowChecking

Waiting on forecast.

WeekendChecking

Waiting on forecast.

Plan your trip

Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.

Access and shuttle

A 6.2-mile Broad River reach with moderate Class I–II current, wooded bends and the Tyger River confluence before the Shelton Ferry dirt ramp.

Access map

Skip map

Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.

End of map
Start

Put-in

Sandy River Boat Ramp

Coordinates are map-level launch anchors from Paddle SC access data, not a survey of the water-entry edge.

Finish

Take-out

Shelton Ferry Landing

Private 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

Choose your trip times

No account needed. Check the selected access points above, then choose both dates and times. For an overnight paddle, set take-out to the following date.

Trip schedule

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Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

Check how the river is changing and what weather to expect.

Water-level history and forecastDetailed view

Recent trend

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Hourly forecast

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Short-route forecast

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Why this score

See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today’s call.

Data status
Checking live inputs.

Pulling the latest gauge and weather. Usually under 10 seconds.

Gauge inputChecking

Waiting on the gauge read.

Weather inputChecking

Waiting on weather.

Next stepChecking

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Data 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.
Water levels, published guidance and update times

These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.

Gauge siteBroad River near Carlisle, SC
DischargeChecking
Gauge heightChecking
24h trendChecking
24h changeChecking
Current bandChecking
Rain last 24hChecking
Rain last 72hChecking
Air tempChecking
Water tempChecking
WindChecking
GustsChecking
Rain timingChecking
Preferred range1,000 cfs to 6,000 cfs
Low threshold500 cfs
High threshold10,000 cfs
Evidence strength behind the rangeLocal route guidance
Gauge observedChecking
Paddle Today updatedChecking
Main source behind this scorePaddle SC Broad River trip guides
Gauge sourceChecking
Weather sourceChecking
Rainfall sourceChecking
What 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 distanceSandy River Landing to Shelton Ferry Landing; 6.20 miles

    Paddle SC trip page documents this endpoint pair and distance.

    Source

  • Numeric scoring evidence500 cfs minimum; 1,000–6,000 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.

    Source

  • 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.

    Source

  • Direct telemetryUSGS 02156500

    Direct Broad River telemetry for the Broad River near Carlisle, SC corridor.

    Source

Check the source links

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Paddler reports

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Broad River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Sandy River Landing to Shelton Ferry Landing route on the Broad River?

Paddle Today watches Broad River near Carlisle, SC and treats 1,000 cfs to 6,000 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.

Where does the Sandy River Landing to Shelton Ferry Landing route on the Broad River start and end?

This route starts at Sandy River Boat Ramp and ends at Shelton Ferry Landing, about 6.2 river miles on the water.

Is the Sandy River Landing to Shelton Ferry Landing 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.

See something outdated?

Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.