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See all 3 routes on Edisto River

South Carolina | Colleton County

Edisto RiverT.W. Messervy Landing to Good Hope Landing

A 4-mile Edisto section through wooded floodplain and the New Cut, with a quieter downstream take-out at Good Hope.

Route location

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Plan this route

DistanceAbout 4 river miles
DifficultyModerate
Typical timeAllow 2–4 hours
ShuttleCar shuttle
The Edisto River flows through a wooded South Carolina floodplain.
River contextEdisto River near Branchville; same-river context, not an endpoint or current-conditions photograph river-level context — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by KenB via Wikimedia Commons

Need to know

Why this call
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Route overview

Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
On-water distanceAbout 4 river milesT.W. Messervy Landing to Good Hope Landing
DifficultymoderateMostly flatwater with current, fallen trees and the challenging New Cut passage. Intermediate moving-water judgment and navigation are appropriate.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage at Good Hope, then drive to T.W. Messervy. Confirm the SCDNR ramp, parking and downstream landing approach.
PermitsCheck posted rulesConfirm current park or county hours, fees, parking and closure notices before launching.
CampingOptions nearbyGivhans Ferry State Park offers nearby reservable camping; no overnight camping is assumed on private banks or at landings.
SeasonJan-DecThe blackwater river responds to rainfall. Low stages expose obstacles and high stages can make channels and strainers hazardous; lower reaches become tidal downstream.

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 distinct Edisto River Canoe and Kayak Trail section from T.W. Messervy Landing (public SCDNR ramp) to Good Hope Landing (public Colleton County ramp).

Access map

Skip map

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Start

Put-in

T.W. Messervy Landing (public SCDNR ramp)
Open mapDirections to put-in

Coordinates are access-area anchors, not surveys of water entry.

Finish

Take-out

Good Hope Landing (public Colleton County ramp)
Open mapDirections to take-out

The current Givhans Ferry park notice says cabin-area stairs to the river remain closed; the park identifies a drop-off area and a separate boat ramp about three miles away. Do not rely on the stored park-area point as an open launch.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • Coordinates are access-area anchors, not surveys of water entry.
  • The current Givhans Ferry park notice says cabin-area stairs to the river remain closed; the park identifies a drop-off area and a separate boat ramp about three miles away. Do not rely on the stored park-area point as an open launch.
  • Do not block ramps or assume a landing remains open during floods, construction or park closures.
  • The lower Edisto becomes tidal downstream; these routes stay above the documented tidal sections.

Watch for

  • Fallen trees, strainers and New Cut
  • Rapid rises or low-water portages
  • Cold water, storms and summer traffic

Plan this paddle

Choose your trip times

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Trip schedule

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Conditions

Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

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Gauge detail

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Gauge

Recent trend

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Weather

Hourly forecast

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Route gallery

Photos

Check each caption: some photos show the surrounding area rather than this exact trip.

The Edisto River flows through a wooded South Carolina floodplain.
Edisto River near Branchville; same-river context, not an endpoint or current-conditions photograph river-level context — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by KenB via Wikimedia Commons
CC BY-SA 3.0

Score & sources

Why this score

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Data status
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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.

Why
  • Checking data sources and update times.
Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times

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

Gauge siteEdisto River near Givhans, SC
Gauge heightChecking
DischargeChecking
24h trendChecking
24h changeChecking
Current bandChecking
Rain last 24hChecking
Rain last 72hChecking
Air tempChecking
Water tempChecking
WindChecking
GustsChecking
Rain timingChecking
Preferred range4.00 ft to 7.00 ft
Low threshold2.00 ft
High threshold10.00 ft
Evidence strength behind the rangeOfficial data source
Gauge observedChecking
Paddle Today updatedChecking
Main source behind this scoreSCDNR Edisto River Basin Boating Guide
Gauge sourceChecking
Weather sourceChecking
Rainfall sourceChecking
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 distanceT.W. Messervy Landing to Good Hope Landing; 4 miles

    ERCK lists this as a distinct trail section with public access at both ends.

    Source

  • Numeric scoring evidence2–10 ft at Givhans; 4–7 ft easier New Cut passage

    SCDNR publishes the official 2–10 ft planning envelope; ERCK gives the narrower 4–7 ft passage cue.

    Source

  • Direct telemetryUSGS 02175000

    Direct Edisto River near Givhans stage station used for the scored profile.

    Source

  • Public access reviewERCK access sites

    ERCK lists the endpoint chain, but current park notices control access; Givhans drop-off and the separate boat ramp are distinct, and cabin-area stairs remain closed.

    Source

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

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Reports

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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.

More in South Carolina

All 36 routes
South Carolina route guideBrowse every tracked South Carolina route.Colleton CountyJump to routes in this region.

More on Edisto River

All 3
Mars Oldfield Landing to Good Hope LandingColleton CountyModerate · About 13.5 river milesMars Oldfield Landing to T.W. Messervy LandingColleton CountyModerate · About 9.5 river miles

Nearby routes within 75 miles

North Fork Edisto RiverBaughman's Landing to Orangeburg City Landing · about 48 straight-line mi awayModerate · About 9.2 river milesBlack RiverGilland Memorial Park to Mill Street Landing · about 56 straight-line mi awayEasy · About 1 river milesBlack RiverPump House Landing to Pine Tree Landing · about 60 straight-line mi awayEasy · About 5 river milesBlack RiverPump House Landing to Pea House Landing · about 60 straight-line mi awayEasy · About 10.3 river miles

Quick answers

Edisto River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the T.W. Messervy Landing to Good Hope Landing route on the Edisto River?

Paddle Today watches Edisto River near Givhans, SC and treats 4.00 ft to 7.00 ft as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.

Where does the T.W. Messervy Landing to Good Hope Landing route on the Edisto River start and end?

This route starts at T.W. Messervy Landing (public SCDNR ramp) and ends at Good Hope Landing (public Colleton County ramp), about 4 river miles on the water.

Is the T.W. Messervy Landing to Good Hope Landing route on the Edisto 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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