# 1 - Santee Canal
Rated: Moderate
6.4 miles, round-trip
With its inception in 1796, the Santee Canal offers a lot
for the keen history buff. One of the engineers was none
other than General George Washington. The original
canal was 22 miles in length, but after Lake Moultrie was
formed, there remains a beautiful 2.5 mile section of the canal.
Difficulty: Moderate, only due to distance and crossing open water.
Distance: 6.4 miles, round-trip.
Time: 3 - 4 hours.
Crowds: Very light. You will see motorized boats/anglers. Almost guaranteed not to see anyone else in the canal.
Put In / Take Out: Angel's Landing Marina, 1556 Viper Road, Pineville, SC 29468. 800-315-3087. GPS: 33.381196, -80.091654 or 33°22’52.3”N, 80°05’30.0
Fees/Permits: $5.00 parking at Angel's Landing (as of Summer 2021).
Current: Negligible, generally a south direction.
Tidal Influence: None.
Precautions: Winds above 10 MPH can be tough for a paddler on Lake Moultrie. There is a lot of open water for wind to intensify and cause waves/whitecaps. There are hundreds of tree stumps just inches below the water’s surface. These can flip a paddler if a boat gets wedged on top. Tip: these stumps can usually be seen with polarized sunglasses.
Water Level: For this Blueway paddle trail, water level is not as much of a concern until you get further up into the canal. You can float the canal, even the upper part, above 73.50. Lake Moultrie Water Levels, click HERE.
History on the Blueway: The Santee Canal was one of the earliest canals built in the United States. It provided a direct water route between Charleston and Columbia. The canal was 22 miles long and it had two double locks and eight single locks.
So Much History Nearby: Did you know Berkeley County has more than 110 historical markers and historical points of interest? CLICK HERE to find your Adventures in History!
Weather on the Trail: Click HERE
