Every public boat landing and hand launch from Georgetown to Surfside Beach — with GPS coordinates, tidal notes, parking info, and local paddler tips. The most complete launch guide on the Grand Strand.
One of the most popular public kayak launches in Murrells Inlet. Paved ramp, parking lot, and easy access to the main creek channel. Great starting point for exploring the marsh.
Historic landing on the Waccamaw River. Excellent access for paddling upriver through cypress swamps or downriver toward the inlet. Watch for boat traffic.
Launch from the causeway inside Huntington Beach State Park. Excellent for paddling the freshwater lagoon or the saltwater marsh. Wildlife is incredible — alligators, herons, ospreys.
Public boat ramp at Garden City. Good access to the tidal creeks behind the strand and the main channel heading toward the inlet. Popular with local fishermen.
Quiet launch site near Litchfield Beach. Great for paddling the tidal creeks and exploring the undeveloped marsh north of Pawleys Island. Very little boat traffic.
Classic Pawleys Island launch. Paddle the salt marsh behind the island or head south toward Litchfield. Gorgeous scenery and excellent birding. One of the most scenic paddles on the Grand Strand.
All launches in this corridor are tidal. Check NOAA tide charts for Georgetown or Myrtle Beach stations before every paddle. Plan to launch 1–2 hours before high tide and return before the tide drops too far.
Always wear a properly fitted PFD. File a float plan with someone on shore. Carry a whistle, bilge pump, and a dry bag with phone and snacks. Cell service can be spotty in marsh areas.
Launches at Wacca Wache and SC 544 access the Intracoastal Waterway. Paddle single-file on the right side of the channel. Large vessels have the right of way – move to the marsh edge if a barge approaches.
Early morning (7–10 am) offers calm winds, great wildlife activity, and lighter boat traffic. Spring (Mar–May) and fall (Sep–Nov) offer the best temperatures and biting-insect conditions.
Browns Ferry and Georgetown-area launches lead into blackwater rivers. Water is naturally dark from tannic acid – it's safe and clean. Bring a GPS or download offline maps; creek junctions can be confusing.
Pawleys Island ramps (Tom Crocker, Shell Rd, Pritchard St) have very limited parking. Drop gear at the ramp first, then find street parking. Oyster Landing has the most parking in the corridor — 112 spaces.
This corridor is home to bottlenose dolphins, loggerhead sea turtles (May–Oct), alligators (all freshwater/brackish areas), osprey, herons, and bald eagles. Keep a respectful 50-yard distance from marine mammals.
South Carolina sun is intense March–October. Use reef-safe SPF 50+, wear a hat and sun shirt. Bring more water than you think you need – dehydration sneaks up on the water.
Pack out all trash, including fishing line. Do not disturb oyster beds – they are critical habitat and fragile when exposed at low tide. Monofilament recycling boxes are available at several ramps.
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