Our Route Summary

• Submitted by: Al Vazquez
• Date Submitted: 5/99
• Email: kayak@easyposter.com
• Location: Mount Pleasant just east of Charleston
• Class: Typically flat water, tidal
• Distance Paddled: open (round trip)
• Water: salt
• Wildlife: grass tidal marsh, herons, gulls, fish

Entry and Exit

• Directions: From Charleston, take Route 17 north to Mount Pleasant. As you come down the bridge from Charleston, take Route 703 south (also called Coleman Blvd.) toward Sullivan's Island. Just after you cross Shem Creek, take a left and look for the public boat launch.
• GPS: N 32 deg 47.634' W 079 deg 52.562'
• Fee: none
• Description: paved boat ramp with adjacent floating dock
• Parking: adjacent paved
• Facilities: none there, but numerous within walking distance

What We Saw

Shem Creek is a good launch point to access Charleston Harbor to the west. Or you can paddle up the creek to explore a grassy tidal marsh typical of the southeast coast. Another example of such a wetland is Troupe Creek in Brunswick GA.

Upstream, Shem creek winds it's way past waterfront homes on the wetland. Toward the harbor, you'll see fishing boats docked near waterfront restaurants.

Within a couple of minute walk from the launch point behind the marina is a great kayak shop called Coastal Expeditions. They sell an excellent map of water launch points for the Charleston area and are a wealth of information about local paddling.