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However, the water level fluctuates wildly and these creeks are only canoeable after ample rainfall (usually February through about May). We use the steps at the Modoc put-in to gauge whether or not to paddle and which section to paddle. See the table that follows:
| Level
(USGS Gauging Station) |
Section | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Below tops of Rocks at bottom of steps
(< 1.8 feet) |
Forget canoeing | Hike the adjoining trails |
| Near tops of rocks
(1.8 to 2.2 feet) |
Keys bridge to Modoc | Paddleable, but VERY rocky |
| Between tops of rocks and bottom of steps runner
(2.4 to 3.4 feet) |
Keys bridge to Modoc | Watch for rocks |
| Between bottom of steps and bottom step
(3.4 to 4.5 feet) |
Keys bridge to Modoc or section above | Best level for this section |
| Consider Upper Stevens Creek | Watch for rocks | |
| above bottom step
(above 4.5 feet) |
Paddlers choice | Lucky you |
| above all steps | Dangerous: very fast current and difficult rescue! Watch for floating trees! | |
The numbers within the parenthesis in the first column are for the "Stevens Creek near Modoc" station listed under the "Savannah River Basin" in the USGS South Carolina Current Streamflow Data Web Site.
: These creeks can be blocked by large Log Jams. These log jams are extremely dangerous and should be approached with extreme caution. It is advisable to find out about log jams from someone who has paddled these creeks within the current season.
Our favorite section is from Keys Bridge (Edgefield County Hwy 68) on Turkey Creek to the Stevens Creek take-out at Modoc (SC Hwy 23). This section is very scenic with mostly National Forest surrounding the creek. The Forest Service maintains steps at the put-in and take-out which make access possible. The put-in is at the end of a short forest service road which is in the curve before Keys Bridge. There is also a bit of an uphill tote at the take-out.
The Forest Service also maintains a put-in on Turkey Creek at SC Hwy 283. This section to Keys Bridge is a short section which we have found to be frequently blocked by log jams. We seldom paddle this section since it is very similar to the Keys Bridge to Modoc section but not nearly as interesting. This section would require several inches higher water level than listed for the Keys Bridge to Modoc section.
The section from Sportsman Corner (Edgefield County Road 53) to the Stevens Creek Boat Ramp near the Savannah River (off of Edgefield County Road 433) is usually lake paddling with very little current but quite frequently some wind. This section is about 4.25 miles long.
It is a good section for learning to paddle on a calm day. Since there is usually no current, you can put-in at either end and paddle one-way and then back and not need a shuttle. The west (river right) side of the creek is mostly undeveloped National Forest and timber company land, providing nice scenery and a hint of the scenery to be found above Modoc. The east (river left) side of the creek is developed (it parallels Martintown Road). But there are some very nice houses along as well as some real dumps. The creek can be shallow in a lot of places and is usually very muddy. This section (and the nearby Savannah River) is a good place to see a Bald Eagle and/or Osprey. About three quarters of a mile beyond the take-out is the Savannah River. My version of the book "Paddling South Carolina" shows the Stevens Creek Dam being on Stevens Creek, but despite the name, it is on the Savannah River where the two come together. This dam is about a mile above the dam where the Augusta Canal (at the Columbia County Pavilion) begins.
