Middle Saluda River: Pumpkintown Road (Unofficial) to Hunts Bridge Road (Unofficial)

Skill Level: Difficult

Loading

Rapids: Class II , III

Length: 9.90 miles

Duration: 5 - 5.5 hours

Portaging: No

What to Expect

Along this stretch, the Middle and South Saluda Rivers converge directly downstream of the put in; one mile before the take out, the South and North Saluda Rivers converge. Because this stretch of river is very curvy, there is a high potential for woody debris; paddlers should use caution at all times.

Access

Put in:

Pumpkintown Road River Access (Unofficial)

475 Pumpkintown Road, Marietta, SC 29661

Access Details

River can be accessed downstream of the bridge, river-left. Limited roadside parking is available 250 feet east of the bridge. Banks can be steep, use caution. This access is unofficial but regularly used. Use at your own risk.

Take out:

Hunts Bridge Road River Access and Roadside Parking (Unofficial)

899 Hunts Bridge Road, Easley, SC 29640

Access Details

Access is downstream of the Old Hunts Bridge Road bridge, river-right. The banks are steep; use caution. Park along Hunts Bridge Road, river-right. This access is unofficial but regularly used. Use at your own risk.

Trip Details

Waterway:

Upper Saluda River

Upstream Trip (1)

Middle Saluda River: Highway 11 (Unofficial) to Pumpkintown Road (Unofficial)

Downstream Trip (1)

Upper Saluda River: Hunts Bridge Road (Unofficial) to Saluda Lake Landing

Comments (1)

Please Sign In or Create Account to add your photo to this trip

Derrick Sjodin

Jun 22, 2019 10:13 am EDT

06-22-19. Ran this yesterday on our river SUPs. We love this stretch. So peaceful. Most likely you will not see another person. We put in at Freeman bridge. First hour of float has a lot of downed trees. You can skirt around or duck most but there are 2 logs you have to lift your boats over. We kind of like going around the trees as it makes it a little more difficult creating obstacles and some hard paddling to get through some holes. There’s s couple great beaches to stop at along the way. The rapids are pretty mellow but I still wiped out as it was a little shallow. We take out on the sandy side under Old Hunts Bridge, opposite side of where you park.

Please Sign In or Create Account to add your photo to this trip