Paddle SC
Camping Fee Required Handicap Accesible Parking- Dedicated Lot Roadside Parking Restrooms / Toilets

Lawson's Fork Creek: Goldmine Road (Lawson's Fork Creek) to Upper Pacolet Shoals

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Lawson's Fork Creek: Goldmine Road (Lawson's Fork Creek) to Upper Pacolet Shoals

Skill Level: Easy
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Rapids: Class I
Length: 4.00 miles
Duration: 2 hours
Portaging: No
What to Expect

This trip begins on Lawson's Fork Creek and ends at Pacolet Mills along the Pacolet River. The majority of this stretch of the Pacolet River includes lazy waters with occasional Class I rapids as the river approaches the town of Pacolet Mills. The downstream Upper and Lower Pacolet Shoals Dams create lake-like paddling conditions as the river gets closer to Pacolet Mills. This stretch is primarily rural in scenery.

Access
Put in:
Goldmine Road River Access and Roadside Parking
Access Details

Located downstream of the Goldmine Road bridge, river-right. Paddlers can access the river by following the steep path along the bank down to the water, about 5 yards.

Take out:
Upper Pacolet Shoals Take Out
Access Details

After the confluence of Lawson's Fork Creek and the Pacolet River, there are no rapids. Approaching the Town of Pacolet, take-out at the first dam on river-right. Restrooms are available adjacent to the water tower by the bridge on Sunny Acres Drive. This is a take-out only.

Trip Details

The Upper Pacolet Shoals take out is a 10-minute drive from Goldmine Road. There are no road crossings along this section. There are a few Class I ripples along this stretch, but it is mostly flatwater. Upon nearing the Upper Pacolet Shoals Dam, the take out will be river right; look for the signs indicating take out. A short 130 foot trail leads from the river to a paved parking area. Be advised that paddling between the Upper and Lower Pacolet Shoals Dams is strictly prohibited. Restrooms are available adjacent to the water tower by the bridge on Sunny Acres Drive. For additional information, view Upstate Forever's Pacolet River and Lawson's Fork Creek Blueway Map.

Waterway: 

Comments (4)

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Christine Le Clair
May 31, 2023 9:44 am EDT
We are a new Outfitter in the area and we run trips and shuttle service (for people with their own boats) from Clifton Beach to Pacolet and from Goldmine Rd to Pacolet. Check us out at www.vintageviewvacay.com for dates, times and prices.
Carla Beals
Aug 01, 2021 9:39 am EDT
Tried to paddle to here a couple of days ago from Clifton Beach but Clifton Beach was closed and then the park at Pacolet Shoals dam and the area around the dam was closed.
Krzysztof Zaryczny
Aug 10, 2020 11:31 am EDT
Paddled 9/19/20 @ 350CFS. Flow was slow, however we didnt have any issues. Couple fun little ledges. Mostly flat water. Took us 2 hours to paddle the section. Most of the river is nice. One part had barrels and old equipment in the river. Take out was easy and it was at a park which was nice.
Danny Bright
Jun 29, 2019 11:07 pm EDT
Lawson's Fork Creek: Goldmine Road (Lawson's Fork Creek) to Upper Pacolet Shoals Took this trip today 06/29/2019. This is a great trip with no obstacles. The trip took us about 2.5 hours from put in to take out. This section of the river is very clean and pretty ride. Although there is a lot of trash at put in on Goldmine Rd. I would love to see someone get a group together to clean that area. I would be glad to help.
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Goldmine Road River Access (Credit: Upstate Forever)
Parking Area at Goldmine Raod (Credit: Upstate Forever)
Pacolet River below Goldmine Road (Credit: Upstate Forever)
take out at Town of Pacolet (Credit: Upstate Forever)
Town of Pacolet take out from the Pacolet River (Credit: Upstate Forever)
(Credit: Matt Kramer)
Trip Resources
River Flow (CFS)
Discharge flow information
CURRENT CFS
Flows for safe padding (cfs)
MINIMUM
325
MAXIMUM
750
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Skill Level
Easy
Moderate
Difficult
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Flow Level
Runnable
Above Runnable
Below Runnable
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Skill & Flow Level
Easy
Moderate
Difficult
Advanced
Runnable
Above Runnable
Below Runnable
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Access Amenities
Parking - Dedicated Lot
Parking - Roadside
Restroom / Toilets
Fee Required
Handicap Accessible
Camping
Paddle SC is presented by
Upstate Forever
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
South Carolina National Heritage Corridor
Rainey Foundation