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

Turkey-Stevens Canoe Trail: Key Bridge to Modoc Bridge

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Turkey-Stevens Canoe Trail: Key Bridge to Modoc Bridge

Skill Level: Moderate
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Rapids: Class I , II
Length: 8.30 miles
Duration: 3 - 5 hours
Portaging: No
What to Expect

This US National Forest paddling trail along Turkey and Stevens Creeks shows off a mix of rocky shoals and steep bluffs typically found along Piedmont streams with cypress trees and floodplain forests more common in the coastal plain. Small rapids and some downed trees keep you on your paddling toes. 

Access
Put in:
Key Bridge
Access Details

The Prices Bottom area provides access to multiple activities including hiking, biking, and Turkey Creek. The dirt road turnoff to this access is 0.1 miles south of the bridge. 

Take out:
Modoc Bridge - SC HWY 23
Access Details

Parking area is on the west side of the creek, north side of the road. Paved parking. 

Trip Details

This trip starts on Turkey Creek. Steep hardwood bluffs, flood pain forests and small marshy areas are a few of the varied habitats that visitors will encounter on this trail located on the southeastern part of the Long Cane Ranger District. 

The confluence with Stevens Creek is at mile 3.5, where the creek begins to get a little wider with the additional flow. 

Interesting plants such as bloodroot, anemone and the crane-fly orchid, and wildlife including hawks,
raccoons and turkeys, are a few of the things that can be seen by boaters.

Free permit required for overnight camping. This canoe trail is extremely dangerous at flood stage. Water levels rise quickly after heavy rains. Check local weather conditions. Learn the terrain and know access points. Portaging may be required over fallen trees. 

Comments (1)

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Mary Caddell
Apr 15, 2021 9:19 pm EDT
Access to Key Bridge is closed about .3 miles from Forest Svc road. Bridge is being replaced. Parked at takeout and paddled up about an hour until we reached a ledge that was impossible to navigate upstream. Beautiful little stream. No obstacles at 2.85’ flow. Modoc access is challenging. Steep steps and water about 2’ below. Narrow path to access but doable
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This 1925 Parker through truss bridge was relocated from US 17 in 1961 to replace the one-lane Key Bridge. (Credit: Flickr user cmh2315fl (CC BY-NC 2.0))
Steven’s Creek (Credit: Jason Vital)
Steven’s Creek going upstream from Modoc (Credit: Jason Vital)
Paddling upstream again (Credit: Jason Vital)
Trip Resources
River Flow (FT)
Discharge flow information
CURRENT FT
Flows for safe padding (ft)
MINIMUM
2.5
MAXIMUM
18
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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
No Information
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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