Daily Tours and Rentals

Charleston South Carolina offers a wonderful variety of outdoor attractions and areas to explore that are perfect for both kayaking and canoeing. Nature Adventures is the closest outfitter to downtown Charleston, but we also offer tours in the creeks of the Francis Marion National forest and waters surrounding the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge.

Kayak or Canoe and Paddleboard rentals are available for those who want to explore on their own while tours are just right for a memorable family vacation. Beginners and ages 4 and up are always welcome.

Daily tours of 2 hour, 3 hour or full day as well as overnight expeditions are available. Expedition style and day touring sea kayaks available - with or without rudders - your choice! Canoes are fine on calm days in the marshes or anytime in the blackwater creeks and swamps.

 

(c) Dakota Walker, 2012   (c) Dakota Walker, 2012   (c) Dakota Walker, 2012   Swallow Tail Kite

Blackwater Tours

Explore The Blackwater Tours Here

Just 35-50 minutes from Charleston you can explore cool and shaded blackwater swamps, rivers and historic rice plantations. Paddle through a flooded forest in a protected wilderness area in the National Forest and see 1,000 year old cypress trees or see a 300 year old church overlooking thousands of acres of rice fields where eagles nest, full of wetland wildflowers. Wildlife includes the shy and elusive alligator, turtles, wetland wading birds, woodpeckers and sometimes river otters!

Watch the Blackwater Video!

 


(c) Dakota Walker, 2012      (c) Dakota Walker, 2012      (c) Dakota Walker, 2012        (c) Dakota Walker, 2012  

Saltwater Tours

Explore the Saltwater Tours Here

Just 3 minutes to 35 minutes surrounding Charleston, the saltwater tours include a variety of habitats that include shallow bays with historic harbor views, sandy beaches with barrier islands, or saltwater marsh creeks. Paddle to 4,000 year old Indian ruins in the National Forest and journey back in time! Wildlife includes dolphin and nesting colonies of thousands of Eastern Shorebirds. Manatees and Sea Turtles are seasonal and are seen about 10-20% of the time during summer months. Our Shem Creek & Crab Bank Island tour has the most wildlife and chance for seeing dolphin, but you’re welcome to also explore the waters surrounding the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge just up the coast.

Watch the Saltwater Video!

 

Rentals & Equipment

We have Carbon Infused Paddles and High End kayaks & Canoes! No other outfitter compares! We have over 100 kayaks and canoes to choose from!

We rent sea and recreation kayaks, canoes and paddleboards.

Rentals are available at Shem Creek Saltwater location 8 am to 7 pm, 7 days a week!

Walk up Rentals are welcomed at our Shem Creek location any time if they are available, however, advance reservations will guarantee your kayaks for you.Walk up Tours may be available, but it’s best to call ahead of time for a reservation. 

At our Blackwater Locations a 24 hour advance reservation for both Rentals and Tours is required.

Click here for our Rentals

Upcoming Special Events

Fathers Day Cookout & Fun Paddle

Sunday, June 16th

Get outdoors and do something different that dad will enjoy. The day will start with a luncheon cookout at Hampton Plantation with Hamburgers, Hotdogs and more. While there, enjoy the plantation trails and mansion tour. After lunch we’ll embark on a family fun paddle down Wambaw Creek to the Santee River along the banks of Hampton Island. We can anticipate seeing alligators and turtles from a safe distance all the while enjoying the great outdoors in a safe, creek environment.

Led by University Degreed and Master Naturalist Nature Adventures Guides. * Extra fee for the cookout food.

Meet at 11:00 / 11:30 a.m. for the cookout and mansion tour, followed by a 1:00 p.m. 2 hour paddle, returning by 3 p.m.


ACA Essentials of Kayak Touring Class

Saturday, June 22nd

9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
$95

$85 for Tri-county Residents

Itinerary

Course Objectives:

To teach beginner paddlers to safely and enjoyably kayak on lakes, calm protected ocean environments, and other flatwater settings.

Course Duration:

Eight hours

Course Location:

Calm, protected flatwater, within swimming distance of shore.

Learn More


“Summer Blues and Plantation Barbeque” Paddle and Cookout.

Saturday, July 13th

 Cool off in the shade of the giant live oak trees at the plantation and along the banks of Wambaw Creek as we celebrate Summer. On the paddle we’ll discover rich cultural history with rice gate trunks and hand dug canals along the way. Afterwards, we’ll enjoy Barbeque and Blues music by local musicians. *Extra fee for the barbeque.

Meet at 9:30 a.m. for the paddle at Echaw 204 Bridge, returning at 12 noon, then 12:30 until 3:00 for the music and barbeque at the Plantation.


Costa Rica

 Costa Rica Adult Retreat

August  3rd-10th, 2013
Only $1400 for 7 days of Lodging, Activities, Food and Fun!

  • Waterfalls
  • Horseback Riding
  • Volcano Exploration
  • Ziplining
  • Sea Turtle Nesting by moonlight

Learn More!

Watch the Costa Rica Video!


“Plantation Pictures & Paddle”

Saturday, August 17th

Get inspired and bring your camera along! On this paddle we’ll be joined by the famous “duo” of professional photographer Seldon B. Hill and William P. Baldwin who wrote the book “The Unpainted South”- Carolinas Vanishing World.

The authors will share with us their incredible knowledge of plantation life and history in this book, both on the grounds and on the paddle. Autographed books will available afterwards for purchase through the gift shop.

Meet at 9:00 a.m. for the paddle at Echaw 204 Bridge, returning at 11:30 a.m.; then 12 noon – 2 p.m. Meet the authors at the plantation and enjoy the mansion tour.


“Rivers and Rice Plantation Paddle”

Saturday, September 21st

 On this paddle we’ll journey through the fresh and brackish marsh creeks of Hampton Plantation where we’ll see the abandoned rice fields along the way. Afterwards, we’ll get to see the Carolina Gold Rice grown on the plantation at the mansion and will hear about this rich and incredible history that once thrived.

Meet at 9:00 a.m. for the paddle at Echaw 204 Bridge, returning at 11:30 a.m.; then onto the plantation for the Mansion Tour and Carolina Gold Rice Presentation



View All Events

Why Choose Us?

Nature Adventures Outfitters gives proceeds back to environmental organizations and causes. Environmental organizations like the National Sierra Club ask us to lead their South Carolina tours. When you paddle with us you are helping to save the land and animals around us. See the list of organizations Nature Adventures Outfitters supports.

Client Testimony:

"Went on an amazing kayaking tour of Shem Creek Shrimping Village and Crab Bank Island Preserve. It was my first time ever kayaking and I would recommend it to anyone who loves to do things you don't always have a chance to do. And if the guides are as interesting and knowledgeable as ours you will have a blast. Thank you Kelsy. Learned a good bit of new things about Charleston and some of the animals. It helped to make for a blessed last day. "
 -Dustin Jones

 

Our Mission

Nature Adventures Outfitters is dedicated to providing quality experiences to all of our customers which includes excellent customer care. Our Professional Master Naturalist guides are also personable and friendly and many are certified ACA Coastal Kayak Instructors. We strive to make each customer leave with a lasting memory of an amazing experience Nature Adventures mission is to provide tours for the preservation of the environment.

Environmental organizations ask us to lead their tours. Our testimonials from clients are wonderful and we have been quoted as having "Outstanding Guide Services” by Canoe and Kayak Magazine and we are the “Recommended Area Outfitter” by National Geographic Adventure Magazine! We are also dedicated naturalist who care deeply for the environment and we contribute time, energy and money to environmental causes in an effort to help protect these precious resources. To see more of what we are doing please visit our Awareness Counts! page

Nature Conservancy Bird of Prey Center  Land Conservancy

 Keeper of the Wild

Audobon  SCBNI Sewee Assoc Sierra Club  Wilderness Society  SCPIA

 

Video Blog

These videos were filmed and edited by one of our guides, Dakota Walker and others. View All Videos.

 

 







Our Guides

Bob Eli Kathie John Tillman Dakota
 



 

About NAO

At Nature Adventures Outfitters, our entire focus is on giving you the best kayak experience the waters near Charleston and the South Carolina coast have to offer. Whether you're staying at the Isle of Palms, Sullivans Island, or Downtown Charleston, we have tours for every member of the family. Featuring expedtition sea kayaking to South Carolina attractions including the barrier islands, blackwater swamps and rivers. No experience necessary, so plan your next South Carolina vacation with Nature Adventures Outfitters!

Our record on Safety and accurate Naturalist interpretation has given us a reputation as Coastal South Carolina's most recommended and respected Kayak Guide Service.

Environmental Organizations paddle with us and we've had repeat clientele for years!

Contact Us

We are the closest outfitter to Charleston and the oldest and most respected naturalist guide service!

You can GPS in 483 West Coleman Blvd,
Mt. Pleasant 29464 and it will take you into our parking lot on the water at Shem Creek. Do not use this address for our other tours - click here for directions to our Blackwater Tours or our other Saltwater Tours.

Main Location: 483 West Coleman Blvd Mt. Pleasant. South Carolina (On the water at Shem Creek) All others: See our Directions page on our website.
Telephone:  843-568-3222
Telephone 2:  800-673-0679
E-mail:  nao@att.net
 Mailing Address: 1900 Iron Swamp Rd. Awendaw, SC 29429