Paddleboarding and camping at Santee State Park is at the top of our list of one of our favorite vacations ever! The park and the lake are huge. The park is so huge, in fact, that it has two separate campsites and a section of cabins. Different You can find so many things to see and do at this beautiful park.
Camping
We loved camping at Santee State Park. Many of the Campsites have electricity, water, a fire ring, and a view of the lake.
Santee State Park is so large that they had two RV and tent compatible campsites. We stayed at the Cypress View Campsite.
The other campsite was called the Lakeshore Campsite. Don’t let the names fool you though. The Cypress View campsite sounds like it isn’t going to have a view of the lake, but our site and many of the sites did. Many of the sites at the Lakeshore Campsite also had nice lake views.
Our campsite had a lot of shade, a view of the lake, and two trees with the perfect amount of space between them for hammocks.
One afternoon, we blue bubbles while relaxing in the hammock. A group of kids from another campsite joined in on the bubble popping fun. One of the funniest moments is when a little boy about 4 years old, ran over, popped a bubble, then grabbed Neeshie’s hand while exclaiming, “We found the queen!” They ran around in the open field playing and popping bubbles together for a good half hour. We used the electrical outlets to hang lights around our campfire and twinkly lights in our tent.
The fire ring was well used as well. We roasted marshmallows and made smores every night.
The fire ring also had a grill that could swing on top of the fire or swing away from the fire. One night while we were enjoying the fire, my husband said, “Man, I wish we had some bacon so I could cook it on the fire.” I replied, “We do!” So at about 9:00 pm at night, we spontaneously cooked bacon on the fire ring, and it was delicious.
My kids put on a pretty funny dance show on that same night as well. It was a sight to behold!
Each campsite also has its own picnic table. We used our portable stoves to cook breakfast and dinners each day. The table was a perfect spot for us to enjoy our meals.
Paddleboarding/Kayaking
I am telling you, there are parts of this huge lake that looks like you have stepped into an enchanted land, and we got an up-close and personal view from our paddleboards.
First, we paddled some on the open water. We were careful to watch for boats as we crossed the open water.
With the lake being so big it wasn’t overly crowded though. During our visit, there seemed to be plenty of room for everyone. After paddling in the open water, we decided to explore the Cypress forest nestled in the water.
These trees that live in the water are a sight to behold. These water trees are truly majestic!
Before heading back to our campsite, we stopped at a small “beach” area for a quick snack.
We had packed trail mix, cheese-its, grass-fed beef jerky, and a few drinks on our paddleboard. Our little snack gave us the energy we needed to paddle back to our campsite.
About the Alligators
We debated about paddling in this water because we new Alligators did live in the area; however, after doing some research we decided we were comfortable with paddling in Lake Marion, but not the swamps. While researching we came across “The Burkley County Blueways 25 Paddling Trails” ebook by Scott Lynch and sponsored by the Berkeley Soil & Water Conservation District.
In this book the author writes the following:
“After thousands of miles paddled on the Blueways, we can tell you that alligators are not a concern. They are exciting to see, but they are also difficult to see. Why? Alligators do not want anything to do with you. If you see an alligator, count yourself lucky. They do not stick around long and move away very quickly. Use common sense. Treat alligators with respect. Never feed an alligator (or any wildlife). Never approach them on purpose, and just paddle on.”
We also learned that Alligators prefer the shallow waters of the creeks and swamps. Although they can venture into Lake Marion, this is not where they are usually found. Alligators are also more active in the evening. This is when they hunt for food.
So, after researching we decided that we would paddle in Lake Marion, and of course, avoid the swamps. Some of our pictures may look like we were in the swamps, but we were actually still in Lake Marion. The open water was just past the small patch of Cypress Trees that you see in the picture. We also made sure we paddled in the morning and middle of the day. We were back at the campground well before the evening when the alligators become more active.
Swimming
Swimming is allowed in Lake Marion at your own risk. However, you are not allowed to swim around the pier cabins. A small “beach” area is located just to the right of the Cypress Landing Store. This is an area where some people swim. Several picnic tables are also nestled along the shore in this area.
Boating
Boat docks are located near both campsites. The Cypress View boat dock was to the left of the Cypress Landing shop and pier. We saw several boats leaving from the dock near us. While paddleboarding, we probably saw around 4 or 5 boats in the course of several hours. The Lake was definitely not overcrowded with boats.
Hiking
The Oak Pinolly Trail was near our campsite. We enjoyed this little 1-mile trail on our last day, just before heading for home.
The two other trails were near the Lakeshore campsite.
For us to get there, we had to either ride our bikes or drive. We drove to the Sinkhole Pond Nature Trail. You can actually see the sinkhole from the parking lot, so you don’t have to go on the swampy trail to see the sinkholes.
This trail is swampy. In fact, you will find a sign warning you that Alligators may live there, just before entering the trail.
We walked a little way down the trail, but decided to cut our walk short when we saw the SWAMPS! The sinkholes were really neat to see though.
We didn’t go on the Limestone trail, but we wish we had. The South Carolina State Park website mentions that you will often see wildflowers, buckeye, papaw, and wildlife including deer, rabbits, and snakes on this 0.75 mile loop trail.
The White Trail and The Red trail are two small trails that connect to the bike trail.
We also found a path along the shore of Lake Marion. We couldn’t quite tell which path we were on, but based on the map, we wondered if we were on a section of the bike trail. The path has a nice view of the rocky shoreline.
Biking
My husband and son love to mountain bike so they had to try the trail one afternoon.
Hikers are also allowed on this trail so it doubles as another hiking trail. This is the only trail where bicycles are allowed. They said the trail was a nice and easy ride.
They did tell me they saw a green snake on the trail. My son said he almost accidentally ran over it with his bike.
Playing on the Playgrounds and Tennis Courts
Santee State Park has three playgrounds- one at each campground and one near the cabins. My kids enjoyed playing on our campground’s playground on the evening when we first arrived at our campground.
Visiting the Museum
Although the museum is small, it’s entertaining. My kids actually visited the museum twice.
The museum is located inside the visitor center. You can also still sign out DVDs, puzzles, and board games from the visitor center. A small lounge area is also located in the museum. This little area was a nice place to go to get a break from the sun. One afternoon, we spent a few minutes cooling off in this air-conditioned spot before heading back out to the great outdoors.
The Ultimate Outsiders box is located just outside of the visitors center/museum.
By the way, the Ultimate Outsider is a fun challenge in which you try to visit every state park in South Carolina. To start the challenge, simply ask one of the park rangers or staff at any South Carolina State Park for a stamp book. Once you have your book, you try to collect a stamp from every South Carolina State Park.
When you have visited every South Carolina State Park and have collected all the stamps, you officially become an “Ultimate Outsider” and get a free Ultimate Outsider t-shirt.
We also have a South Carolina State Park Season Pass. With the pass, we can visit any state park for free for a whole year. We are trying to visit as many parks as we can while we have a season pass.
Explore the Piers/Store/Lounge Area
When we first arrived at Santee State Park, my mouth dropped open. I was in awe of the beauty.
I really didn’t know just how stunning the park would be. When we pulled up to the main hub, we were greeted with lush green trees with hanging moss, sparkling waters, two piers, and the cute Cypress Landing store.
A little round building sat off to the side. Kayaks and paddleboards leaned casually against the trees in front of the building. A sign on the building said “rentals.”
Cypress Landing Store
After exploring the outside, we ventured into the shop.
The shop housed essential items for those absent-minded campers who always seem to forget things.
I definitely fit into that category as I forgot my razor, shampoo, and utensils!!! This little store saved me from dirty hair and hairy legs.
The store not only had practical items, but also tons of fun items like toys, games, treats, t-shirts, and hats. Honestly, in my humble opinion, this little store had some of the best souvenirs ever. We purchased a Santee State Park t-shirt and swim shirt as well as the funny bigfoot hats.
These little gems were so much more than just hats though. Check out the video below to see what I mean.
Okay, so I love trying adventurous foods, and I have always wanted to try bugs.
Yes, you read that right. Cypress Landing had suckers with ants inside as well as little Bacon and Cheese flavored crickets.
I came inches from buying them but decided to get the t-shirt instead. Next time though…next time!
The shop contained one more unexpected gem. After you pass through the store, you find yourself in this circular room with windows overlooking the. water on every wall. Tables lined the walls and cozy couches sit in the center.
This is yet another nice air-conditioned area where people can come to relax. You can even grab a snack or ice cream treat or bring your own food into this room, and enjoy a meal overlooking the water. The room also contains a microwave, so you can bring your frozen dinners too.
Picnicking
Picnic tables are plentiful at Santee State Park. You can find tables near the piers, at the playgrounds, under picnic shelters, and scattered along the lake shores. Each campsite also has its own picnic tables. And of course, you can even “picnic” in air conditioning in the round room located at the back of the Cypress Landing Store.
Fishing
People are welcome to fish along the shoreline, on the piers, or by boat. We saw several people fishing throughout our trip. You can find largemouth bass, striped bass, bream, crappie, and catfish in Lake Marion. A valid South Carolina fishing license is required.
Rent a Cabin Including Cabins on top of the Water!
The cabins were adorable and plentiful. Santee State Park has 30 cabins available for rent. All of which are located on the lakeshore nestled among the trees. When we drove past the cabins, we noticed many of the cabin guests had their kayaks and paddleboards parked in their “backyard” on the lake shore. The cabin guest could quite literally walk out their backdoor, grab their kayak/paddleboard, and go for a paddle right from their backyard.
These shoreline rustic cabins were something special, but the cabins on top of the water may just have them beat. Seriously, 10 cabins are located on a pier out in the waters of Lake Marion.
We were able to snap a couple of pictures of these cabins from our paddleboards.
Each cabin had its own personal stairs which lead to the water. We saw several families using their personal stairs to go from their cabins to their docked kayaks and Jon boats.
And there you have it! I hope we were able to adequately capture just how much Santee State Park has to offer. I will leave you now with a few more pictures to enjoy!
Plan another South Carolina Trip with These Other Posts
Top Things to Do at Andrew Jackson State Park