A Winter Kayaking Trip to Waties Island- Cherry Grove, SC

Winter Sunset View from Waties Island 

Welcome to the new year! We are excited about the upcoming kayaking season. Until then, we are taking advantage of every warm weather day by kayaking through the salt marshes of Sunset Beach, NC and North Myrtle Beach, SC. We are also exploring all new routes on the Waccamaw River. In our new upcoming season we have many new tours coupled with our most popular tours of previous seasons. We look forward to having you join us on a kayak adventure of your own in the new year.

Erosion of the Dunes

Recently, I kayaked to Waties Island in Cherry Grove, SC. Though I have made this trip many times, I was taken back when I landed on this private barrier island. It was a fairly warm day and as I began exploring I witnessed the power of mother nature and how it is ever changing. The coastline of this island has been battling with the tides of the oceans for thousands of years. Progressively, over the last couple of years I have observed the inlet that seperates Waties Island from the mainland of North Myrtle Beach shifting north-westerly a few extra feet at a time. With the winter weather this year the tides and unrelenting surf have broken down the dunes creating a canvas drawing where the island's vegetation meets the ocean.

White Tail Deer spotted on the Island

Kayaking to Waities Island is like riding in a time machine going back 200 years. The island is a pristine habitat untouched by the expansion of civilization. It is home to a wide variety of land animals; although, the island's thick underbrush makes an encounter unsual. Stumbling onto the evidence of Deer, Hogs, Bears, Fox and Otters is quite an intriguing moment in its own right. The fascination stirs up questions of survival for these indigenous animals that call Waties Island home. Waties Island supplies a prime habitat for food and shelter; however, there is no natural fresh water source on the island. All of the land animals that live on the island must make daily transits battling the shallow waters, pluff mudd, and oysters that cut through the back of the island seperating it from the mainland. Even with its challenges, Waties Island is still prime real estate for these animals.


I have been exploring this area of Cherry Grove by kayak for over 5 years now and every trip is always different than the last. I look forward to many more trips and invite you to join me on a Waties Island Kayak trip. Our kayak tours launch from Cherry Grove public Boat landing in North Myrtle Beach. We offer Scenic tours through the creeks and a longer Island tour that will guide you through these creeks and land on Waties Island for some exploring and shell hunting.
Visit our website at www.JandLKayaking.com to learn more about kayaking in North Myrtle Beach, SC and our other kayaking locations in Sunset Beach, NC and the Waccamaw River.

 Kayaking to Waties Island through the backwater creeks

-Justin
J & L Kayak Ecoventures
Phone: 843-267-6816