Betty's Branch and German Island

Beginning at Riverside Park, put in either at the concrete boat ramp or the beach. Paddle along until you exit the inlet and now you have a decision to make: right or left?

Left: Turning left takes you on a longer and more difficult route than turning right (3 hours total), but it’s absolutely worth it. The wildlife you’ll see along the riverbanks is unlike any other you’ll find along the river and water is very calm. I’d suggest bringing a camera with a long zoom to catch pictures of birds and turtles on the rocks and logs in the river. If you’re lucky you might see a family of otters native to Betty’s Branch, a couple raccoons, and osprey and hundreds of turtles (you think I’m kidding…). One of my favorite parts of this route is the rope swing you’ll encounter (on your left hand side) that you are free to swing on and jump into the river. If you are doing this route in the summer, it’s a nice stopping point. You’ll eventually exit the “branch” portion and paddle into the Savannah River, look to your right and find the opening to Bettys Branch (there’s a channel marker) and paddle back along the loop. If you’ve gone under a bridge (Furrys Ferry Rd) you’ve gone too far, turn around the paddle back.

Right: If you choose not to paddle along Little River (the left turn) and turn right instead, the route takes about an hour or so. It’s an out-and-back route, but still enjoyable. Turn right and paddle until you see the Savannah River, then turn around and come back. It’s an easy enough paddle, and you’ll still get to see plenty of wildlife!

Enjoy kayaking Betty’s Branch!