Captain Lourie is correct. I do not cover the Cooper River upstream of the CSX RR Bridge, and, as a matter of fact, have never cruised the waters north of this span. After reading the note below, however, I think I should amend my ways!!!

GREAT INLAND DESTINATION
Cruising News: Claiborne Young’s excellent Cruising Guide to the Carolinas ends at the CSX RR bridge on the West Cooper River. However, the best is above. Call CSX 24 hours in advance to have the bridge raised. Charts for the trip are published by SC Dept. of Natural Resources. From the drawbridge, follow the marked channel through the rice-fields, past the manicured lawn of Mepkin Abby, past Gilligan’s Restaurant in the Tailrace Canal (an excellent diversion in itself) to the Pinopolis Lock. Locking into Santee-Cooper involves entering the 72 foot tall chamber, and rising into Lake Moultrie.
Lake Moultrie is almost like an inland sea. At 72,000 acres, you can barely see across. Sailors, this is a good time to raise your sails. There is always wind. Follow the marked channel through the Diversion Canal. There is a dockside restaurant there that serves fried catfish, cole slaw, and hush puppies that is worth the wait.
The Diversion canal brings the intrepid boater to Lake Marion, a 100,500 acre impoundment famous for catfish, striped bass, crappie and more than a few stumps. A cleared channel leads the boater to Marker 79 Marina.
Marker 79 Marina is the brainchild and pet project of Capt Bill Deytons and his charming wife Beverly. It is a classy, upscale marina with a Tiki Bar, restrooms, showers, and a 150 foot long cruise vessel, the Mark Twain. Although incomplete, it offers deep water berths at very reasonable rates, electricity, water, and wireless internet service. It offers a family environment, and is very friendly to live-aboards. It may be the ultimate hurricane hole on the South-east coast.
The trip from Charleston to Marker 79 takes a long day by sailboat at 7 knots. It is, however, the prettiest stretch of water on the East Coast. It offers a variety little seen on the ICW, with the unique experience of the lift through the Pinopolis Lock. My depth finder registered at least 20 feet for the trip up from Charleston. The route is well marked. A friend of mine with very little experience brought his 36 foot Land’s End sloop up without difficulty.
I hope to see y’all at the Tiki Bar
Lourie Salley

Captain Lourie is correct. I do not cover the Cooper River upstream of the CSX RR Bridge, and, as a matter of fact, have never cruised the waters north of this span. After reading the note below, however, I think I should amend my ways!!!

Subject: GREAT INLAND DESTINATION
Cruising News: Claiborne Young’s excellent Cruising Guide to the Carolinas ends at the CSX RR bridge on the West Cooper River. However, the best is above. Call CSX 24 hours in advance to have the bridge raised. Charts for the trip are published by SC Dept. of Natural Resources. From the drawbridge, follow the marked channel through the rice-fields, past the manicured lawn of Mepkin Abby, past Gilligan’s Restaurant in the Tailrace Canal (an excellent diversion in itself) to the Pinopolis Lock. Locking into Santee-Cooper involves entering the 72 foot tall chamber, and rising into Lake Moultrie.
Lake Moultrie is almost like an inland sea. At 72,000 acres, you can barely see across. Sailors, this is a good time to raise your sails. There is always wind. Follow the marked channel through the Diversion Canal. There is a dockside restaurant there that serves fried catfish, cole slaw, and hush puppies that is worth the wait.
The Diversion canal brings the intrepid boater to Lake Marion, a 100,500 acre impoundment famous for catfish, striped bass, crappie and more than a few stumps. A cleared channel leads the boater to Marker 79 Marina.
Marker 79 Marina is the brainchild and pet project of Capt Bill Deytons and his charming wife Beverly. It is a classy, upscale marina with a Tiki Bar, restrooms, showers, and a 150 foot long cruise vessel, the Mark Twain. Although incomplete, it offers deep water berths at very reasonable rates, electricity, water, and wireless internet service. It offers a family environment, and is very friendly to live-aboards. It may be the ultimate hurricane hole on the South-east coast.
The trip from Charleston to Marker 79 takes a long day by sailboat at 7 knots. It is, however, the prettiest stretch of water on the East Coast. It offers a variety little seen on the ICW, with the unique experience of the lift through the Pinopolis Lock. My depth finder registered at least 20 feet for the trip up from Charleston. The route is well marked. A friend of mine with very little experience brought his 36 foot Land’s End sloop up without difficulty.
I hope to see y’all at the Tiki Bar
Lourie Salley