Bates Ferry Landing

Bates Ferry Landing is the riverbank endpoint of Bates Ferry Trail on Congaree's eastern side. It takes a 1.1-mile walk each way (2.2 miles round trip) to reach the Congaree River and the remains of an old crossing. This is a history-focused walk and riverbank pause, not a roadside stop.

The trailhead is off US 601, with a parking area and an information kiosk. The route follows a wide, mown but unimproved roadbed. Flooding can make sections impassable, so check current park trail alerts before setting out. At the landing, the riverbank is steep and can be slippery; stay on the marked path rather than scrambling down to the water.

The ferry formed part of the old Camden–Charleston route, carrying people, wagons, livestock and goods across the river. A bridge replaced the ferry in 1923. When the water is low, remnants of that bridge and traces of the old road across the river may come into view. Keep to the marked path for a river view; don’t descend the steep bank for a closer look.

The Congaree cut a new channel in the early 1800s and abandoned its older channel after an 1852 flood, leaving the oxbow now called Bates Old River. The old road may predate European settlement.