# 3 - Bomb Island-
-Lake Murray-
Rated: Moderate
6.0 miles, round-trip
Bomb Island is known as North America's first purple
martin bird sanctuary. In the summer, near 1,000,000
of these birds return to this island day-after-day each
evening at sunset. This island is very popular with boaters
kayakers and guided tours. No one is allowed on the island-
-until the birds leave for their winter migration.
Difficulty: Moderate; there is 1.2 miles of open water to cross.
Distance: 6.0 miles, round-trip.
Time: minimum of 3 - 4 hours to enjoy this paddle.
Crowds: Moderate. You will see motorized many boats/anglers on the weekends.
Put In / Take Out: Hilton Recreation Area, Cove Launch Court, Chapin, SC 29036.
GPS: 34.094583, -81.329250 or 34°05’40.5”N, 81°19’45.3"W
GPS Coordinates for Bomb Island: 34.059611, -81.310444 or 34°03’34.6”N, 81°18’37.6"W
Fees/Permits: None.
Current: Negligible, generally a southeast direction.
Precautions: Winds above 10 MPH can be tough for a paddler on Lake Murray. There is a lot of open
water for wind to intensify and cause waves/whitecaps. Be mindful of fast moving motorized boats and
use your paddle to signal your location.
Water Level: For this Blueway paddle trail, water level is not as much of a concern.
For Lake Murray Water Levels, click HERE.
Weather on the Trail: Click HERE
