Nestled between Charleston and Beaufort is natural paradise!
1. Start your journey at the Frampton Plantation & Lowcountry Visitors Center.
They offer all the information you need and their kind staff delivers all the secrets to enjoying the property. Frampton Plantation was once a 4,000 acre cotton plantation. The original home was burned during the Civil War, but the current structure was rebuilt in 1868. Only four acres remains of the property today. The backyard is the perfect spot for a picnic and take your dogs on a walk throughout the woods.
- 1 Low Country Lane
Yemassee, SC
2. The Old Sheldon Ruins
The Old Sheldon church Ruins were burned during the Revolutionary War, rebuilt, then demolished during the Civil War. This site is a must-see. It’s only a two-mile detour off the route. While traveling down Highway 17, Old Sheldon Church Road is just past the turn to Beaufort.
3. Walterboro Wildlife Sanctuary
There is a beautiful wildlife sanctuary located in the middle of historic Walterboro, SC. The Walterboro Wildlife Sanctuary is a great place to leave the traffic behind, stretch your legs and enjoy nature. The sanctuary contains a network of boardwalks, hiking, biking and canoe trails that are perfect for viewing a diversity of a black water bottomland habitat.
- Detreville Rd., (Off Hwy 17A)
Walterboro, SC
843-782-6081
4. ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge
The Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge is home to a vast array of waterfowl, fish, shellfish and many other animals. It is also the home of Oak Grove Plantation House. A walk behind the house leads visitors to the former rice fields. Rows, dikes, trunks, and gates are still visible today. The paths are marked and meander around the rice fields and through wooded areas. Make sure to bring your camera and be on the lookout for wildlife.
- 8675 Willtown Rd.
Hollywood, SC 29449
843-889-3084
5. Edisto Beach State Park
The Edisto Beach State Park has 4 miles of ADA accessible trails for hiking and biking. These trails take you through maritime forest, historic monuments, and a Native American shell mound. These trails are also great for bird watching. Many shore and wading birds can be seen here.
- 8377 State Cabin Rd.
Edisto Island, SC
843-869-2156
6. Donnelley Wildlife Management Area
Donnelley is a favorite spot for tourists and locals alike. It is located on Hwy 17 in Green Pond (between Yemassee and Jacksonboro) in the heart of the ACE Basin. Open from dawn to dusk, this is a great place to glimpse Lowcountry nature at its finest. The property features a historic rice field system, which is now managed to attract waterfowl and migratory birds. The drive is pleasantly lined with beautiful old live oaks.
- 585 Donnelley Dr.
Green Pond, SC
7. Lake Warren State Park
Lake Warren State Park is located just outside Hampton. The park provides many opportunities for outdoor recreation. A wide variety of wildlife can be found in the floodplain forest, wetlands and woodlands of the park. While walking in the park look for deer, armadillo, turtles, raccoons, squirrels… Be on the lookout for alligators, snakes and birds along the shores of the lake.
- 1079 Lake Warren Rd.
Hampton, SC
803-943-5051
6. Spanish Moss Trail
The Spanish Moss Trail is an expanding rails-to-trail greenway running from northern Beaufort County to Port Royal along the historic Magnolia Line Railroad. This 10-mile greenway has become a must-experience activity for locals and tourists alike. The 12-foot-wide paved trail is a great space for walking, running, biking, skating, scooting, strolling or even fishing. The trail is handicap accessible, and parking is provided.
7. Hunting Island State Park
Hunting Island State Park is the most popular park in the state. Over one million visitors visit each year. The Lowcountry barrier island contains five miles of beautiful beaches, a saltwater lagoon along with 5,000 acres of maritime forest and marsh. Hunting Island is also home to the state’s only publicly accessible lighthouse. Visitors are encouraged to climb the 167 steps to the top and observe the breath-taking views of the maritime forest and beach from 130 feet above.
- 2555 Sea Island Pkwy.
Hunting Island, SC
843-838-2011
8. Blue Heron Nature Trail
This in-town green space boasts a nature trail that travels around a three-acre pond and through forested wetlands filled with ferns and native plants. The property also includes a butterfly garden, picnic area, outdoor classroom, observation decks, and a Nature Center. Permanent trailside displays help visitors learn more about the native flora and fauna of Jasper County and the Lowcountry.
- 321 Bailey Lane
Ridgeland, SC
843-726-7611
Source: https://southcarolinalowcountry.com/sc-lowcountry
