It’s no secret that Beaufort is a nature lover’s paradise. Fresh air, wide-open marsh landscapes and water with the sounds of birds, waves and wildlife are found all over the area. Everyone knows that getting outdoors is good for us, both mentally and physically, as contact with nature has been linked to reductions in stress, depression, and anxiety; and you’ll find that our part of the Lowcountry is an ideal spot to enjoy all the splendor that nature has to offer. To help you out, here are seven fantastic spots to reconnect with nature in Beaufort SC.
Hunting Island Beach
A natural, pristine barrier island with no commercial build up, Hunting Island State Park is the single most-visited state park in all of South Carolina and home to a lush, active maritime forest. Folks flock to the park and beach from all over to play in its sand, go camping, see wildlife and just relax and have family fun. With miles of sprawling nature trails and an undeveloped beach, its also a great place for you to find some seaside solitude surrounded by nature. Expect to meet local deer, pelicans, osprey and other shorebirds, along with gators, turtles, racoons, songbirds and even a snake here and there on the island while on one of the nature trails. Stay beachside and enjoy shelling while listening to the sound of the waves crash the shore and watching pelicans dive bomb the ocean for food while a few dolphins swim by. It doesn’t get much better than Hunting Island. Also, the Visitors Center is a great place to learn about the wildlife, botany and ecology of our Lowcountry sea islands.
Crystal Lake Park
Crystal Lake Park can be found just across the bridge from Beaufort, on Lady’s Island. This newly opened 25-acre park winds through forested habitats, salt marshes and around the 7 acre man-made Crystal Lake. With a boardwalk to look out over the lake, the park is an extraordinary habitat for spotting birds. Songbirds, wading birds, birds of prey, migratory waterfowl, wood storks, egrets and herons can all be spotted here. Just be sure to look down, too. Turtles, snakes, and alligators also call Crystal Lake Park home.
Port Royal Cypress Wetlands
Port Royal’s Cypress Wetlands is yet another fantastic spot to get in touch with nature and surround yourself in a variety of flora and fauna. Snowy white egrets are in abundance and there are several species of birds that call it home at least part of the year including herons, hawks, eagles, owls, falcons, geese, ducks, and other migratory waterfowl. Lots of the birds you will see have long legs for standing in the tall grass and long bills for hunting through the marsh. It’s an amazing birdwatchers paradise. Walk the long boardwalk among the cypress trees draped in Spanish moss and you’ll also most likely come across alligators, turtles, possums, racoons and even a snake or two while you’re there.
Sands Beach in Port Royal
The Sands Beach in Port Royal is a wonderful spot to reconnect with nature in Beaufort. Noted as the Beaufort area’s best location to find shark’s teeth, you could spend a whole afternoon there just shelling and digging. While you’re busy enjoying a variety of local shorebirds, live oyster shell clusters and your teeth finds, chances are you will get to see a few passing dolphins too. You’ll definitely get a kick out of the large local population of fiddler crabs; with the sideways walkers all over the area, it always looks like the ground is moving. Local tip: Go at sunrise, you won’t regret it.
Hunting Island Marsh Boardwalk
The Hunting Island marsh boardwalk extends across the lush marsh tidal flats to a small hummock and provides a magnificent platform for viewing area nature and wildlife. It’s located on the west side of the park on Highway 21. The Vietnam war scenes for the movie Forrest Gump were shot near the boardwalk. The wildlife here, as well as the beautiful sunsets, make the marsh boardwalk an excellent spot to reconnect with nature’s beauty. It’s also a frequent spot for local photographers and for folks taking a quiet, romantic walk with someone special.
On the water
Yes, you’ll find much more than peace and quiet while out on the water here in Beaufort. Grab a kayak or a stand up paddle board and float or drift along the Beaufort River, under the Woods Memorial Bridge and into Factory Creek; or launch from any number of local landings and meander through the creeks that spiral around our sea islands. You’ll be joined by a variety of birds including pelicans, osprey and bald eagles and you may get a visit from local dolphins while you’re on your adventure. Keep one eye open for the occasional gator and two eyes open for a loggerhead sea turtle or a manatee if it’s the right time of the year. If you don’t have a kayak or paddle board, visit the folks at Higher Ground Outfitters on Lady’s Island. They’ll fix you right up. Being on the water is a great way to reconnect with nature in Beaufort.
Spanish Moss Trail
Located in the heart of Northern Beaufort County on the historic Magnolia Line railroad, the paved Spanish Moss Trail is a beautiful half-day walk through spectacular Lowcountry water and marsh views, coastal wildlife and historic points of interest as it meanders through Spanish moss–draped neighborhoods. Take a pause in your adventure and look out over the marshes to even see an occasional dolphin or two. The trail is lined with mostly woodlands and is home to a variety of flora including a rainbow of flowers, palmetto trees and even mimosa trees.
Bonus: The Spanish Moss Trail was also named the Best Hiking Trail in South Carolina.
These are only a few spots and are suggestions to help get you started. There are literally hundreds of other spots all around Beaufort to reconnect with nature. You won’t have to look too hard to find some of your own.
Enjoy your adventure.
Article contributed by Gene Brancho
