Best Hikes Near Charleston

The threat of COVID-19 has severely limited the ways you can experience the lowcountry in 2020. In an effort to be good citizens, my husband Alex and I have had to resort to other, lesser known activities that aren’t on the typical tourist’s itinerary. Despite having lived in Charleston for three years, I’ve never considered it a hiking destination. Most visitors stick to exploring historic downtown or soaking up the sun at one of the nearby beaches.

If there has been one positive to this pandemic, it has been the fact that we’ve discovered some true gems in South Carolina that we might never have gotten to experience if life had gone on as planned, hand sanitizer free. Within an hour of Charleston, there are a wide variety of hiking paths that take visitors through gorgeous marshes, sprawling swamps, waterfront parks, and shaded forests that shouldn’t be missed (pandemic or not). Below, I’ve highlighted a few of my favorites.

Awendaw Passage

If you’d like to experience South Carolina marshes in unobstructed glory, the Awendaw Passage is the place to be. Located 40 minutes north of Charleston in Francis Marion National Forest, the Awendaw Passage is a 7.1 mile stretch of the much longer Palmetto Trail.

The trail takes visitors through maritime forests and offers sweeping vistas of the lowcountry salt marsh along Awendaw Creek. There are several bridges along the trail that cross the marsh and offer panoramic views that you’ll have no choice but to stop and admire.

If you don’t plan to hike the entire fourteen miles (7 there, 7 back), I would suggest starting at the Awendaw Creek Canoe Launch and walking towards Buck Hall Recreation Area to catch the best views. If you start at Buck Hall, you’ll end up walking through a big stretch of forest before you get to the marshes.

Pro Tip: Remember bug spray, especially if hiking in the months of June through October! Mosquitos can ruin your experience at Awendaw.

Botany Bay Beach & Plantation

Botany Bay is one of my absolute favorite places to visit in South Carolina. There is no other place like it. The wildlife management area is a state-run coastal park (with a beach) located between Edisto Beach and Seabrook Island.

The park features over 4,600 acres of maritime forest, beach, and freshwater ponds. There are a few paths you can take through the forested areas, all of which are beautiful. The main attraction and the shining star, however, is the beach.

Erosion on Botany Bay Beach has left a "boneyard" of dead trees along the sand, creating a hauntingly beautiful coastline that you have to walk to fully appreciate. The beach is accessible via a half-mile trail that offers some stunning views of the marsh.

My recommendation is to start your visit by hiking the forested path and then end by walking the length of the beach. The beach is the perfect place to have a picnic lunch and relax in the sun. Just remember to leave the shells where they are! It’s strictly prohibited to take any with you.

I'on Interpretive Trail

If you’re looking for a true swamp experience, the I’on Interpretive Trail is the perfect path to hike. This easy, two-mile loop wanders along a dike patchwork on the remnants of the abandoned Witheywood Plantation.

If you go, you’ll get a fascinating view into the wetland world and traverse embankments built as far back as the 1700s. The embankments and ditches were built to create a patchwork of fields for rice production during the rice era.

The trail is really close to Awendaw Passage—a 40 minute drive from downtown Charleston nestled deep within the Francis Marion National Forest. As a warning, the drive will take you on a dirt road for a short distance before you arrive at the trailhead.

Pro Tip: If you’re looking for wildlife, this is a great option. Every time I’ve gone, I’ve seen numerous alligators.

Cypress Gardens

Somehow Cypress Gardens has been kept mostly out of the spotlight. I didn’t learn of its existence until I’d been living in Charleston for nearly two years and yet, it’s one of the most unique places I’ve visited in South Carolina. The gardens feature hundreds of tall cypress trees that spring straight out of the water.

As far as hiking goes, it’s pretty light. There are 4 miles of walking and hiking paths that loop through the swamp. Don’t let the lack of distance dissuade you. The views are incredible and if you’re looking for additional activity, you can explore the waters via a swamp boat. If you do, you’ll have a good chance of spotting alligators, birds, and turtles.

If you’re a movie buff like me, you may recognize the swamp gardens from movies like The Notebook, Cold Mountain, and The Patriot. There’s a reason this place is used as a frequent movie backdrop—it’s straight out of a fairytale.

The 175-acre swamp garden is located about 30 minutes from downtown Charleston in Moncks Corner. There isn’t much else to do or experience in the area so my suggestion is to grab a bite to eat before you leave the Charleston metropolitan area.

Pro Tip: The gardens are especially amazing in the spring when the azaleas, dogwoods, wisteria, and daffodils are in bloom.

Daniel Island Trail

Most people think of Daniel Island as a residential area not worth visiting, but the Daniel Island Trail is one of my favorites. The trail hugs the water and offers fantastic views of the Wando River, surrounding marsh lands, and James B. Edwards Bridge.

The trail is only 1.5 miles long (3 miles to the end and back), but there are other trails on Daniel Island that you can choose to explore if you’d like to work up more of a sweat.

If you’re short on time and staying downtown or in the Mount Pleasant area, the Daniel Island Trail is a great option. To get there, cross the James B. Edwards Bridge and head towards Governor’s Park. There is parking near the trailhead.

Laurel Hill County Park

Laurel Hill offers an array of traditional hiking trails through forested areas. The trails may not be as scenic as some of the others on this list, but the park is worth mentioning because it’s easily accessible from downtown Charleston and offers longer trails that are good for running and biking.

Some of Laurel Hill’s highlights include an oak allée, large open meadows, and a small lake. There are a number of oak allées in the Charleston area, but the one at Laurel Hill is particularly interesting because it seemingly pops out of nowhere in the middle of a forest. It makes for a great photo opportunity.

Laurel Hill is located in Mount Pleasant, roughly thirty minutes from downtown Charleston. There is plenty of parking once you get inside the county park.

I’m hopeful that soon things will return to normal and people will get to experience Charleston without any worry of COVID-19. Until then, I highly recommend enjoying the great outdoors and the natural beauty of the lowcountry.

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Thinking I should just rotate each of these to be my Zoom background until all my coworkers are sick of the fact that I went to Costa Rica. 🌴

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My name is Kolby Tallentire and I’m the creator of Tallentire Travels. This site formed out of my unending love of travel. My goal is to bring you the most unique and affordable travel recommendations for every destination. Learn More