Take A Walk Or A Ride Along The South Carolina Coast At Botany Bay

The South Carolina coast is 187 miles long with loads of beaches to visit and each one bringing its own special signature. From beaches teeming with tourists from all over the world to the more lonesome and remote beaches in the Palmetto State, there’s a beach for every occasion.

But if you’re hoping to escape the crowds and soak in some gorgeous views, then you’ll want to hit the road to Edisto to visit the sandy shore of the Botany Bay Heritage Preserve and Wildlife Management Area.

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It’s here that you’ll find a beach hike that’s gifted with expansive views of the marsh that eventually graduate to forever views of the Atlantic Ocean.

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The trail at Botany Bay begins just after the sharp right turn once inside the preserve. Park your car, rub on some sunscreen, grab a bottle of water, and then hit the trail.

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It winds over the marsh and through a small maritime forest for just short of a mile before reaching the beach.

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Turn left and it then continues for nearly a mile walking north on the beach.

TripAdvisor/Joe Pompano

All in, the one-way trip on this trail is 1.8 miles. Round it up to 3.6 by the time you get back to your vehicle.

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One thing for certain is this just may be the most beautiful beach hike in the state. Oodles of sun-bleached downed and waterlogged trees turn most of the beachfront into a gorgeous boneyard.

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And most of the time, it feels like you’re the only one here.

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Even better: the beach extends south for about another mile — so once you walk to the left and return again, you can continue on to the southern end of the beach.

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Mountain hikes in South Carolina sure are fun, but this beach hike rivals any mountain or waterfall hike in the Palmetto State.

AllTrails

Have you hiked out to the beach and along the ocean at Botany Bay yet? What are you waiting for? Learn more about the trail from our friends at AllTrails. You can brush up on info about the heritage preserve on the official website for Botany Bay Heritage Preserve and Wildlife Management Area, here. A word of caution: sometimes the preserve is closed. It’s best to call ahead to make sure it’s open before you make the journey. Here’s the phone number: (843) 869-2713.