Enjoy Nature

The Great Outdoors is Calling

The Francis Marion National Forest, comprised of 250,000 acres of diverse plant and animal communities, offers a rare opportunity to catch a glimpse of the endangered red cockaded woodpecker. The forest also offers plentiful opportunities to bike, hike, and horseback ride through this immense national treasure.

Lake Moultrie Passage flanks the Santee Cooper dike system on the northwest rim of the lake. The Swamp Fox Passage offers an in depth look at four distinct, but equally lively, ecosystems from Witherbee Ranger Station to Awendaw.

Bird watchers can have a field day observing everything from the bald eagle nesting to the blue heron strolling in the swampy rice fields. Berkeley County is home to numerous birds and has become a popular area for bird watching.

Deer and quail hunting, dove shoots, field trails, horseback riding and organized equestrian events is a way of life in Berkeley County.

Hell Hole Outdoor Center

Don’t let the name fool you, the Hell Hole Outdoor Center is your portal to the most exciting and unique canoing, kayaking, hiking and unique outdoor excursions on the east coast!  

The Dennis Wildlife Center & Fish Hatchery

The Dennis Wildlife Center & Fish Hatchery is the regions headquarters for freshwater fisheries research and game management. Free displays explain the area's striped bass program and deer research. Don’t miss the bird egg collection representing 225 clutches of most of the species indigenous to the area. The Center is located near Bonneau off Highway 52.
For more information, call 843-825-3387.

Hiking, Backpacking & Horseback Riding

Palmetto Trail

One of only 13 cross-state trails in the United States., the Palmetto Trail earned the distinction of becoming federally designated as a Millennium Legacy Trail.  The Berkeley portion of the trail takes nature seekers and adventurers through the Lake Moultrie Passage, running along the perimeter of Lake Moultrie, and the Swamp Fox Passage, which transverses through the Francis Marion National Forest. Backpackers can make two or three days of trail camping on the 26- mile Lake Moultrie Passage or the 27-mile Swamp Fox Passage of the trail. Many campsites are available along the trail, providing a sense of being "away from it all."

Lakes & Rivers

Berkeley County is home to Lake Moultrie and Lake Marion and the Cooper and Santee Rivers.  These waterways are well-known for their world class fishing, kayaking, canoeing and waterskiing. 

Recreational Paddling on Berkeley County's Blueways

Our rivers and waterways are history's natural highways. Before there were interstates or even dirt roads, our founders traveled these waters and moved produce and trade goods by canoe and pole boats. Just a short paddling trip emulates the experiences of our forefathers. Whisk yourself away from the hustle and bustle of today's busy and complicated lifestyles and take a moment to transport yourself to a much simpler time. A time often referred to as " the good old days " can be relived and shared with your family and friends.
For more information, visit www.berkeleyblueways.com or call:

The Cooper River

The Cooper River was one of the first areas in South Carolina to be colonized. It boasts a broad array of native plants, animals and ecosystems. Riverbanks and adjacent wetlands provide the perfect  environment for watching wildlife. White-tailed deer, raccoons and opossums visit the water's edge. River otters, beavers and alligators slip in and out of the river. Wood ducks and least terns are part of a host of resident and migratory waterfowl animating the sky. The river meanders through the Low country, past dozens of historically significant sites, recreational resources and quaint rural communities.

Upper Lake Marion

The upper lake is joined to the lower Lake Moultrie by the Diversion Canal. Lake Moultrie and the Cooper River run straight through the heart of Berkeley County. Enjoy freshwater lakes teeming with fish and pristine shorelines abundant with wildlife. Passages of the Palmetto Trail wind through our lakesides, swamps and forests, offering an up close and personal experience with nature. Whether you prefer speed boating or canoeing, skiing or fishing, hiking or biking, you'll find it all on more than 200,000 acres of lake and hundreds of miles of trail.

Lower Lake Moultrie

Lake Moultrie is the place to satisfy your adventurous spirit. Bring your speedboat and waterski’s, pontoon boat, canoe, jet ski, wave runner or sea kayak. Enjoy the lake at your own pace. Or rent a kayak, canoe or low-power boat when you arrive. Vendors are happy to provide any instructions requested. The lake offers a number of launch sites. Ample shoreline stops are available should your boat need a little refueling - or your riders need a little refreshing. The lake is carefully marked for safe passage to make your fun more enjoyable. Other sports complement our boating and skiing. On the northwest rim of the lake, nestled between Lake Moultrie and Lower Lake Marion, is one of two popular fish camp regions - a haven for fishers. Even scuba enthusiasts love our lakes. In fact, some historic sites are accessible only to divers.

Old Santee River

Diversion Canal

This canal connects upper Lake Marion to lower Lake Moultrie and is enjoyed by sportsmen of all types.

This canal connects lower Lake Moultrie to the Cooper River by traveling through the locks of the dam.

Wildlife Viewing

St Stephen Fish Lift (March 15 - April 15)

Annual migration of the anadromous fish (fish which spend most of their lives in saltwater but return to fresh water to spawn) include American shad, blueback herring, shortnose sturgeon and Atlantic sturgeon. The fish lift at St. Stephen enables fish migrating upstream to swim around the dam to reach historic spawning areas. A four-inch thick glass window alongside the lift lets visitors experience a close-up, underwater view of migrating fish such as American shad and blueback herring. The facility is unique to South Carolina and the Southeast. The lift is located in Bonneau.
For more information, call 843-825-3387.

Watchable Wildlife Area, Marrington Plantation

Embark on a self-guided tour of the wildlife area with twenty-seven guideposts scattered along a one-mile trail.