A Hiker's Guide To Charleston South Carolina

Charleston is a notoriously flat part of the state, but that doesn’t mean that avid hikers should shy away from the many gorgeous walking trails in the area. With a unique marine landscape, Charleston features dozens of outdoor places to explore from hidden beach paths to intricate woodland routes through the Francis Marion National Forest. To discover the most unique and beautiful places to explore, follow our hiker’s guide to Charleston, South Carolina.

Edisto Nature Trail

To find the real hiking trails, you’ll have to head outside of the city a bit. Edisto is located just under an hour from downtown Charleston and is known for its pristine beach and intriguing woodland trails. The Edisto Nature Trail begins where the Ashepoo, Combahee and South Edisto Rivers converge, an area called the ACE Basin, and winds through wildflower meadows, historic rice fields and an old phosphate mining site.

Awendaw Passage

Swamp Fox Passage

One of the longest sections of the Palmetto Trail, the Swamp Fox Passage extends for a whopping 47 miles. The trail itself is considered easy, though it would be difficult to hike in its entirety in just one day. Trek through part of the trail to discover four different ecosystems, including eerily beautiful swamps, or you can opt to bring a mountain bike along to ride the entire passage.

An abandoned church in the Francis Marion National Forest l

Caw Caw County Park

Get a peek at the Lowcountry’s wildlife when you visit the Caw Caw Interpretive Center in Ravenel, South Carolina. Forty-five minutes west of downtown Charleston, Ravenel is home to more than six miles of trails as well as interesting exhibits, displays and programs. Wander through the marshlands atop elevated boardwalks while identifying native animals like the otters, waterfowl and dozens of bird species.

Audubon Swamp Gardens

If you’re looking to stay a bit closer to the city during your outdoor expedition, try hiking through the Audubon Swamp Gardens at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. You will have to pay a small fee to enter this unique area, but you could easily spend the day wandering the trails and marveling at the unusual ecosystem that thrives here.

Flowers growing in the swamp at the Audubon Swamp Garden l

Pitt Street Bridge in Mount Pleasant

Though not considered much of a hike, the path along the Pitt Street Bridge in Mount Pleasant is a beautiful place to spend an afternoon in Charleston. An iconic Charleston spot, the Pitt Street Bridge once connected Sullivan’s Island to Mount Pleasant via trolley but now serves as a beautiful waterfront destination. Walk along the former bridge for a sunset stroll or show up early in the morning to spend the day fishing off the pier.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.