This is my favorite county park! It's quiet and peaceful for nature hikes. Every time I visit I see…read moresomething amazing. Today it was Swallow-tail Kites soaring overhead. A walk through the cypress swamp let me discover a beautiful yellow Prothonotary Warbler. The staff is so knowledgeable here and super welcoming! This is a must see if you're visiting Charleston.

Great outdoor nature excursion for just a $2 per person entry fee. Multiple trails to walk and…read moreenjoy nature, see wildlife and get some exercise. You could easily spend an entire day here and walk several miles without covering the same area twice. They have over 11,000 acres of swamp/marsh, grassland and wooded areas. Bring your camera for some beautiful nature shots. They have a few benches around the park for you to rest/relax. A portion of the nature area used to be a rice plantation. The visitors center adjacent to the parking lot provides a little history for those interested, and has a few items for sale. Bathrooms are available. Pets and bikes are prohibited. Bring bug spray! During our visit we saw several alligators, lizards, squirrels, baby toads, turtles, one small snake, a marsh rat/mouse (who wasn't remotely scared of us), and of course many birds. Be aware you can encounter alligators on the trails and low boardwalks, and there's nothing separating you from them; a very friendly nature center employee said they never have incidents, but the risk is higher in the Spring when males are vying for females. And if you see very young baby gators, remember mom may be nearby.

It was a perfect day for the beach! Luna's two favorite things are hiking in the woods and swimming…read moreat the beach, so this outing was just as much fun for her as it was for us-watching her live her best life is always a joy. This was our first visit to Kiawah Beachwalker Park, and it did not disappoint. There is an entrance fee unless you have a Charleston County Park Pass, which we do. The beach is dog-friendly, but it's important to be aware of seasonal rules regarding leash use. I highly recommend checking their official website for the most up-to-date information, as these guidelines can change. https://www.kiawahisland.org/ explore_kiawah_island/beaches.php According to their current policy: Dog Use Area: Between the eastern boundary of the Beach Club and the Ocean Course Clubhouse, dogs are allowed off-leash under control year-round from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dogs must be leashed from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. in this area. Electronic leashes are prohibited. Owners must stay with their pets, keep them under control, and carry a leash at all times in case it's needed or requested by others or Beach Patrol. Remainder of the Beach (Seasonal): March 1 - October 15: Dogs must be leashed at all times. October 16 - February 28: Dogs are allowed off-leash from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., except in the designated critical habitat area. During all other hours, leashes are required. As with the designated area, electronic leashes are not allowed, and owners must have a leash on hand and maintain control of their pets. Overall, Kiawah Beachwalker Park is a fantastic destination for dogs and their humans. Luna had an amazing time, and we can't wait to go back!

Kiawah Beachwalker park is one of the better beaches in Charleston. Parking was $10 for the day…read more The lot is not that big but had no problem finding a spot in the month of March. Short walk to a board walk that a nice bathroom, showers, water refill station and even a dog bathing area. Very impressive! Short walk to the water. It's was low tide so plenty of beach to walk on. Headed down to the end on the right side about 1 1/2 mile walk. Saw two dolphins and rare birds that were migrating. Off the tide is in the beach area to seat on will be limited. Great place to walk your dog and ride your bike.

This is a nice little park along the Stono River. Very accessible and easy to explore. The…read morewalking path is wide with the first 1/3 asphalt. The second 1/3 is composite decking on a raised boardwalk. The final portion is dirt/crushed gravel. With the exception of the boardwalk it is shaded and most of what is visible is marsh until you get to the end where the river is visible but not accessible. Worn and clearly well used, nicely maintained and clean. Great place for a relaxing stroll.

Nice, newer park, with updated facilities/parking, but not a whole lot to see as far as…read moretrees/wildlife. A nice walk out to the island and views of the marsh, the boardwalk is nice and not crowded. They're keeping up on maintenance, as they had signs up saying how they had removed trees that had invasive bug problems, which is good since maintenance is often neglected. If you're in the area, check it out.

What a gem we have here! It's pure untouched natural beauty and a very pleasant place to walk along…read morethe beach, tide pools and even the grounds of the old plantation, which only has a 18th century garden shed and an early 19th century green house that looks like a Victorian church. Peaceful and serene!

While not much of the plantation exists, it's a great place to see. My favorite is the beach. It's…read morean easy trail mostly sandy to walk, through the marsh and woody areas it opens up. At high tide it's a tricky walk as sadly there's a lot of natural erosion happening. There are a lot of shells that are so pretty, you are not allowed to take but admire. The beach is heavily populated with remnants of trees and driftwood. Lots of signage to learn from. The drive through the tour has landmarks to stop at. Free adventure

Angel Oak is a great little detour if you are nearby. That is exactly what we did!…read more It's located off a little dirt road with very little signage. There is parking available outside the fence or handicap parking is located within the perimeters. The Angel Oak is a massive tree and certainly impressive to see in person. It is a protected tree, so there are some roped off area and signs requesting you to be respectful of the grounds, roots, limbs, etc. There is a picnic area within view of the tree. As you are heading out, stop by the little gift shop!

This is cool but you can't get close cuz of the fence. So talking pics and trying to see all of it…read morewas a challenge. Finding it is easy. Lots of people and trying to position yourself in a good spot. The tree is very amazing and unique and beautiful. So different that you wonder about how nature does this. I took a bunch of pics. This is a fun viewing just wish we could get closer.

A hidden gem in the West Ashley area. Great area for walking, running or biking. Main roads are all…read morepaved and trails are maintained fairly well. There is also plenty of green space for playing with your children or pets. Activities in the park include: - Soccer fields - Baseball/Softball fields - Biking - Disc golf - Fishing - Kayaking - Picnic tables

Nice little park to walk the pup! Definitely bring bug spray in the summer. But it makes a…read morebeautiful backdrop for your photos!

I really like the Marsh Island Park & Tower on Kiawah Island. This is a cool place to get in the…read moremiddle of nature and experience a marsh environment and all of the trees, water, and wildlife that is around it. I like the path that goes through the trees, a dock, and leads to the waterway. The tower is easy to climb and offers a spectacular view at the top of the water and a nice view of the beauty of the Lowcountry and nature. It is well worth it to find and check out this park and tower as it is quiet and out of the way and represents the best of Kiawah and preservation of a nice park and marsh. I had a fun and enjoyable experience here.

This was a magical place - the swamp was amazing :). Loved the egrets, cranes, alligators, turtles…read moreand soothing nature sounds!

This was so fun to learn about so many plants in the wildlife and we even got to see turtles mixing…read morewith alligators and not be eaten. We love the train it was a easy way to see a lot of the plantation and I WOULD do it again.

This mostly residential island offers a trail with boardwalk on the waterfront. It runs between…read moresome parks and offers a good set of views. It was well attended during my visit. There are wilder and more interesting places to go nearby, but if you just want a nice walk this is it.

Charleston is a great place for runners to live, because you can run year-round here and the area…read moreoffers a lot of local races and events. Everyone knows about the Cooper River Bridge, but the Daniel Island trails are one of Charleston running's best-kept secrets. The Daniel Island trails are not technical or muddy, but soft and packed. This is great if you're injury-prone or just want to give your legs a break from harder surfaces like the bridge, which can be rough on your knees/legs. Wooden boardwalk style bridges break up the trails, and if you're looking for a run or walk with a view, this is it. You won't find many roots or limbs, and there are water fountains. Every time I have been here in the evenings, I have seen others running, walking, biking, or walking dogs on the trail. I feel like it is a very safe place to run or walk, but as always, be aware of your surroundings. Another big advantage in the summer months: the trails are shaded and you get a breeze from the river.

I enjoyed the hiking trials at this park tremendously! A few different trials to hike, all scenic…read morewith views of the live oak tree or a stream of water. I enjoyed the swamp fox loop trial. There are restrooms, a playground, water fountain, and parking on site. No entrance fee.

I've driven by this park a million times but finally decided to come walk the trail when my in-laws…read morewere in town. As mentioned in previous posts, the trail has tons of tree roots so you have to really pay attention when you are walking. This would be a terrible trail for a stroller. The road noise is definitely there but it didn't bother me. We only saw a couple of others on the trail, both of which had dogs with them. Make sure you're looking up too because we did have to duck to avoid a banana spider and its web. I would definitely come out here again. Also, we had no issues with mosquitoes.