Charleston County, SC

Ackerman Park

(Charleston)

Located in the West Ashley area of Charleston, this neighborhood park has several soccer fields, a skateboard park, an off-leash dog area, and a small pond.

Alberta Sottile Long Lake

(Charleston)

The Alberta Long Lake is a salt-water pond surrounded by small wetland areas in downtown Charleston.

Alhambra Hall

(Mount Pleasant)

Located in the old Mount Pleasant village, Alhambra Hall is an old ferry terminal building that is now a popular place for weddings and receptions. Across the street is a playground and restroom building. Alhambra Hall's porch and the surounding grounds provide a spectacular view of Charleston Harbor.

Angel Oak Park

(Johns Island)

This park features the magnificent Angel Oak tree, believed to be more than 1,400 years old.

Battery Island Landing

(Johns Island)

This boat landing provides access to the Stono River and some nice views.

Beachwalker County Park

(Kiawah Island)

Operated by Charleston County, this park provides public access to the beach on Kiawah Island, plus a picnic area overlooking the marsh. Lifeguards, a snack bar and beach rentals are available at certain times of the year.

Breach Inlet

(Sullivan's Island)

Between the Isle of Palms and Sullivan’s Island, water flows into and out of the tidal marshes thru Breach Inlet. With beaches on both sides, this is a nice place to walk around or relax in the sun, altho the water is not safe for swimming.

Brittle Bank Park

(Charleston)

This park has some really impressive views overlooking the Ashley River. There is a playground, plus a fishing pier with a boat dock.

Buck Hall Recreation Area

Just off US #17 is Buck Hall Recreation Area in the Francis Marion National Forest, where you will find a boat ramp and campground overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway and the salt marsh.

Bull Island

Bull Island is an undeveloped barrier island within the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge, established to help wildlife and to preserve their habitat. Numerous roads and trails provide opportunities for hiking and wildlife observation.

Caw Caw Interpretive Center

This site is rich in natural, cultural, and historical resources. Still visible on the site are earthen dikes, water control structures and canals.

Charles Pinckney National Historic Site

(Mount Pleasant)

This historic site was established to interpret Charles Pinckney's role in the development of the United States Constitution, his plantation, and the transition of the United States from a group of colonies to a young nation. Twenty-eight acres of a 715-acre plantation called Snee Farm are also preserved in the park.

Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site

(Charleston)

Come to the Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site to visit the site of the first permanent English settlement in the Carolinas. Today, you will also find a nature preserve, an animal forest, numerous trails, and a museum depicting the lives of the area's early settlers.

Charleston Tea Plantation

Come out to Wadmalaw Island in South Carolina's low country to visit the only tea plantation in the United States. View the vast fields of tea bushes and watch the machinery which processes the leaves.

Colonial Lake and Moultrie Playground

(Charleston)

This man-made pond in downtown Charleston is a popular place for walkers and joggers. Across the street, you will find tennis courts, a ball field, and a playground.

County Farm Landing

(North Charleston)

Convieniently located next to the Mark Clark Expressway (I-526), this boat landing provides access to the Ashley River.

Dungannon Plantation Heritage Preserve

Several interesting hiking trails wander thru this nature preserve that has been set up to provide feeding and roosting areas for a variety of wading birds.

Folly Beach County Park

(Folly Beach)

This park provides access to Folly Beach and the Folly River. Facilities include dressing rooms, showers, boardwalks, picnic tables, a snack bar, a gift shop, and equipment rentals, altho some of these are available only in the summer season.

Fort Lamar Heritage Preserve

(James Island)

This Heritage Preserve is built around the remains of an old Civil War fort constructed in 1862 as part of James Island's defense.

Fort Moultrie National Monument

(Sullivan's Island)

Fort Moultrie's history covers 171 years of seacoast defense, including the first decisive victory in the American Revolution and firing onto Fort Sumter during the first battle of the Civil War. The third Fort Moultrie, built in 1809, stands today. By touring the fort, visitors can see how coastal defenses have evolved.

Garris Landing

This area has a boat landing and a large fishing pier. The ferry to Bull Island departs from here.

Gateway Walk

(Charleston)

Established in 1830, this walk way passes thru the cemetaries of four churches ana a sculpture garden.

Grove Plantation

This historic plantation house serves as headquarters for the ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge. Numerous hiking trails run thru the woods and the marsh lands.

Halfway Creek Trail Camp

This is a primitive camping area along the Palmetto Trail in the Francis Marion National Forest. A water pump is available.

Hampton Park of Charleston and McMahon Playground

(Charleston)

This historic city park near the Citadel has an attractive pond and fountain, plus many large shade trees.

Hampton Plantation State Historic Site

Visit this historic site to tour the old Hampton Plantation, see the Washington Oak tree, walk the nature trail, and look out over the old rice fields. This park in rural Charleston County is a great place to escape and relax.

I'on Swamp Interpretive Trail

This very interesting hiking trail takes you thru the wetlands to some old rice fields that are now preserved as a wildlife sanctuary.

Isle of Palms County Park

(Isle of Palms)

This beach access area has dressing rooms, outdoor showers, restrooms, vending, a picnic area, sand volleyball, and a children's play area.

James Island County Park

(James Island)

This 643-acre park has a wide variety of activities and facilities to offer. These include tidal creek fishing, bicycle rental, boat rentals, playgrounds, a spray/play fountain area, volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, and the Splash Zone waterpark.

Johns Island Park

(Johns Island)

This neighborhood recreation area on Johns Island is loaded with sports facilities. Grassy areas with picnic tables surround a small pond.

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens

(Charleston)

Magnolia Plantation is the oldest public tourist site in the low country, and the oldest public gardens in America, opening its doors to visitors in 1872 to view the thousands of beautiful flowers and plants in its famous gardens.

Mount Pleasant Palmetto Islands County Park

(Mount Pleasant)

Palmetto Islands County Park is a nature-oriented park built in a tropical setting. There are paved bicycle paths, boardwalks, and picnic sites with grills located throughout the park for your enjoyment.

North Charleston Park Circle

(North Charleston)

In the center of the old North Charleston neighborhood you will find a large park with a traffic circle in it. Inside the traffic circle are several ball fields, picnic tables, a gazebo, and a playground. Outside the circle is a disc golf course.

North Charleston Riverfront Park

(North Charleston)

Featuring some spectacular views of the Cooper River, this is a great place in North Charleston to relax, unwind, and view the scenery.

North Charleston Wannamaker County Park

(North Charleston)

This nature-oriented park in North Charleston has a wide variety of activities to offer, including picnicking, volleyball, bicycling, boating, and hiking. It is also an excellent place for large group functions.

North End Folly Beach

(Folly Beach)

At the northeastern end of Folly Island you will find an undeveloped area with an outstanding view of the inlet and the Morris Island Lighthouse.

Patriot's Point Naval and Maritime Museum

(Mount Pleasant)

Located on historic Charleston Harbor, Patriots Point is home to four historic boats. Onboard the Yorktown are dozens of displays devoted to maritime and naval history.

Pickett Bridge Recreation Area

(Mount Pleasant)

The site of an old trolley bridge between Mount Pleasant and Sullivan's Island is now a popular recreation area for joggers, bicyclists, and fishermen.

Pierpont Public Boat Landing

(Charleston)

This is a small boat ramp onto the Ashley River which also has some great marsh views.

Quarterman Park

(North Charleston)

This is an attractive neighborhood park in North Charleston.

Remleys Point Public Boat Landing

(Mount Pleasant)

This boat ramp in Mount Pleasant provides access to Charleston Harbor where the Wando River flows into the Cooper River, just north of the Cooper River Bridge.

Riverland Terrace Public Boat Landing

(James Island)

This site has a boat ramp as well as picnic tables and a playground.

Robert E. Ashley Landing

(McClellanville)

The center of McClellanville has a small park, a museum, and a boat ramp onto Jeremy Creek.

Sewee Shell Mound area

A mile-long hiking trail takes you to a 4000-year old pile of oyster shells discarded by Native Americans. Several other trails lead off into the woods, with some spectacular marsh views as well.

Sewee Visitor & Environmental Education Center

This is the main information center for both the Francis Marion National Forest and the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge. Many brochures and maps are available here. Behind the building are several interesting boardwalks and hiking trails.

Sunrise Park

(James Island)

This park offers a great view of Charleston Harbor and the Arthur Ravenel Bridge.

Swamp Fox Parking Area

This area in the community of Awendaw provides access to the Palmetto Trail and other hiking trails.

Tibwin Managed Wetlands Complex

The hiking trails in this complex take you past a variety of ponds and wetlands, with some outstanding marsh views.

Wapoo Cut Public Boat Ramp

(Charleston)

This boat ramp provides access to Wapoo Creek, which runs between the Stono River and the Ashley River.

Waterfront Park

(Charleston)

This very attractive park in downtown Charleston has a spectacular view of the Cooper River and Charleston Harbor. It is a popular place on weekends.

West Ashley Greenway

(Charleston)

This ten-mile long rail-trail has a great variety of scenery. The eastern end runs thru residential sections of the West Ashley neighborhood. Most of the trail is unpaved, hard-packed dirt, and there are virtually no hills.

West Ashley Park

(Charleston)

This nicely-maintained park has a variety of sports facilities, plus a few trails and boardwalks thru the surrounding wetlands.

White Point Gardens and the Battery

(Charleston)

Located in the heart of Charleston's historic district, this prominent landmark provides a spectacular view of Charleston Harbor, where the Ashley and Cooper Rivers empty into the Atlantic Ocean.