Now that autumn has arrived in Orangeburg, South Carolina, it’s a great time to get outside and enjoy the cooler temperatures. The best way to do this is to head outdoors to take a hike. If you’re ready to enjoy the mild weather and lovely fall colors, make plans to check out one of these top hikes around Orangeburg.
Francis Beidler Forest
Francis Beidler Forest is an Audubon wildlife sanctuary located in Four Holes Swamp and situated about 45 minutes southeast of Orangeburg. The sanctuary has a 1.75-mile boardwalk that lets you view the quiet flow of blackwater, thousand-year-old trees, and various wildlife. You can also take part in special walks throughout the year, such as the Bird Walk on the Boardwalk, which focuses on the different birds that live in the area, and the Nightwalk at Beidler Forest, which offers a unique nighttime journey through the swamp.
Congaree National Park
The sprawling 26,276-acre Congaree National Park is located less than an hour from Orangeburg and offers a variety of hiking opportunities. If you’d like something short and easy, the 1.7-mile Bluff Trail passes through a forest of longleaf pines before taking you to an elevated boardwalk. If you’re interested in something a little more challenging, the 7-mile Oakridge Trail offers a great opportunity for viewing fall colors as it takes you through a stretch of old-growth forest and past a ridge of large oak trees.
Manchester State Forest
If you travel an hour north of Orangeburg to Manchester State Forest, you’ll find plenty of hiking trails that wind through the 28,675 acres of mixed pine and hardwood trees. Some of the popular trails in the forest include parts of the Palmetto Trail, such as the 7.2-mile Wateree Passage, 9-mile High Hills of Santee Passage, and 5-mile Lake Marion Passage. These trails have an easy to moderate rating and provide excellent vistas of the swamp and forest.
Santee State Park
Located about 30 minutes from Orangeburg on the shores of Lake Marion, Santee State Park has several trail options for hikers of all experience levels. The 1-mile Limestone Nature Trail offers an easy hike through a heavily wooded area of the park. Other easy hikes in the park include the 1-mile Oak Pinolly Trail and 1-mile Sinkhole Pond Trail. For something more challenging, head out on the 7.5-mile Hiking/Biking Trail. This broad and mostly level trail travels through a mixed pine and hardwood forest and offers occasional glimpses of the lake.
Francis Marion National Forest
Take a trip one hour and 30 minutes east of Orangeburg to spend the day at Francis Marion National Forest. If you’d like to do some day hiking, the I’on Swamp Interpretive Trail offers a fascinating walk through the wetlands. If you’re interested in doing some backpacking, the forest is home to two parts of the Palmetto Trail: the Awendaw Passage and Swamp Fox Passage.
If you’re looking for some late fall hikes around Orangeburg that you shouldn’t miss, you’ll have a great time when you check out some of these top options.
Image by Gerry Dincher via cc by-sa 2.0
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