Widgeon Point Preserve in South Carolina

If you’re looking to get back out into nature, Widgeon Point Preserve is the perfect place to do it. This Beaufort area nature preserve is full of exciting wildlife and breathtaking scenery. As an iconic part of South Carolina’s Lowcountry, there are ample opportunities to experience unique and diverse natural features.

Outdoor enthusiasts have the freedom to visit this beautiful Beaufort area nature preserve year-round. It’s open every day and is only closed to the public after nightfall. This gives visitors and local residents the chance to see the area in its many forms as it changes with the seasons.

Amazing Location

Because of the coastal location of this Beaufort area nature preserve, a wide variety of habitats are supported. This means that there’s a vast array of beautiful and interesting life, both plants and animals, that have found their homes here. Visitors find a diverse blend of wildlife at every turn when walking these trails.

Finding the park isn’t difficult as it’s just off Highway 170 on Lemon Island. The preserve covers 162 acres of land in total. It’s a rich mixture of tree life ranging from maritime forest and pine-hardwood forest. As you get close to the Broad River, you’ll find a salt marsh along its banks. The park is made possible by the co-ownership of the Beaufort County Open Land Trust and Beaufort County itself.

Widgeon Point Preserve Activities

Whether it’s hiking, a picnic, or just getting out to appreciate nature, there’s something for everybody. It’s a great way to spend a day doing a variety of outdoor activities. If you come in a big group, everyone will have the chance to do what they want to do. Widgeon Point is a new addition to Beaufort County’s passive parks. Just as the name suggests, this is the type of outdoor venue where you can enjoy nature in a laid-back, unstructured way. You don’t have to have a big itinerary mapped out before heading out. Widgeon Point is ideal for those who just want to get outside and figure out the rest once they get there.

Those who don’t do so well on rugged terrain and primitive trails need not worry: The preserve features paved sidewalks that connect with the parking lot. From there, you’re led to a variety of attractions including a bird blind, a picnic pavilion, and an event barn.

The path takes hikers on a loop of 0.7 miles. It follows the perimeter of Hummock Island without encountering any hills, but it does provide many encounters with trees of the pine, palm, and oak kind. All throughout, you’re given numerous vantage points to appreciate the Broad River.

Pet Friendly

This is a park that’s pet-friendly. Dog lovers appreciate the water fountain that’s designed specifically for their dog use. It is important to keep in mind that among the breathtaking wildlife, there are also animals and plants that can harm your canine companion. Visitors walking with their dogs should watch out for fox squirrels, bald eagles, and white-tailed deer. Alligators have been reported in the preserve’s freshwater ponds, so it’s also important to keep dogs away from wandering near them.