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Backpacker Magazine – November 2010

Best Hikes Ever: Sandpiper Trail, SC

Emerge from crane-crossed coastal grasslands to pristine beaches.

by: Dave Pidgeon




South Carolina’s coast isn’t only for Parrotheads. Just 20 miles south of tourist stronghold Myrtle Beach sit the pristine coast and camping areas at Huntington Beach State Park. Take a 6.2-mile lollipop loop departing from the education center. But first walk the lonely boardwalk out into spartina grass marshlands, where the mud crawls with silver-dollar-size fiddler crabs. Keep an eye open for egrets, leggy blue herons, and alligators sunning themselves as you retrace your steps back to the parking lot. From there, hike the Sandpiper Trail through hammocks of long-needle pines. Where the trail ends, begin walking the fine-sand beach, home to seasonal loggerhead turtle nests.

Map Free, huntingtonbeachsc.org

Contact (843) 237-4440; southcarolinaparks.com


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READERS COMMENTS

There is no 6.2 mile hiking at Huntington Beach. The longest and only unpaved trail is only 2 miles (the Sandpiper Trail). The "lonely boardwalk" is about 500 feet away from and in full view of the main road entering the park. The information center apologetically informed us that "there is a lot of misinformation about our park on the internet." Quite a bit of wildlife, but disappointing hiking.

For much better hiking in the midlands and lowcountry, try Congaree National Park near Columbia (free entry, backwoods camping permitted, 5 trails, great night-hiking) or even Cypress Gardens just outside of Charleston($10/adult, $5/children, daytime only).
Posted: Jun 03, 2011 Steve

Great early morning hike to beat the heat. The trip back on the beach is serene. Just know if you have your faithful dog with you when you get to the beach you can only go south. North is off limits for dogs due to nesting birds. Not sure if that is year round or only during certain times. Beautiful hike with decks built along the way to look out over Sandpiper pond. Saw lots of deer tracks but no deer.
Posted: Apr 21, 2011 Becky Hamrick

When you hang it on a broken limb stub, you can wrap the waist strap around the tree trunk to make sure it stays in the wind. If there are bears, climb up and hang it high.
Posted: Jan 31, 2011 Jonathan

if you want to keep it off the ground you can hang it on a limb otherwise just leaned up on a tree will do.
Posted: Jan 13, 2011 Ryan

planning on first backpacking trip in a few months. Just one really weird question,where do you put your pack at night when you are sleeping?
Posted: Jan 10, 2011 michael b

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