This State Park Feels Like a Quieter Congaree National Park

South Carolina’s natural beauty is often underestimated, overshadowed by its historic towns and coastal magnificence. But for those of us who live for long walks under canopies of Spanish moss and silent moments surrounded by swaying marsh grasses, the state’s wild places are pure magic. One of the most well-known destinations for that immersive back-to-nature experience is Congaree National Park, home to ancient hardwood forests, slow-moving creeks, and surreal floodplain landscapes. But if you’ve ever found yourself dodging crowds on the park’s popular boardwalk trails or waiting for parking at the canoe launch, you may want to consider a quieter—yet equally rewarding—alternative: Hunting Island State Park.

Located just outside of Beaufort, Hunting Island is one of South Carolina’s most beloved state parks, with nearly a million visitors every year. It’s a place where maritime forest meets salt marsh and where a historic lighthouse still keeps watch over the shoreline. But it’s the sprawling salt marsh, tucked behind the tree line and threaded with quiet trails and shallow tidal creeks, that offers something truly special—especially for those who love the haunting stillness found at Congaree.

I always imagined my first visit to Hunting Island as this: a chilly spring morning, the kind that starts with mist and ends with sun. Instead of heading straight for the beach, I follow a narrow boardwalk trail into the marsh. The path opens up to a view that stops me in my tracks: golden grasses stretching for miles, scattered oyster beds glinting in the morning light, and not a single other person in sight. It has the same calming effect Congaree gives me—the hush, the sense that time slows down when surrounded by water and trees.

While Congaree is famous for its towering bald cypress and rich floodplain biodiversity, Hunting Island offers a more coastal version of that tranquility. Here, egrets and herons glide over brackish waters, and the calls of ospreys echo across the marsh. You can kayak through inlets, explore semi-secret trails like the Marsh Boardwalk Trail, or simply sit and watch the light shift over the grass.

Hunting Island State Park is ideal for anyone looking to immerse themselves in South Carolina’s natural beauty, minus the bustle. And in my book, that makes it a perfect dupe worth discovering.

Make sure to sign up for an Alltrails Plus membership before you hike! That way, you can get even more information before you start your journey. Feeling inspired? Try planning your own trip using Only In Your State’s itinerary planner.