Otter Islands In South Carolina Is So Little-Known, You Just Might Have It All To Yourself

One of the largest natural wonders in the state, the ACE Basin, may also be one of the most under-appreciated. Granted, parts of the ACE Basin are some of the most visited areas of the Lowcountry, including Hunting Island State Park and Edisto Beach State Park. But other parts receive hardly any attention at all, such as Otter Islands, certainly one of the lesser-known, secret places to explore in South Carolina.

Miles from anywhere just off the coast of Edisto Beach about 45 miles south of Charleson, Otter Islands is a wild natural place just waiting for you to explore.

You can kayak there yourself or take an Otter Islands Shelling Excursion with Edisto Watersports and Tackle. The excursions take place only during low tide, which is the best time to paddle to the Islands. If you're lucky, you may see dolphins swimming alongside as you paddle!

It's about a 22-mile round trip paddle from Edisto Island.

Be sure to bring drinking water, towels, snacks, sunscreen, insect repellent, and your camera and binoculars.

Otter Islands is a 2000-acre untouched, undeveloped island that's a part of the St. Helena Sound Preserve and home to many rare plants and threatened or endangered animal species.

Most of the island is marshland with about 500 acres of highlands and beaches.

You can find all kinds of shells while walking along Otter Island Beach, but you also could find WWII artifacts. Otter Islands was used for target practice during World War II by the Tuskegee Airmen.

Today, the island is a wildlife-management area under the protection of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, and removing artifacts and shells from the island is forbidden.

The island serves as a refuge for migratory birds and sea turtles that are nesting. Its remote location makes it ideal for attracting lots of wildlife, one of the few remaining places they are able to live without interference from humans.

On the south side of the island, you'll find perhaps one of the best examples of an untouched maritime forest on the East Coast. Be very careful if you decide to explore there, as a very healthy population of eastern diamondback rattlesnakes lives there!

You can camp on the island but keep in mind it is very primitive camping in its truest form, and a permit is required.

The permitted camping times are from November to March and are arguably some of the windiest and most volatile months of the year for weather conditions. You'll want to be prepared for cold temperatures and high winds, especially at night. And be sure to pack a pair of shorts and flip-flops for warmth during daytime hours.

Have you ever been to Otter Islands or other lesser-known, secret places to explore in South Carolina? Did you find anything surprising? We’d love to hear about your experience! Send in an attraction nomination if it’s not a place we’ve featured before.