One of the most extraordinary beaches in South Carolina is found on Edisto Island inside the Botany Bay Heritage Preserve and Wildlife Management Area. After a one-mile hike on a sand and crushed oyster shell pathway, visitors emerge onto a secluded beach that's best described as otherworldly.
In fact, the entire adventure of getting to the beach at Botany Bay is a soul-enriching journey — starting soon after pulling onto Botany Bay Road.
Much of the well-maintained dirt and sand road is shrouded in moss-covered tree tunnels, one after the other until, finally, visitors reach a sign that says "beach" and points to the right.
Ample parking for visitors means there is plenty of room for everyone before hitting the trail.
But be forewarned before you make the trip: dogs aren't allowed on this trail, so you'll need to leave your best fur pal at home.
From the start of the sandy path at the parking lot, visitors can almost see the ocean.
It certainly always feels like it's just steps away, even though it's a mile out to the water.
Along the way, visitors enjoy the spoils of this vast marshland wilderness and the creatures that call it home.
We recently learned from speaking with a ranger on duty that these creatures are the reason dogs aren't permitted on the trail. Some of them refuse to return to care for their young if their nests have been visited by intruders.
After a 20-30 minute walk enjoying the fresh salt air, visitors are in awe as the trail opens to a beach that, at low tide, is wide open and gorgeous.
Expect to share the beach and trail with scores of others, but there is plenty of room for making social distancing no issue at all.
Botany Bay Beach is a treasure trove of sea shells — admire and touch them all you want, but don't plan on collecting them.
It's illegal to remove anything from the beach, although fishing here and bringing home your catch is perfectly fine.
One of the marvelous things about this remote beach is the massive boneyard of toppled sun-bleached trees along one long section of the beach.
Photographers love sunrise and sunset images captured from this little known paradise.
If you're wondering if you can swim here. Yes! Bring a towel and some sunscreen and enjoy!
Botany Bay is open from 30 minutes before the sun rises to 30 minutes after the sun sets. Visitors must stop at a self-registering kiosk to obtain a free pass upon entering the preserve. Learn more at this link.
Love boneyard beaches filled with driftwood and forever views of the Atlantic? Keep reading to check out another driftwood beach on the South Carolina coast between Charleston and Georgetown.
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