This Little-Known Trail Is Quite Possibly the Best Biking and Walking Path in South Carolina

I’m always on the hunt for a new hiking trail to explore. Obviously, I have my favorites, but they quickly become boring if I visit them too much. And then I feel guilty because there are so many incredible hiking trails in South Carolina to explore, I feel like it’s a disservice not to add at least one new trail to my itinerary a month. More often than not, I find the little-known trails in South Carolina to be my favorites. You know the ones, the hidden gems where you’re the only one on the trail and it feels like you’ve got a little corner of Earth all to yourself. 

Victoria Bluff Heritage Preserve is a 977-acre nature preserve located in Bluffton. Bluffton is one of our favorite small towns in South Carolina, and it's honestly a fabulous spot for endless outdoor adventures. It's a great choice for a place to escape the crowds of this area for a little solitude, but perhaps you don't want to travel too far out of town. There's a little-known trail at this spot that's a nice biking and walking path near Hilton Head, too, perfect for a side of exercise along with that solitude.

The Deer Bone Trail is a 2.5-mile loop that's considered an easy route and takes about 45 minutes to complete on average. Dogs are allowed on the trail but should be on a leash.

You could see birds and other wildlife along your hike or bike ride. The area is home to a rare species of yellow-throated and white-throated warblers, as well as gray squirrels and black-headed parakeets.

Pondspice, a rare plant found only on the coastal plains of the southeastern United States from Florida to Maryland, grows in the Victoria Bluff Heritage Preserve. Keep an eye out for them if you're visiting the area in the spring or summer months. It's pictured below so you can know what to look for!

The majority of the trail is shaded by those beautiful canopies of trees. Nothing screams South Carolina like wandering through the trees draped with that beautiful Spanish moss.

This preserve also contains a rare type of forest in South Carolina, with pine-saw palmetto flatwoods trees. There are longleaf pine, slash pine, and cabbage palm trees in this area.

If it's been rainy, the trail may be soft and even flooded in places. You could also come across downed trees. For the most part, this trail (and the entire preserve) is well-maintained, so you shouldn't run into anything crazy.

This preserve is also used for hunting, so it's best not to visit in October and November. Wearing protective clothing is a good idea, as ticks are known to thrive in this lush forest. Be sure to check yourself well for ticks after your hike or ride.

For more information, check out the official Victoria Bluff Heritage Preserve website.

While this is an ideal day-trip outing, you might want to consider a weekend getaway in Bluffton. It's a charming small town with plenty of restaurants, hotels, and things to keep you entertained for a few days.

Feeling inspired? Try planning your own trip using Only In Your State’s itinerary planner.