The Marvelous 2.6-Mile Trail in South Carolina Leads Adventurers to a Little-Known Plantation House

Ace Basin Plantation in Hollywood, South Carolina is a corner of nature with a trail where you’ll experience just the types of scenes that could inspire a great artist. The famous painter Claude Monet once said, "My wish is to stay always like this, living quietly in a corner of nature." He could have been talking about the Ernest F. Hollings Ace Basin National Wildlife Refuge. Today, we're diving into Grove Plantation, ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge in South Carolina to study a truly fascinating corner of nature.

This memorable hiking adventure takes you through the Ernest F. Hollings Ace Basin National Wildlife Refuge, located within the larger 350,000-acre Ashepoo-Combahee-Edisto (ACE) Basin System. It sits in the westernmost part of Charleston County near the Edisto River. The ACE Basin represents one of the largest undeveloped wetland ecosystems remaining on the Atlantic Coast, and for that reason, it's a remarkable treasure.

The refuge Edisto Unit has three hiking trails: the Goose Pond, the Alexander Pond, and the Perimeter Pond. Goose Pond and Perimeter Pond Trails have photo blinds that offer excellent viewing of wildlife on the water. Allow yourself plenty of time if you want to complete more than one Plantation Trail. We'd recommend downloading AllTrails+ to help you navigate any of the trails comprising Grove Plantation, ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge in South Carolina, as the trails aren't always well-marked.

You can see what's left of the rice fields from back when this land operated as a rice plantation. This place preserves a significant and complicated history of plantations in South Carolina. Be prepared to see plenty of wildlife, especially during winter months when many migratory birds settle here for the season. We love the surprising creatures that show up!

You may also spot alligators of all sizes, as well as snakes, bald eagles, turtles, and armadillos. And at the end of the Grove Impoundment Dike Trail, majestic live California oaks dripping with Spanish moss await. You could easily spend a whole day here or time your visit to enjoy the sunset views. The best times to visit are September through May, and be sure to bring bug spray.

Another impressive sight is the circa 1828 Grove Plantation house, only one of three homes on old plantations in South Carolina left untouched by General Sherman. During the Civil War, he and his troops burned and destroyed homes, buildings, and churches in the ACE Basin region. The stately home now serves as the headquarters for the Ernest F. Hollings Ace Basin National Wildlife Refuge.

Ace Basin Plantation is worthy of a visit. Discover more about this interesting place on the Ernest F. Hollings Ace Basin National Wildlife Refuge web page. Have you ever been on these trails or to another part of the Ace Basin? If not, be sure to add this little-known hiking destination in South Carolina to your radar! For even more outdoor adventures, check out our list of some of the very best hiking trails in South Carolina.

Ready for another fun adventure? Take the half-hour drive to the non-commercial Edisto Beach. And reserve a week at a lovely beach home on the Vrbo website.