Santee National Wildlife Refuge: Wrights Bluff Nature Trail (Blog Hike #491)

Trail: Wrights Bluff Nature Trail

Hike Location: Santee National Wildlife Refuge

Geographic Location: southwest of Summerton, SC (33.53998, -80.43653)

Length: 1.4 miles

Difficulty: 1/10 (Easy)

Date Hiked: September 2014

Overview: A short, nearly flat loop to several wildlife observation areas.

Refuge Information: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/santee/

Hike Route Map:

On The Go Map

Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: In central South Carolina, take I-95 to US 301/15 (exit 102).  Exit and go north on US 301/15.  Drive US 301/15 0.3 miles to the refuge entrance on the left.  Turn left onto the newly paved refuge road, and drive the refuge road 1.1 miles to the signed nature trail parking area; it is reached just before arriving at a vehicle gate.

The hike: Established in 1941, Santee National Wildlife Refuge protects 13,000 acres of land on the east side of Lake Marion in rural southwest Clarendon County.  The refuge only owns 4400 acres; the remaining 8600 acres are leased from Santee Cooper.  Santee Cooper is South Carolina’s state-owned utility company that was established during the 1930’s New Deal era to provide utility service to rural areas.  The company also owns Lakes Marion and Moultrie and operates them as sources of hydroelectric power.  At the time of their construction in 1939, Lakes Marion and Moultrie were the largest earth-moving project in American history.  Over 42 million cubic yards of earth were moved, and over 3.1 million cubic yards of concrete were poured to build the two lakes.

            The refuge has greater significance than its public works history: it is the southern-most migration point for naturally migrating Canada geese.  The refuge also provides nesting opportunities for neo-tropical migratory birds, thus making it a major destination for birding enthusiasts.  The refuge’s Nature Center, open 8am-4pm Tuesday through Friday, contains information about the refuge’s birds and wildlife.

            In terms of trails, the refuge has many miles of old roads that are open to hikers and bikers but only 2 designated hiking trails.  The Dingle Pond Trail (not described in this blog) provides a 1 mile out-and-back hike along the southern bank of its namesake pond.  The other option is the Wrights Bluff Nature Trail, the 1.1 mile loop described here.  Tacking on a short side trip to the Santee Indian Mound, one of the region’s largest ancient ceremonial mounds, lets you add some history to your wildlife viewing.

Trailhead: Wrights Bluff Nature Trail

            Begin at the rear of the parking area where a brown metal sign to the right of the vehicle gate announces the trail’s beginning.  The trail surface alternates among sandy dirt, mulch, boardwalk, and small pebbles as you head north through the dense vegetation.  Because this area is surrounded on three sides by water, mosquitoes and other biting insects pose a real nuisance in season.  Be sure to come prepared with plenty of insect repellent and/or long sleeves with a mosquito net.

            At 0.2 miles, you reach a boardwalk that marks the first wildlife observation opportunity.  A wall of rushes makes a nice natural bird blind as you peer out into Cantey Bay’s shallow waters.  On my visit dragonflies buzzed around the wetland, and an egret stood in the water.  Binoculars built into the boardwalk allow you to identify wildlife that is further away than you can see with the naked eye.

Looking out onto Cantey Bay

            Back on the main trail, you quickly leave the boardwalk as the trail angles left to cross a gravel refuge road.  This road is a continuation of the one beyond the vehicle gate at the trailhead, and thus it is usually closed to vehicle traffic.  Near 0.5 miles, you reach an elevated wildlife observation platform.  Climbing the 16 steps to the platform gives a nice view north into the refuge’s sunny grasslands.  I could detect no activity in the grassland during my afternoon visit, but such would surely not be the case in the morning or the evening.

View from observation platform

            Past the observation tower, the trail curves left as Lake Marion proper comes into view through the trees on the right.  Several long boardwalks carry hikers over wet areas.  Bottomland hardwood forest surrounds the trail.

            At 1.1 miles, you close the loop as the trail exits the forest at the parking area.  Before you leave, there is one more place you should visit.  If you turn right, walk a short distance on a gravel path beside the entry road, then turn right again to walk through a mowed-grass area, you will find yourself at the base of the Santee Indian Mound.  The earthen mound stands about 20 feet tall, and a staircase allows easy access to the top.  Interpretive signs at the top of the mound tell the mound’s long history (which includes its use as a British fort during the Revolutionary War), and spectacular views of expansive Lake Marion open up to the west.  This mound makes an interesting way to add some history site to your wildlife refuge visit.

Santee Indian Mound

View of Lake Marion from top of mound

Santee State Park: Limestone Nature Trail (Blog Hike #490)

Trail: Limestone Nature Trail

Hike Location: Santee State Park

Geographic Location: northwest of Santee, SC (33.51718, -80.47954)

Length: 1 mile

Difficulty: 1/10 (Easy)

Date Hiked: September 2014

Overview: A short lollipop loop along the shore of a pond.

Park Information: https://southcarolinaparks.com/santee

Hike Route Map:

On The Go Map

Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: In central South Carolina, take I-95 to SR 6 (exit 98).  Exit and go west on SR 6.  Drive SR 6 west 1.2 miles to State Park Road and turn right on State Park Rd.  State Park Rd. ends in the park.  After entering the park, drive to the park’s main crossroads, and turn right on Cleveland Street, heading for the picnic shelters.  The signed Limestone Nature Trail trailhead is located on the right side of the road just before you reach the picnic shelters.  There is no designated parking area, but there is plenty of roadside parking.

The hike: Located on the west shore of Lake Marion, South Carolina’s largest freshwater lake, Santee State Park consists of 2500 sandy-soiled lowland acres in the heart of the famous Santee Cooper region.  (For more information on the Santee Cooper region, see the next hike.)  The park features a 158-site campground, 30 cabins overlooking Lake Marion, 2 boat ramps, and 6 picnic shelters.  The park’s location far from major cities makes the park less visited than you might expect given its excellent amenities.

            The park contains several hiking trails, the longest of which is the 7.5 mile Hiking/Biking Trail.  I came here intending to hike the long trail, but other members of my party were not up for such a lengthy endeavor.  Thus, I settled on the short Limestone Nature Trail described here.  I did not get the miles I wanted, but I still had a nice hike.

Trailhead: Limestone Nature Trail

            The signed trailhead for the Limestone Nature Trail is located on the south side of the picnic area entrance road.  A sign warns of alligators, though I did not see any of those intimidating reptiles during my visit.  The sandy dirt trail immediately enters the forest, descending slightly.  Ignore an unmarked trail that exits left for the picnic shelters.  The picnic shelters are another place from which this hike could be started, but the trailhead near the picnic shelters is not marked.  Thus, that trailhead may be difficult to find if you are not familiar with the area.

Bridge over pond

Tree-lined pond

            At 0.1 miles, you reach the bank of a large pond that the trail crosses on a long wooden bridge.  The view left looks out to Lake Marion, while the view right is of a tree-lined pond.  At the far side of the bridge, the trail splits to form its loop.  Expecting a flat low-country hike, I was a little intimidated by the relatively steep trail going straight, so I turned left to hike the loop clockwise.

            The trail stays close to the pond as it curves right to rise slightly.  I saw some common birds and aquatic insects around the pond, and a pileated woodpecker flew just a couple of feet over my head.  Despite the trail’s name, the only exposed limestone I saw on this trail was the sand under my feet.

            0.6 miles into the hike, you come to an unmarked T-intersection with trails going right and left.  You need to turn right here to continue the Limestone Nature Trail.  The trail going left rises slightly to quickly reach the paved Lakeshore Campground and boat ramp road, which in turn could be used to reach the Sinkhole Pond Nature Trail, another of the park’s short trails.

Hiking over the high ground

            The remainder of the Limestone Nature Trail stays on the high ground in the middle of the U-shaped pond.  The final few feet to close the loop may be the steepest trail this side of Columbia.  After closing the loop, a short walk back across the wooden bridge to the park road is all that remains to complete the hike.