With its winding creeks and rivers, oak-shaded streets and proximity to both a wildly popular state park and one of the largest wetland ecosystems on the Atlantic coast, Beaufort offers the perfect backdrop for outdoor recreation.
In this historic city set along the Beaufort River, you can enjoy biking, hiking, sailing, kayaking, paddleboarding, fishing and golfing virtually year-round.
Below are some of the outdoor recreational activities available in Beaufort.
Biking – Rent bicycles from one of the local bike shops—Lowcountry Bicycles and University Bikes —and explore the historic district’s beautiful tree-lined streets. Or hop on the Spanish Moss Trail, a 10-mile paved pathway offering spectacular water and marsh views and access to historic points of interest.
Kayaking – Discover the natural beauty of Lowcountry waterways and learn about Beaufort’s history on a kayak tour with one of the local outfitters, including Beaufort Kayak Tours, Beaufort Lands End Paddling and Higher Ground. Beaufort Kayak Tours also offers trips on the Combahee, one of three rivers that make up the ACE Basin, a protected estuary designated one of the “Last Great Places on Earth” by The Nature Conservancy.
Fishing – If you’re looking to drop a line in Beaufort’s fish-abundant waters, you won’t have any trouble finding a guide or booking a fishing charter excursion. A few to consider include Reel Chance, Cast Away, Sea Wolf and Mattson Charter Service. If fly fishing is your thing, check out Bay Street Outfitters.
Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park – Overlooking the Beaufort River, this landmark park features a riverfront walkway with swings, a children’s playground, a small pavilion, an amphitheater for concerts and a large green space. It’s also the venue for some of the city’s most popular festivals, including Taste of Beaufort, Beaufort Water Festival and Beaufort Shrimp Festival.
Hunting Island State Park – South Carolina’s most popular state park, this 5,000-acre coastal retreat features five miles of pristine beach, a fishing pier, several miles of trails, a lighthouse and a nature center offering regularly scheduled educational programs.
Golf – If you packed your golf clubs, you’ll have three excellent choices to test your skills.
The Legends at Parris Island is a par-72 layout that winds its way along salt marshes and creeks, offering challenging fairways, tough greens and deep sand traps.
TGC at Pleasant Point Plantation, a Russell Breeden layout on Lady’s Island, delivers a great golfing experience for players of all levels with 18 rigorous holes, 12 of them featuring a water hazard.
The Pines course at Lady’s Island Country Club is the oldest course in Beaufort and a demanding test of golf. Situated in heavily wooded terrain with 22 sand bunkers, tight fairways and Champion Bermuda greens, the course is in tournament condition.
