My son and I visited Ernest Hollings Ace Basin National Wildlife Refuge on 7/18/2020. With temperatures soaring to 91°F, it was far too hot for any wildlife to be out and about. The only creatures thriving in the heat were the mosquitoes. Despite dousing myself in Deet, they seemed completely unfazed. I quickly realized this was a trip better suited for the fall.
Our first stop was a spot near the Combahee unit off River Road, highlighted by SCTrails. We hiked the loop around the pond before driving a mile down the road to the official Combahee unit entrance. We discovered that, while the trails remain open, the gates are closed on weekends. We ventured in briefly, but the area felt flat, devoid of wildlife and shade, so we decided to head to the Edisto unit instead.
After a 40-minute drive, we arrived at Edisto, only to find the gate closed there as well. We parked and walked the quarter-mile entrance leading to the plantation house, surrounded by the beautiful, moss-covered oaks that are iconic to South Carolina’s Lowcountry. I had hoped to hike to the Edisto River, but as soon as we began, the mosquitoes launched their attack. I could barely stop to snap a photo before they swarmed, biting through my pants. At that point, we decided to call it quits.
Despite the challenges, I did manage to capture a few photos, which I’ll share. Clearly, this is a trip best saved for the fall!
South Carolina Hiking and Attraction Map
You might enjoy these posts nearby:
- Pinckney NWR
- Donnelley Wildlife Management Area 2022
- Savannah NWR
- Donnelley Wildlife Management Area 2023