Lace up your hiking boots. We’ve compiled a curated hiking guide for the Charleston area with 10 trails and routes to help you plan your next adventure.
Key: Easy = 🥾 | Moderate = 🥾🥾 | Hard = 🥾🥾🥾
Picture-perfect views
West Ashley Greenway, Albemarle Road
- Difficulty: 🥾
- Length: 10.5 miles out and back
- Wheelchair accessible: Portions
- Pet-friendly: Yes (leashed)
The West Ashley Greenway is a partially paved trail with water views that are great for walking your dog.
Daniel Island Trail, 101 River Landing
- Difficulty: 🥾
- Length: 3.2 miles
- Wheelchair accessible: Yes
- Pet-friendly: Yes (leashed)
Enjoy a peaceful trek along the Wando River. With scenic water views, shaded stretches, and chances to spot wildlife like herons and dolphins. It’s perfect for a relaxing outing.
Take a peaceful stroll.
Photo provided by @explore.chs.sc
Best for a workout
James Island County Perimeter Trail, 871 Riverland Dr.
- Difficulty: 🥾
- Length: 3.5-mile loop
- Wheelchair accessible: Portions
- Pet-friendly: Yes (leashed)
Go for a jog with your running buddy on this trail around James Island that’s open year-round.
I’On Village Walk, North Shelmore Boulevard, Mount Pleasant
- Difficulty: 🥾
- Length: 2-mile loop
- Wheelchair accessible: No
- Pet-friendly: Yes (leashed)
This easy route in the I’On neighborhood includes sites like the Rookery Wildlife Refuge and Mt. Pleasant Amphitheater.
Wildlife walks
How beautiful are these trees?
Photo provided by @blushingalpacas
Laurel Hill County Park Loop, 1251 Park West Blvd., Mount Pleasant
- Difficulty: 🥾
- Length: 5.1-mile loop
- Wheelchair accessible: Yes
- Pet-friendly: Yes (leashed)
Follow this dirt path with your furry friend on a leash through Laurel Hill County Park.
Charles Towne Landing Historic Site Trail, 1500 Old Towne Rd.
- Difficulty: 🥾
- Length: 2-mile loop
- Wheelchair accessible: Yes
- Pet-friendly: Yes (leashed)
This trail offers scenic views of the Ashley River and is popular for bird watching, walking, and biking.
Palmetto Islands County Park Marsh Trail, 444 Needlerush Pkwy., Mount Pleasant
- Difficulty: 🥾
- Length: 0.9-mile loop
- Wheelchair accessible: Portions
- Pet-friendly: Yes (leashed)
Grab your friends, lace up your sneakers, and go for a 15-minute walk on this open-year-round loop.
Stono River County Park, 3580 McLeod Mill Rd., Johns Island
- Difficulty: 🥾
- 1.5-mile out-and-back
- Wheelchair accessible: Yes
- Pet-friendly: Yes (leashed)
This trail winds through marshes and along the Stono River, offering beautiful views, a quiet island boardwalk, and plenty of open sky. Great for walking, birdwatching, and enjoying the Lowcountry’s natural beauty.
Waterside wanders
Folly Beach County Park Path, 1100 W. Ashley Ave., Folly Beach
- Difficulty: 🥾
- Length: 1.1 miles out and back
- Wheelchair accessible: Beach accessibility info
- Pet-friendly: Yes (leashed)
Explore Folly Beach on this ~20-minute walk and enjoy ocean views.
Seeing the Morris Island Lighthouse during your walk is a treat.
Photo provided by @joshfischerphotography
Morris Island Lighthouse Trail, 1739 E. Ashley Ave., Folly Beach
- Difficulty: 🥾
- Length: 0.8 mile out and back
- Wheelchair accessible: Portions
- Pet-friendly: No
Walk along a colorful graffiti-covered road to Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve for views of Morris Island Lighthouse.
Get the right gear
Get the most out of your trip with comfortable, handy, and helpful hiking gear:
- For the best footwear, check out Nordstrom Rack’s sneaker edit for hiking.
- If your trail demands a proper hiking boot, we like Columbia’s collection on Amazon.
- Travel light (but still have room for snacks) with lululemon’s Everywhere Belt Bag.
- Get a good bulk deal on Perfect Bars, Clif Bars, or Kind Bars at a warehouse store like Sam’s Club.
- Don’t forget to bring a compact, portable phone charger (you’ll thank us later).
- We like this Teton hiking backpack.
- We like this lightweight water bottle.
- Psst — to be ultra-prepared, here are the 10 items you should never enter a national park without, according to the National Park Service.
