Hiking Trails Near Lake Moultrie

Sometimes, the best way to explore an area is by strapping on some boots and traversing through it on your own two feet. This can definitely be the case when it comes to our corner of South Carolina. The area around the Santee Reservoir is full of beauty, both natural and man-made. You can explore it first hand by walking along one of the hiking trails nearby.

Swamp Fox Passage

• Length: 46.2 miles
• Trail Type: Point-to-point
• Difficulty:  Easy to Moderate, depending on length

Stretching from Awendaw all the way to the southeast side of Lake Moultrie, the Swamp Fox Passage is the longest stretch of the famed Palmetto Trail. While it may be 46 miles total in length, you don’t have to hike that far to experience amazing sights and view the wildlife. In fact there are three different trailheads along the route that allow you to take a shorter trek.

This stretch of the trail features four different ecosystems. Among them, hikers will witness mature long-leaf pine forests as well as swamps that served as hideouts for the legendary Swamp Fox himself.

If you want to learn more about the Palmetto Trail and the other passages that are close to our location, such as the Lake Moultrie Passage, check out our Guide to the Palmetto Trail.

Cuddo Loop Trail

• Length: 2 miles
• Trail Type: Loop
• Difficulty: Easy

Nestled in the middle of the Santee National Wildlife Refuge, the Cuddo Loop Trail can make for a short, easy lakeside stroll. There is not much elevation gain to speak of on this route. The Cuddo Unit, the section of the refuge this trail is in, does enforce seasonal times of entry:

• Oct 1st - Feb 28: 7:00 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• March 1st - September 30: 6:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

A major perk of this trail is the amount of wildlife you are bound to see, especially when it comes to birds. From raptors and other birds of prey to waterfowl of all kinds, you can watch them as they fly around and interact with their habitat.

Biggin Creek Trail

• Length: 4.5 miles
• Trail Type: Loop
• Difficulty: Moderate

Biggin Creek Trail is a popular route near Moncks Corner that is a favorite for hikers and mountain bikers alike. The loop winds its way through a tranquil forest, and it’s not uncommon for travelers to spot wildlife while traveling. Biggins Creek Trails has a few steep ascents, but overall doesn’t have a lot of elevation gain. This trail is open year round, so it's safe to expect to see a fair amount of other hikers and bikers along the trail. 

A unique quality to this trail is that mountain bikers and hikers are expected to go in opposite directions around the loop. On top of this, the directions change daily, so it's best to check ahead of time which way you are supposed to hike.

Jericho Horse Trail

• Length: 19 miles
• Trail Type: Loop
• Difficulty: Moderate

The Jericho Horse Trail, as the name suggests, is a well-known trek for horseback riding. There are a fair amount of habitats that the trail winds through, but due to the popularity of the trail, there is a lower likelihood of spotting wildlife from the trail. This said, the scenery alone is worth making the trip. An elevation gain of ~250 feet helps to make this a moderately difficult hike.

There are two things to consider when taking this trail. First, the area is a popular hunting ground, so exercise caution when trying to hike the Jericho Horse Trail during hunting season, especially during the months of October through January.

Second, there can be flooded portions of the trail during the summer rains, so it's best to enjoy this route in the other seasons.