Sea Pines Forest Preserve Reviews

Enjoyed walking on wooden walkways above the 'disappearing swamp' and other wetlands. Nice drive in park also. Careful-the drive is on some pretty bumpy roads in some places.

No where on the Sea Pines website does it say that you MUST enter via auto. You canNOT walk or bike in. In fact, I see a review here that states “I stopped here...on an island bike ride“. And it costs money. Not much - $9.00 - which I would gladly pay, even on a bike, but I find it deceptive and annoying that no where does it tell me I can’t walk in or ride my bicycle in. Two different guards, two different times, two different locations told us this information. Sad and annoying.

This beautiful preserve abounds with natural, tropical wonders. It is well maintained, yet untamed. The board walk that traverses the preserve allows a person to walk through the heart of the lagoons and experience the birds, reptiles, and wildlife.

We came across this gem on a Wednesday morning. Lots of trails. Do not wear flip flops. Lots of horse poop on the trails and you need to pay the daily fee to get into Sea Pines if you aren't a guest there. Biking trails, walking trails, lots of gators in lagoons, gorgeous birds. No strenuous trails and some are paved. You can fish if you are a Sea Pines guest. Picnic tables for lunching. It was beautiful.

We hiked around the forest through some boardwalks to a small body of water. Saw lots of wildlife including birds, turtles, alligators.

What a great break from the beach! The Forest Preserve has wonderful walking and biking trails, and a few areas are actually open to vehicles. The informational signs are frequently placed and are very specific about which direction to head for each listed area. A tremendous place for bird watching. The lake is well known for its fishing activity, but I did not participate in that. The lake is beautiful and the area around it is very nice for relaxing or a picnic. We actually rode our bikes from the condo South Beach to the Preserve and just continued our exploration.

Scenic pathways across forest and around ponds and wetlands, plenty of birds, alligators, turtles. Dogs allowed. First time visited, but will be coming again when in Hilton Head. To enter the Preserve you need to pay 9$/car for entry into the Sea Pine Forest district (you need to be in a car, RVs are not allowed!), and then drive against Harbour Town. The entry to the Preserve is midway to Harbour Town to the left. You can drive your car in the Preserve, and park at different designated places, depending how deep into the park you want to go, then leave the car and walk around. There are no foods and drinks sold in the Preserve.

My wife and I have visited this wildlife preserve three times and have thoroughly enjoyed it each time. Our favorite area is the Anhinga Driving Trail that can be reached by car. We started out on the other side, walking the trails as we did twice before, but we are in our 60s and our health caused us to turn back and go around to the Lawton entrance to be able to drive to Lake Mary. We saw a few Anhinga, a turtle sunning on a log and an alligator which swam over to check us out. We felt that it was worth the time and effort to see these natural treasures.

We didn't really enjoy much on Hilton Head other than this. The place is way too touristy and even this area was a bit busy. We found some of the trails to be really nice but others not so much. Some parts of the trails were almost like hiking but others were just paved bike paths and picnic areas.

This area is just beautiful and has signs describing the various environments. I recommend grabbing a map if you get turned around easily. Great place for a walk or bike!

I was a bit skeptical after reading a few recent reviews, but we went for some exercise and to see the wildlife. The trails are fairly well marked, but pick up a map on your way in to help get around. Also take water - it is mostly shady, but you will want to stay hydrated.

We were barely in the preserve and saw a beautiful blue heron. We saw several interesting birds, lots of turtles and 4 alligators (2 babies and 3 adults). This is real nature so you have to look for the alligators closely. It was very enjoyable and I would definitely do it again.

Love to go on "gator sighting" adventures...always a thrill to see these dinosaurs in person...we look forward to this every trip

Nice to be able to walk here again. Two years ago it was closed after Hurricane Mathew and last year there was limited access with many wooden walked ways not yet repaired. Now it is fully accessible again. The Greenwood access was closed to us but that was temporary because of road construction and should be finished soon. No problem, you can get in the other side by the man-made lakes.

Access is free if you are staying or living in Sea Pines but well worth the gate fee into Sea Pines if you are just visiting and there are lots of close by watering holes for a cold libation after a brisk walk in the woods.

Always nice to see something through new eyes. My adult granddaughter and I set out for a half hour walk. It was her first visit. Two hours later we finished and she wants to go back again. If you want to split it up you can do the lakes and east one day including Shell Ring and then come back for the less tailored and wilder other half another day. Lots of wildlife in both halves.

We bicycled to the forest preserve as part of the Legacy Oak tour. The Southern beauty of the forest, teeming with live oaks, pines, and palmetto trees, all draped with Spanish moss was definitely worth the time. The walking trails were still under repair from Matthew, but it did not detract from our experience. I will certainly make this a stop on our future trips to Hilton Head.

What a beautiful place! Saw a bunch of different birds as well as a baby alligator. My family and I mostly drove around the preserve as it was muddy. We were disappointed that we could not see the Shell ring as the paths were closed for clean up. Would love to go back in the spring to see he wildflowers field.

What a peaceful place to see. Lots of wildlife, and if you look closely you will even see an alligator. This is a great place to ride bikes, or just walk around and enjoy the plant life and animals. Oh I almost forgot about the Native American Sea Shell Circle.

Great place to see some birds and alligators if you are lucky. The boardwalks are fun and there is quite a bit of shade. Generally very quiet and serene way to see nature

There is a $6 entree fee per car, but it is worth it! The trails are neat and the walkways are well kept.

Maps of the reserve are available at the parking lots (if they aren’t with the information boards, keep an eye out for the black mailbox with “maps” on the front), and they are really helpful to find your way around.

Keep an eye out for the wildlife! Lots of beautiful birds and insects...also gators and snakes. Just watch your step.

To gain access to the road to Sea Pines, you must pay $8 for a day pass. The road passes residences and terminates in a commercial development. We drove the entirety of Sea Pines but didn't see anything that piqued our interest. Perhaps we should have explored more. However, we spent most of a day at Pickney Island enjoying alligators, varied waterfowl, and native plants.

You can pay to drive a car in, but you cannot pay to ride a bike in. So many reviews of Sea Pines mention the bike paths, but unless you’re renting a place there you can’t use them unless you sneak in, which is illegal and unethical. I’ve been multiple times in the past 8 years, and over those years we were never allowed to bring bikes in. This year 2020 we were turned away with bikes attached to the car.

This was my first time to Sea Pines Forest Preserve and I will definitely be back! We went for a 4 mile walk around the preserve. We saw lots of Alligators, some swimming and a very large on sunning himself right off the walking path. The Live Oak trees are spectacular. We do not have children, but I would think this would be fun for kids too. The boardwalks are great and the trails are easy to follow and understand with lots of signs. Highly recommend for a morning or early afternoon activity!

This was not my first visit to the Sea Pines Forest Preserve, but apparently I had not written a review yet! My adult daughter and I visited the preserve and enjoyed a very nice hike. The paths are clearly marked. Part of the path is a boardwalk that goes over a swampy area. On this visit, we did not see any alligators. But when hubby and I were there in June of 2017, we saw a couple of baby alligators sunning themselves. We did see some turtles and native plants and trees on our hike. We enjoyed the lake (can't remember the name). It was beautiful and we did watch a blue heron that was fishing.
If you go, you should take a bottle of water and some insect spray.

We had the chance to go through here twice. Once on a horseback ride from Lawton Stables and another time for our H2O Watersports Alligator boat tour. Gorgeous place worth the visit.

This preserve is absolutely worth the admission fee. Stunningly beautiful with lots of native wildlife visible around the lakes and from the boardwalks. Wild but immaculately maintained if that makes sense!!

Really nice park. Clean, and well maintained. Loved seeing the wild life. And the gaters. Just wish boat we went on was longer and we saw more gaters then we did.

The preserve is a real treasure. We drove through the park first and then stopped to walk on the trails. The trails are wide and flat. A very enjoyable place to view animals in their habitat.

Have a map for you at the beginning, and it is easy to read. Benches around to just sit and relax. Great spot still near all the tourist locations on Hilton Head.

We didn't get to the area with the lakes, but spent a pleasant hour walking over the elevated wooden boardwalks and among the trees in the swamp area. We were there on an April morning and saw a few turtles and lizards but most animals did not make themselves known. We could hear the birds of course, but seldom saw one.

Take a long walk through the preserve and imagine what the island looked like 150 years ago. Well maintained and safe.

We had so much fun walking the trails. We parked the car at the trail head and grabbed a map. Bring bug spray! We brought sandwiches and walked to Joe Lake to eat them. We brought bottles of water and refilled them there also. There are a couple Porta pottys there and soap and water to wash your hands. A couple guys were fishing on the dock and caught a large catfish. When they released it, a large alligator snapped it up. It was hanging around the dock probably waiting for a fish. What a show! We spent the day walking all over and walked over 13k steps! Beautiful and lots of wildlife!

This was a nice surprise. So many trails and hidden surprises.

Lots of shade too but didn’t see much wildlife. Enjoyed the hike . Very flat and easy to walk.

Recommend you bike around this beautiful preserve. Saw blue heron and alligator up close and personal.

I had no idea this was on HH. Our Gator trip started here so we saw a good bit of it and learned about how they have worked to make it a self sustaining area. Good for hiking of a different sort.

Ride your bike to the Forest Preserve and take a walk. You will feel miles away from the beach or the Salty Dog. Walk the paths and take in the growth. Check in with the CSA to find out when the electric boat tours are running. The captains are environmental experts who can explain the waterways and get you as close as you would like to the alligators for a bit of their history.

This is a hidden gem. We stumbled on the preserve as we were visiting Sea Pines. the trails were well marked and easy to follow. We saw a lot of wildlife and the shell ring. My only recommendation would be to put the trail numbers on the map you are distributing.

Pay the price for the permit to explore this area on your bike. Great trails to take you all through the area. Expect to see some alligators and lots of other unexpected sightings.

Drive, bike or walk through the preserve to enjoy a few hours away from the beaches. Get up close to the wild life of HHI

This is a community entrance. $9 in cash only. Atm, Publix, right around the corner for withdrawal. Once you drive into the community there are signs to the trail. There is limited parking. Once you find it, trails are well marked. Part of trail is walking other parts of trail you can actually drive to. You can plan accordingly. Trails have boardwalks over the swamp. Opportunities to see turtles. The fish island is beautiful with lovely water areas.

We drove through the reserve to get to our alligator boat tour and then went to Lawton stables. It is very pretty here. Have ponds for fishing. Worth the drive through

We always visit. But I recommend bug spray. They usually plant flowers that we always take pictures at. The lake has gators and turtles. On the trails we have seen turtles, snakes and small gators.

Quiet, beautiful. Great for a family of 5.

Saw a fair amount of wildlife. Good social distancing. Well kept trails.

We spent 2 hours walking alongside the shoreline of Lake Joe as recommended by someone at the preserve office for a good place to find alligators. we did see one alligator and lots of turtles at Lake Joe. There also is an alligator tour boat in the lake adjacent to Lake Joe , although we did not have time to take the tour; it looked promising. We then went back to Lake Mary and stood out on the pier at the back of the lake for about 30 minutes and saw a larger alligator that hung out for a while. This made our trip worthwhile. This is a nice preserve -be prepared to walk a little bit. Also you may need to be patient to find an alligator. The kids loved this, named the gator chompers , and have been singing songs about him since we left. A good experience to show the kids more of the island than beaches, pools, and restaurants!

We appreciated Mike’s knowledge and no rush attitude. Great for kids and adults alike! Where else can you go and in an hour to see 4 alligators hanging out on the banks… one was at least 9 feet long…An osprey flying over head and a multi colored night heron? Thank you Mike for taking your time and sharing your knowledge you made it even more intriguing!

While the teenagers were at the beach, the adults took a bike ride into the Forest Preserve. It was a very nice bike ride. We also did a little walking. This is a good idea if you have a couple hours to just take in the scenery and do a little bird watching.

Beautiful scenery but hot! Must be hydrated for a long walk or hike. Keep your eye out for the gators! You have to look but you will hopefully see some.

Two weekends ago went on vacation, and stopped Hilton Head Sea Pines. The beach had a lot of jellyfish that are dead and washed up on shore. As we walking to the beach, I saw a security officer. To my surprise it was the officer, that I met before. He was a Lieutenant now. Lieutenant Betz made us feel very welcomed. Once again, he was very professional and my kids interacted with him. He was very informative and knowledgeable and told us the areas where we could see alligators. Officer Betz told about places to eat and shop, and talked about golfing tour that was recently there. I have to say this place is great for a family to visit. I feel very safe with security around. They are out patrolling keep everyone safe. Definitely place to stop and enjoy with the family.

We recently returned from a trip to Hilton Head. My wife and I are avid hikers and wante to do the trails in the Sea Pines Forest Preserve. Our Garmin did not recognize Sea Pines Forest Preserve and we had a greatly deal of difficulty locating trailhead access points. To make matters worse, the road to the main trailhead off Greenwood rd. is closed.
After much consternation and roundabout hiking we got into the preserve and really enjoyed it. We saw some alligators and a copperhead snake. The area is very cool and very worthwhile if you can figure out the access.

Loved the alligator tour out of Sea Pines! Mike was our tour guide and was great! Saw quite a few gators and the area is just so serene and peaceful. We had a bit of trouble finding the location due to a bridge being closed off and called for directions and Mike took the boat out into the first pond and came back to get us once we arrived.

From UK Stayed in Sea Pines with family(Our daughter ,husband,2 grandchildren now living in Charlotte ,Son,wife ,3 grandchildren from UK and us). What a lovely place. A small bit of paradise . So green,wonderful unspoilgreat golf courses,miles of biking and hiking trails,horse riding . I could go on and on. From this you can gather that we willreturn in a heartbeat.t beaches,

Watch carefully as the sign comes up quickly and the driveway appears to look like golf cart paths. There is a small parking area. Maps are available for you to enjoy a long walk. We chose to go through the rice walkway. Just before the wooden bridge, we saw a baby aligator on the dirt path. There were birds, dragonflys, turtles and gekos along the walkway. We went thru the Vanishing Lagoon. Along the way, benches are available for a rest. Signs identify the pathways , some birds and plants. There are numbered signposts, but these do not match identified areas on the maps. Eventually we found Joe's lake. There is a drinking fountain there. We recommend you carry water with you, as by then you really are thirsty! Beyond the lake is the Shell Ring with sign information of this National site and benches to sit in the shade and contemplate this historical site. Wear good walking shoes and suncreen as you are not always covered by shade. There are picnic tables at Joe's lake.

Just did a little walk on one of the trails, it was getting dark. It was my first time to the Sea Pines area.

We took a day trip to Hilton Head and this was our first stop after breakfast.
We took a three mile walk amongst the lakes on very well marked trails and very scenic areas. Even walking most of the way our four year old grand daughter maintained her excitement level to not even realizing she was getting tired, many turtles and alligators to see. Watching her enjoying nature was wonderful. Her Das did have to carry her a little bit but she still had a great time.
The weather was nice maybe a little humid (by california standards) but when a breeze kicked up it cooled off nicely.
We walked three miles and there are many many more to explore!!!!

In Sea Pines Plantation, this extensive area is great for a "nature" diversion from anywhere from a half hour to several. Spent about a couple of hours on trails,beautiful views through scenic forested areas. Yes, there are alligators if you are observant. Hike to the ancient Indian shell ring for something interesting.

Enjoy this wonderful Nature Preserve if you're visiting Hilton Head! It is really worth your time to explore all the natural beauty around you. There are interesting birds to spot, maybe see an alligator if you're lucky and enjoy all the vegetation!

You have to but a pass on to Sea Pines, which is 10.00 a car. No Trucks, Campers, Boats, or Motorcycles are allowed on Sea Pines. It is a gated and guarded community.

Great walking trails, wild flower field, nature and bird watching. We've enjoyed the trails on our fat tire bikes, as well as walking.

We went on a dinner cruise and you have to drive through this community to get there. They charge $8 cash only for the privilege. I wasn't impressed.

Our family of nature enthusiasts was very disappointed in our visit. We saw far more wildlife during our walks and bike rides around the plantation than at the nature preserve. If you’re going to take time out of your day to visit a nature preserve stop at Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge on your way on or off HHI.

We didn't go at the best time (3pm) and only had time to drive thru. So with that said what we did experience was great. Roads were in good condition. We got to see some wildlife. We are glad to have the drive thru option since our infant son needed to nap.
We've been in the past as well. I would recommend going early in the morning for best wildlife viewing!

Beautiful scenery and peaceful views. We rode our bikes through the preserve. We've been coming to HHI for 10 years and we always enjoy going into Sea Pines.

Make this a must-see during your next trip to HH. Worth the visit, it's beautiful. Saw some small gators along one of the swampy areas and saw alot of interesting birds. Is not only an interesting walk but is good exercise as well. I will definitely revisit during my next trip to HH.

I went in the Spring hoping to see the "must see" wildflower field. You have to pay to get on the island via a bridge, then you have to pay to drive around the island, then you have to pay another toll to leave the island. All that seemed a bit much to me. I asked the young kid working the pay booth if you could see the wildflower field from the road, and he didn't seem to know much about it. I also asked him if there was much wildlife on the island, and he gave a sarcastic response about not controlling the wildlife. The island was very congested with people and traffic, even with the bad weather. It rained the day we were there (only day of our trip.) I understand the weather can't be controlled, but you can see nothing from the parking lot besides a few squirrels rummaging through the trash. Their brochure did not have a good map of the island if you are not familiar with it. My fibromyalgia and arthritis were flared cause of the rain, so I decided to not walk the trail here. I was disappointed, and Hilton Head was one of the least favorite parts of our trip.

And that's half the fun! This beautiful forest makes you go forest bathing and you come out refreshed. And it's free therapy👍

Our second time visiting Sea Pines Preserve, and this year we got to see Indian Shell Circle which is fascinating! It's 3500 years old built by the Archaic Indians. Read all about it when you visit. This is a truly beautiful place to enjoy nature! We highly recommend taking a walk here!

My family and I ventured to Sea Pines Forest Preserve during our Spring Break visit to Hilton Head. The preserve is a protected area for wildlife habitat and outdoor exploration, and includes paths, boardwalks and bridges. A few minutes after we started walking, we observed a HUGE alligator in the water. We were safely able to get about 10 feet away, which made for some great photos and GoPro footage. During our hike, we saw many interesting birds and small critters. Near the end of our adventure, we spotted 15-20 baby alligators sunning on the grassy shore of the water. If you're an outdoor enthusiast, who is looking for a peaceful walk/hike with remarkable views, I recommend Sea Pines Forest Preserve!

You will see at least one alligator and if you like to fish, there are plenty there to catch. There is a rookery, and beautiful wildflowers, A nice quite afternoon can be spent there just enjoying nature.

We were going to Harbor Town for dinner. We were unaware of the admission fee but decided to go in anyway. When we got to the tourist site, almost everything was closed. No stores open. Only one restaurant open. Fortunately, it was the one we wanted. I'm sure the trails were closed due to the time. The sunset was available - though cloudy. I'm sure it's great during the day. I felt ripped off.

Our trip to HHI is never complete without our driving tour of the reserve. Gorgeous scenery and lots of great places for photo opportunities!

Loved taking a stroll along the path, enjoying watching the birds and other little creatures along the way. Very relaxing

This is a beautiful place to either bike and walk. The nature and scenery is gorgeous! I would recommend the Disappearing Swamp Trail as a way to finish your bike ride or hike.

We originally visited the preserve because my husband wanted to see the shell ring. The history of the shell ring is cool but the actual site is less the impressive. The preserve itself though is very impressive and the beauty of the preserve is overwhelming. A very peaceful place to bond with nature. The preserve is a lush green filled with flora, fauna and lots of wildlife.

Went here to look around. A lot of little shops. Stopped at a bakery for coffee and a muffin. Lighthouse is there to climb. There are trails for biking and walking. Cost $6 too enter but well worth it.

So much beauty to see. Quiet atmosphere. Beautiful lagoons. Wildlife. Miles of trails. Clean environment.

Had a great time on this tour. Our captain Anthony was very informative! Saw one small gator resting in the shade, a couple others briefly. Lots of birds, turtles and even a snake. Nice, relaxing tour. Highly recommend

Sea Pines is its own getaway on Hilton Head. You do have to pay the toll to get on island and pay a daily fee for sea pines so I would plan a day to spend there and take it all in. We didn’t get to enjoy the whole area but did get to see the lighthouse and marina while at sea pines. There’s tons of cute shopping stores with lots of souvenirs and other fun things. Also great food available there. We ate lunch at the Crazy Crab and had ice cream at the marina. They even had a dairy free option at the ice cream shop!!!! There’s also a farm and lots of walking paths, but my kids were already tired so we didn’t get to do any of that but the drive around is gorgeous!

We hiked the trails on the last day of February so didn’t see many animals or flowering plants but it was still interesting and peaceful. Some of the paths were wet due to recent rains but we found ways around the puddles/ mud. The maps were not very easy to use but there are lots of signs to direct you around. I could see returning here at a different season. At least we didn’t have to worry about insects.

Only got to walk a little bit of it due to an in coming storm. The trails are well maintained. They leave as much natural as they can. We even got to see an alligator! wish we had more time here, will definitely come back if in the area.

It cost $6 per car to spend the day. We enjoyed several trails here and they were great walks. Most had boardwalks. There is also a road that you can drive through a part of the preserve that brings you past lakes and a lovely outlook where Anhinga's hang out. At the far end of the preserve are ruins. Once you pay go to the kiosk to get a map. there are two you'll want. One has a large green map inside that shows all the trails, the other is an overview of the park and surrounding roads and it shows where the ruins are. The map we found with the overview was a map of oak tree locations and it had the best map of the while area, including the ruins and lighthouse.

Wear good walking shoes and carry a walking stick. This walking tour is a long one but very interesting. It was hot when we went, so be sure you carry plenty of water, a hat, shades, & bug spray. Other posts mentioned lake fishing. I'm pretty sure you need a fishing license if you aren't a guest staying at Sea Pines. May be wrong, but I think I remember seeing a sign stating that it was so.

Love evrything here!! To the breeze, friendly people, environment, wildlife , everything is awesome!!! Great to get out and enjoy life. Real spirit lifter!

Awesome trails thru the oaks and marsh lands. Good for a leisurely walk or bike ride. If running is your thing be sure to pick a cooler day as the humidity can be brutal at times. It does cost for a day pass to enter the Sea Pines area which is a little different for basically a neighborhood but they do a great job taking care of the roads and trails so it is worth it. Will be back ti venture to different areas next time we are in Hilton Head.

Not what it used to be. The resorts have all put up gates around the island making biking around difficult. You’re not allowed here unless you’re in a car and have to bring your bikes in. We rode from our resort to go to the light house through this area which took about 30 minutes with us, our 2 kids and my in laws. Once we got to the gate we were instructed to turn around unless we were staying or ride a car in and pay $9 per car then we can ride our bikes in. My husband offered to pay the $9 for 2 cars and we were denied entry. We used to ride that road in on our bikes no problem before all of this insanity. Hilton Head, change these rules. The infrastructure was put in to ride bikes all over this island on a safe path and then resorts got greedy. No tax money should go to pay for these roads since they’re blocked to the public unless they pay $9. That $9 should go towards maintaining these roads and reserve areas if that’s the way they want to be. These gates are absolutely pointless when families just want to ride their bikes around with their kids.

There is a lake,tours in season, picnic benches scattered around and walking area all around. We took a picnic in on a nice day. Many snow bird folks who come to SeaPines have no idea it’s there. We often go in there and sit and read.

Got a day pass and it was worth every penny! Wish we had went earlier. We saw deer, alligator, armadillo, and more. Great experience!

This is a gorgeous part of the country that must be experienced and hiked...you simply won't believe your eyes. Gorgeous variety of trees, flora, wildlife, and beauty. Find the boardwalks and enjoy the view. Breathe the fresh air and take it all in.

I visited Sea Side Resort and Preserves located in scenic Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. They even have a trolley running through the resort. It is indeed a beautiful park and resort. Thanks.

This preserve was hard to find but enjoyable once we found it. If we were to chose between the preserve and Pickney Wildlife Refuge, the refuge would win. If going to the preserve, also visit Harbour Town, lighthouse, etc. as it is $6 per vehicle to enter Sea Pines.

Alright for taking a break from the beach. Walk along wooden boardwalks and learn about the marshy area. My main reason for disliking the hike had little to do with the area and more to do with my husband's navigational skills. Long story short, we walked the length of Hilton Head that day.

Went here to look around, just know you have to pay 6 dollars to enter the Sea Pines area. Was very pretty.

I would only do this free while staying in Sea Pines, not come into Sea Pines, pay the fee for this place like some mentioned on these reviews here. We have LOVED just about every bike path we've been on since here, but not this one. We did enjoy entering near the walk-in gate (I think it was called Greenwood) and going through the woods first, then passing the bridges on the paved pathway that cars can go on but it's not busy. But once we entered the front, it was really only enjoyable til the first body of water. After that, the road is way too sandy that it kept stopping my bike. We have road bikes. It was just too much work and skidding. So we eventually turned around. I wished we had stopped at the picnic / fishing area (that first body of water) that the porta-jons are at and turned around. But it that case it's not really long enough of a bike ride to bother. The paths on the rest of Sea Pines are just so incredible, this didn't seem worth the time. (The island has done such an incredible job of paving regular paths.) I think most of the other offshoots we saw were supposed to be walking paths. I did see one Gator watching us during the first woodsy path.

I’d love to tell everyone how beautiful this place is but how can we see it with so many restrictions on entry ? We have no problem paying the fee to enter but because we drove from Ontario in my husband’s Toyota Tundra with his business logo we endured a huge hassle with a very rude gate keeper. We had previously ridden to the gate on our bikes and were told in a very rude manner that we can only drive in! With almost empty bike paths in January I don’t understand this restriction. I’m sure the restaurants would have been very happy to have our business. I hope we see a change to this policy if we come back next January. We stayed only a five minute bike ride away from SeaPines but ended up taking our bikes to Jarvis Creek, Pinckney Island and the Honey Horn museum for very enjoyable rides. We bought lunch and dinner at a variety of great restaurants ... all outside Sea Pines. It’s a shame that visitors are prevented from enjoying this part of the island if they only have bikes or a vehicle with a logo! The rudeness of the man on the gate at South Forest Beach was certainly unnecessary. It leaves a bad feeling from an Island and it’s people that we love otherwise.

We always visit. But I recommend bug spray. They usually plant flowers that we always take pictures at. The lake has gators and turtles. On the trails we have seen turtles, snakes and small gators.

I love coming here. Walking, horseback riding, just taking in the view, kayaking, or paid boat tours (in season). Watch out for Alligators and wild birds of all kinds!

Hilton Head was a great experience for our first visit. We visited Sea Pines Preserve; and, yes, there's a $9. fee, but no problem for us as we recognize this goes for maintenance in this very exclusive area and you would have to pay a fee entering other parks around the country. With that being said, we enjoyed the drive through the preserve among the live oak, sabal palms and pine. The exclusive homes nestled among nature was so alluring. We visited the "plantation" which was originally built in 1797 as a tabby structure and was later destroyed by fire. You are not there to see a restored plantation, but to see history. We later had dinner in Harbor Town at the Quarter Deck, a phenomenal experience where you can see views of the marina and marshes. My husband I always enjoy our Carolina vacations as they showcase our American history in the Low Country

This was our favorite activity on Hilton Head. There were so many beautiful birds, plus turtles and alligators. Plan for a relaxing stroll. Bring your camera or binoculars!

We waited for clear skies for our tour, not because of comfort (the electric boat is covered), but because the 'gators don't come out much in the rain. Saw a ton of them, including babies resting on their mothers, plus the local turtle species and lots of birds, especially the anhingas who've migrated up from South America. Everything was up close and personal, and the guide was truly knowledgeable about the life cycle and behaviors of all the wildlife and especially adept at spotting the alligators in the underbrush

We have been coming to Hilton Head for over a decade and this is the first time we went to the preserve. It was a wonderful find - we enjoyed the drive and the walk. The shell ring discovery was particularly special. Seeing the alligators just getting on with life was also a treat. I highly recommend it as a family morning out.

First you have to pay $6 to get on this part of the island, the preserve has several entrances. The one off Greenwood Dr. has parking for walking the trails, the entrance off Lawton Canal Rd. allows you to drive through the park areas with limited parking.

The trails are well marked and easy to walk, There is a combination of woods, wetlands, and open spaces. We were there when the monarch butterflies were migrating through so the flowering plants were full of butterflies. We saw many species of birds in the forests and around the ponds. The Preserve was a pleasant part of our visit to the Sea Pines area. Recommended for all ages.

Great walking trails throughout the Preserve. Great fishing and picnic area. Have enjoyed the hayrides with the kids.

Walking across ancient rice fields, through old growth live oak trees, interacting with nature - including local deer. Several plants / trees were clearly labeled for educational purposes. Got to see the shell ring near the lakes and even ran across a couple of alligators.

We found the trails halfway through our visit. We loved riding our bikes on the trails. They were really well maintained. We even saw two small alligators along the way too!

Make sure you have cash to enter the community. The area is beautiful. The walking and biking trials are wonderful. Signs along the way to give a nice self guided tour. We did have an unfortunate encounter. A vehicle was driving way too fast down one of the roads and sped up as we started to cross the road. They screamed obscenities and threatening words out the window as they drove past us. We had a great trip otherwise.

Pretty but really nothing to do. Paid eight dollars to drive around and look at very rich peoples homes that all look virtually the same. The most exciting thing that I did while I was there was to see an alligator about 150 yards away basking on the side of a pond. Amazing. I pay To see a bunch of condos sprinkled around the island. Last time I was here it was only a few dollars. Now it is gone up to eight dollars. What a waste

We stayed in the Sea Pines Plantation, and rented bikes for our stay. Ons afternoon we biked through the Forest preserve. The butterfly gardens were in bloom, and we saw a few butterflies. Herons and other birding opportunities were excellent.
Biking was easy.

The forest preserve is close to Shoppes at Sea Pines, pop in for an ice cream treat on the way back to our house.

I went to sea pines for an alligator tour. Anthony was a great! He spotted out all the alligator and was extremely friendly. He even went and caught a snake for me to take a picture with. Super cool experience

Beautiful place for hiking, biking or even driving(though tight) through. Gorgeous. Plenty of areas to stop and view/picnic if desired. Very dense under shade of trees but opens up over water, obviously. My son fished at one of the park areas within and caught a bunch of bass. We saw big alligators, lots of regional birds, turtles and funny frogs that jump up and out of water and back in over and over again. Like dolphins! Hahah. Very nice landscapes and scenery. For a nature lover this is a must on HH Island.

Amazing property, with walking/bike trails galore. We did not stay on site, so BIG bummer for us because we had 3 day bike rentals from an outside company and weren't even able to use them here. You can rent bikes from sea pines, or bring them in by car and bike rack. Cannot ride bikes onto property. Harbour town was neat to see for a few minutes, nothing amazing.

We visited Sea Pines Forest Preserve over thanksgiving week and had some fantastic bass fishing. You have to be a resident or registered guest to enter Sea Pines Plantation (It's a gated community), although you can buy a daily pass for $9 at the gate. Sea Pines is private property so I do not believe a SC fishing license is required. The neighborhood conversancy does sell a $5 a week fishing permit but I'm not sure who would check. There is not fee to enter the Preserve which is a 600 acre park with 3 or 4 small lakes attached to each other with a waterway/canal. It's just a really nice place to walk around and get a little taste of low country nature. Hiking around is easy as the ground is flat (no hills) and the paths are short and well marked. It seemed that you could kinda just park anywhere as long as you were respectful.
After that I had a great time bass fishing picking up three 3 to 4 pounders (I didn't have a scale) a few other respectable fish and probably a dozen dinks... over a 3 day period - and that was late November so I bet it's better other times of the year. Be aware that you will be sharing space with gators. :-) Regarding boats, the rule is electric motors only so a kayak or john boat is appropriate - and really, these are ponds. I posted some pics. I'm definitely going back!

Nice place for a walk. Watch out for the horse poop. You will see alligators when the sun is warm. Not much else to see or do.

Rode bikes to this preserve where we saw many different species of water birds and an Alligator. A beautiful space with great trails for walking, biking and enjoying nature.

How great it was for them, the Sea Pines developers, to put aside such a huge (600+ acres) parcel of land and protect it from development. They could have put hundreds of homes on this land!

We took a very slow bike ride through the Forest Preserve on the designated bike path. The trails meanders through several habitats. This place requires multiple visits, as I am sure each time you go you will see something "different."

In order to get to Sea Pines forest and Harbor light house there is a $9 per car charge each day. Don't really get anything for your $9. The Sea Pines Forest is a scenic bit of nature.

My husband and I enjoyed our wildlife adventure at the Sea Pines Preserve. It was a great location to get out and hike in nature and enjoy a beautiful day.The views were amazing and we spotted a lot of wildlife including some coastal birds,turtles,and even some alligators. I especially enjoyed the board walk through the marsh. It's a great hike if you enjoy the outdoors. They also have a bike path that looks like it would be a lot of fun.

You can only enter sea pines forest preserve with bikes through beach access. Not through town. We tried going through town but they wouldn’t let us!

Sea Pines Forest Preserve is a surprisingly large park in the middle of the very exclusive Sea Pines plantation of Hilton Head Island. To gain entry into the plantation, each vehicle requires an $8 daily pass, unless you are already staying there. Thus, plan to combine your stop with a day trip of Sea Pines's South Beach and Harbour Town. The preserve itself, though, is lovely, with fantastic family-friendly boardwalks (with rails) that allow you to walk over and admire Hilton Head's unique coastal swamps. The best boardwalk is most easily accessible from the north entrance to the preserve.

This is a beautiful area and so peaceful. We love Sea Pines and they have shops and lighthouse and huge marina and resturants.

This is a nice and easy place to see some nature--especially plants and birds. Unfortunately, you have to pay $6 to get into Sea Pines Plantation in order to see the preserve, so I recommend you combine visiting it with also seeing Harbor Town and the other sites in Sea Pines.

We stayed in Sea Pines for the first time and we loved the Forest Preserve which is right in the middle of the Sea Pines Resort. It is an excellent place to ride bikes or hike. They have trail maps, but all the trails are well marked and provide information on the paths for highlights. The trails are well maintained. If you are a nature lover, a visit to the Forest Preserve should definitely be on your list.

We saw snakes, alligators, eels, and lots and lots of birds. Great scenery.

We love this area and really enjoy exploring it. For some reason they won't let you buy a day pass to explore it on you bike. BUT they let you buy a pass and driver around Sea Pines? That seems crazy to me that they embrace vehicles but not bicyclists...even though they have a ton of beautiful trailis. Pretty lame, but still a great place to visit.

however, we probably won't go back next year and would rather explore other areas that we can access without needing to be in a car.

This is a perfect way to enjoy some of the natural beauty of the island. Even though the day was overcast we enjoyed this very much.

Worth finding and taking a hike....very scenic, we saw alligators, wild birds, turtles on our walk (in Lake Anna)

Hidden inside the Sea Pines complex, a relaxing nature walk. Native plants, animals and some pre history indigenous peoples archaeology await you. Only draw back is if you are not staying in Sea Pines you have to pay for a day pass to enter Sea Pines itself. So combine it with a trip to Harbortown or South Beach Andy make it worth your while.

We walked several trails in the Preserve. It's an experience of nature within the built-up Sea Pines area. We saw numerous turtles and birds, plus a few mosquitoes. The boardwalks through swampy areas are great.

We parked our car in the best parking lot ever - literally in amongst the trees!! We started our walk and there was hardly anyone around! It was like the forest was all ours! The sounds of the birds and other critters was awesome! The dogs made it slow going because of all the new to them smells! We enjoyed the information signs scattered throughout, the benches for short breaks, the little dock like paths that took us out over the marshes! The dogs loved them and were in scent heaven. I was worried about gators and the only ones we saw were on the other side of the wee river sunning himself on someone’s lawn! We saw turtles summing themselves as well! Great opportunity! I also loved the fact that you could make this hike as long or as short as you wanted to! Have fun!!

This is a beautiful place to walk and enjoy the boardwalks, the water areas, the Indian circle and much more...you can spend a lot of time here or not so much..depending on the weather and your interest, and you can ride your bikes in here or take a horse back ride. You will see lots of flora and fauna in here, great place to let kids run around!

In all honesty, I can not rate this attraction as my husband and I were not allowed in on our bikes. We were going to pay the entrance fee to Sea Pines but were told we could not come in on bikes or on foot, we had to be in a car. We were told by the guard that we had to be a resident or staying in Sea Pines to see this attraction. We were also told that were 23 other miles of bike trails on Hilton Head Island for our use and that if we were caught sneaking in it would be a $200 fine per person. This conversation started when I asked if we could buy a pass and use it later in that day, thinking that we would come back in our car to go to the shopping areas. When I said that people must get in somehow, I was told about the fine. When I asked about an alternative route back to our condo (other than the crowded recreational path we came in on) I was told about the 23 other miles of bike trails on HHI. I have to admit that I am a little shocked that Sea Pines will take money from people to drive their cars in so they can spend money, but if you simply want to pay to come in on your bike you can't. That is crazy. It is far more environmentally friendly to enter on a bike. I am used to doing a lot of bike riding all across the US and that is honestly the first time I have been turned away anywhere on a bike. I only wanted to write this review so I could save someone else the trouble of riding here. Oh Yeah - and when I told the guard I had tried to google this attraction and never found this information he said, "That's right!" Seriously, I think a guard would be a little friendlier as they are the face of the resort and should represent better.

This was a really nice quiet stroll on many boardwalks. Turtles, lizards, birds, snakes, and many alligators were along the hike. We spent about 2 hours here. The trails were dry and well maintained. We would recommend this to everyone.

CLOSED TO US! Not actually accessible, at least by bike. Stopped at gated access - cyclists must enter in a motorized vehicle with bicycles attached and pay a fee to enter. Preserve created by Hilton Head Island? How incredibly elitist.

This can be a pleasant walk but certainly wasn't a wild life education when we were there. Not sure that I would rush to go back when on Hilton Head.

Though one comes to be at the beach,this piece of paradise must be experienced. Wildlife galore and quiet ,peaceful beauty.

We entered the Forest Preserve not knowing what to expect. We found it interesting and in some spots beautiful. Take your time and take it all in. We loved it. Great thing to do with children.

If you're not looking for it, you could miss it while riding along the peaceful bike paths in Sea Pines. Ride slow and make sure you don't miss the hidden treasures here!

We took our 3-year old and 5-year old in hopes of seeing alligators. We walked the trails, and the kids enjoyed learning about the different trees and birds. There were tons of turtles in the lake and we were able to see some alligators. They also have boat tours if you want to get closer to them.

Sea Pines Forest Preserve has great trails that are good for the family. None of them are particularly rigorous, but they are scenic. We saw a number of birds, deer and alligators. Stay on the trail and make sure to bring $8 cash for the Sea Pines entry fee.

A friend and I visited here for the first time today. It was beautiful to see the flora and fauna of the area. One caution: beware of alligators. They roam freely, especially in the lakes.

We loved biking all through Sea Pines and the preserve was beautiful and offered shade from the 94 degree heat.

This was a fun excursion from the beach. It was REALLY hot but there were plenty of shaded trails to explore. We saw dragon flies, turtles, and alligators. We took 1 12yo, 1 11yo, 1 10yo and 1 9yo. They all found something that was cool to them. It’s very pretty and the trails are clearly marked. We didn’t do any of the boat tours. We explored in our own. You could easily picnic there.
**Sea Pines is a gated community on the Island and you have to pay (cash only) $8 to get to anything there ** It doesn’t have to be exact cash but it has to be cash (?!?). The Forest Preserve itself is free entry.

My hsband and I decided to walk the Sea Pines Forest Preserve one morning during our visit to Hilton Head. We decided to do the walking tour. Right away we saw a few "baby" alligators, egrets, and heron. I would suggest wearing sneakers or closed toe shoes especially if it has rained the night before. We ended up having to trudge through swampy areas on the path. We liked it there so much, we went back and did the parts of the Preserve that can be done by automobile. More alligators and egrets! What a fantastic experience! I would suggest bug spray and sunscreen if you are walking!

We took the only gator tour on HHI.
Our boat captain, Mike, was great. Lots of info. We saw birds, nests, turtles and, yes, gators! The area offered portable restrooms.

We always make a stop in the Forest Preserve. Sometimes we park and walk and other times we drive the loop and get out and walk around. There is a lot to see!

We had such a great walk through this nature preserve. We started off seeing cranes, lizards and other birds. We thought our chances of seeing an alligator was over but on the way back we were able to spot one in the swamp! My kids were so excited but we all kept our distance

Costs $6/car for the whole day, great boardwalks and walkways, also very driveable if you're tired from a long vacation. We saw four alligators floating in the water which was very cool.

Great hiking location! Loads to see in an ideal setting. Read folks complaining about $8 admission...well worth it!

These are the best bike trails I have ever seen. Great scenery and very safe. Fun for the entire family and lots to see. Great restaurants and shops. Be prepared to have a great time.

We were able to access the area on our third attempt. Improved signage would help. Personally I do not like gated communities with mazes and dead ends and they are all around.

The Sea Pines Forest Preserve is a nice area to visit. There is some history here as well. There are lakes to have a picnic at and go fishing. Enjoy your day here!!

We visit often to go visit the lighthouse or take a boat excursion. It’s a treed and serene community with bike paths that reach out to the extending community. Well upkept and most certainly has a park setting.

Last year most of the trails were closed after Matthew. I was told that they were all open again but I guess the edge of Maria caused some already unstable tree limbs to crack. For safety the Boggy Gut Trail was closed. The Rice Field Boardwalk was open most of the way from the Greenwood Entrance side but was boarded off before the end. We drove in on Fish Island Trail and everything on that side seemed to be open including Indian Shell Ring. We were also able to drive and walk on the Anhinga Trail and the Vista Trail so there is still plenty to do and see here.

I like it most in Spring when the wild flower field is in bloom but it is a great hike in any season.

If you are not a resident or guest in Sea Pines you do pay a $6 entrance fee at the main gates but it is worth it and you can visit Harbourtown and South Beach as well. We have walked the Preserve every year for 9 years.

Sea Pines is getting busier and busier every passing year so the Forest Preserve offers a peaceful place to bike and walk without the added worry of vehicular traffic. However, hurricane damage to trees and trails is still apparent as this area seems to be the last place full clean-up has occurred. The fishing ponds and picnic areas are interesting as well as the shell ring. Be aware that the Sea Pines sewage treatment plant is located hidden among the trees but can be smelt. The Preserve is eminently worthy of preservation and should be a top priority not a 'we'll get around to it later' situation. Do go, however, as it is an often overlooked venue at Sea Pines Plantation by first time and even subsequent visitors.

I really didn't enjoy the visit. I wouldn't say the trails are well marked. We finally found the one we were looking for and could barely walk from all the horse poop on the trail. Found one outlook which was pretty but really didn't find this location worth the trip or the $5.

Great way to get out and enjoy nature. Well done. Trails are well marked. Lots of flora and fauna. We saw herons both great white and blue. We even saw a gator at lake mary.

We went because we heard it was such a nice place. Expect to pay $8 per car to enter. You then get a pass and map. We visited the harbor and lighthouse area. Some beautiful boats and a really impressive live oak tree. Then visited the wooded preserve area and this was tops. Nice trails throughout with different features such as old rice fields and a fascinating shell ring. Historical markers about the shell ring really made a great impact.

Lovely area, very upscale. There are 15 mi of biking trails. The lighthouse, a couple of shops and restaurants and a marina are within Sea Pines. About 4 mi to “downtown” Hilton Head for more shops and restaurants

This was one of my favorite stops at Hilton Head. There were lots of trails to walk. Plenty of wildlife, including birds, lizards, squirrells, frogs. Nice sounds of nature.

We have visited the Forest Preserve in Sea Pines over the last 20 years and were devastated at how Hurricane Michael had damaged it. But, it has been completely restored and improved. I highly recommend a visit.

This preserve is in the Sea Pines gated community so there is a $9 cash only charge but it is so well worth it. There are no signs for it once you are in Sea Pines so ask for a map or use google maps. The preserve has several ponds, lots of grassy areas, walking paths, bridges and boardwalks. you will view marsh as well as fresh water ponds. We saw 2 alligators which was amazing. They also offer an alligator viewing boat ride on one of the bigger ponds. Very pretty spot for an hour or two. I recommend coming here first then on to Harbor town for shopping and lunch then drive through the beautiful neighborhoods.

Great place to go and enjoy the outdoors. Beautiful scenery and abundant birds to observe. We walked the trails with friends for a couple of hours. Great time together.

We enjoyed the walking trails in this preserve - they were well-kept and easy to follow. Different routes are available and maps are provided along with markers along the way to help guide you through the preserve.

Easy hiking trail...lots of wildlife to see. Very quiet and peaceful and is a welcome break from the beaches

Nice shaded walk with plenty of wildlife. We saw more than one gator as well as large birds. As noted, it's $9 to drive in to the community, but its pretty quiet and there are plenty of trails and paved walking areas.

We were traveling with two small children and wanted to show them some alligators that live on Hilton Head Island. The forest preserve did not disappoint. We saw a large alligator (8 foot) floating in the water a few yards away from the bank in Lake Mary. After a few minutes another alligator showed up swimming in the opposite direction and the two met head to head in the middle of a small inlet. They were less than 1 foot apart when the new arrival suddenly turned and dove out of sight to avoid a fight. They really put on quite a show for the kids. The forest preserve is a beautiful spot in Sea Pines and we really enjoyed being there. We also saw many white ibis fishing along the banks. Don't miss the wild flower garden that is also in the preserve.

We were staying in Coligny. Drove into Sea Pines and rented bikes from South Beach Bike Rentals. We biked around Sea Pines and through the Forest preserve. Saw an alligator and some pretty birds. Biked over to Harbor Town had lunch, and back to the bike shop. Then over to the Salty Dog for shopping, drinks, and desert! Great day!

On one of our many bike journeys we decided to explore this area. Even though the weather was cool, we still saw 5 alligators along this route, several herons and other wildlife.

Gorgeous area, so natural with massive trees and freshwater ponds plus miles of bike trails. Watch out for aligators though, we say 3 young ones sunning them selves on the side of 3 different ponds. I expect where there's a baby there must be a big mother somewhere!

The lakes in the back of the Preserve feature a nice lookout and pier. The Shell Ring, on the other hand, was a colossal disappointment. All in all, SPFP is worth a brief stop as a diversion but not as a destination.

Trails were good for walking. Definitely need bug repellents. Beautiful vegetation.
We were very frustrated to be turned away at the gate since we were on bikes. We had to go back to the hotel to get our car - not very eco friendly.
Finding out information from the guard was like solving a riddle. Can we come in with bikes? No. What if we paid the $9 fee? No. What if we came back on foot? No. Even if we pay? No. So can we come in by car? Yes, for a $9 fee.

WE just got back from Hilton Head on 5/1 and i wanted to share. This was the best place to walk and see all the wildlife on Hilton Head. While we were looking at turtles from the boardwalk, a very large barred owl flew to a nearby tree and perched for a long time. Saw at least 5 aligators in various locations, including St Joe lake, along with various birds. If you go, plan on taking your time along the boardwalk ..you will be in for a special treat.

Cool exploring the untouched wilderness of the island, but didn't seem to keep interest in our little ones for very long. $6 fee to enter sea pines, then grab a map and go. We saw a snake in a tree, gators, birds, and tons of dragonflies.

Entrance a little pricey. Grounds very pretty. Did an Alligator Tour...would not recommend for handicapped people...Tour was nice, pretty birds, disappointed we just saw one baby alligator about 1 foot long. Too pricey compared to other tours we took.

Wow...what a great find!! Hiking allows you to cover many different types of land!! Easy to hike!! Biking around the lakes was fun...lots of birds! Fishing from multiple lakes was very fun for all ages!!

My husband and I stayed at the Marriott Monarch and rented bicycles for the week. We had rode all over Sea Pine and enjoyed our adventures. The last day we decided to explore the Forest Preserve. Big mistake..... huge mistake! This place is meant for walking trails, horseback riding or to drive your vehicle through. We are in good shape and had to turn around as the rode is sand and hard to maneuver your bicycle through. We did not see anything spectacular inside the forest besides a couple of small lakes and trees. Maybe because we live in the mountains we didn’t find this to be what we expected. My recommendation is to take a horse back ride through it or walk. However, if you walk the sand trail be careful for the horse manure.

We only saw a couple birds, but this was a nice bike ride. Part of Sea Pines, so you have to pay to go through the gates, but if you bike the entire area, it is worth it.

Sea Pines boasts of it being a "gated community". They do not allow visitors to enter on bike or even on foot! You must be in a car and pay $8 for a day pass. This is asinine. The Forest Preserve itself is worth a trip. We definitely heard a lot more birds and animals than we saw, but it is a good place to hike.

What a treasure! Always fun for a bike ride or hike, alligator sightings and great paths and boat walks!

Could have been the time of year (March), but we found there was minimal wildlife activity on the trails. Did see 3 alligators sunning and a bunch of turtles, but no birds.

Wonderful bike trail through the preserve! It was well-maintained and great for all ages to bike and enjoy the scenery safely!

Open from sunrise to sunset, Sea Pines Forest Preserve has walking trails, picnic facilities, wetland boardwalks, decks to observe wildlife, fishing docks and lakes. Watch for numerous birds and the occasional alligator.There is a 4000 year old Indian Shell Ring listed on the National Register of Historic Places. While fishing is allowed a permit is required. The developer of Sea Pines Resort, Charles Fraser, was an advocate of ecological preservation over 50 years ago and set aside this largest tract of undeveloped land on Hilton Head in the eastern section of his development. On our recent exploration of the Preserve the wildflower field was just coming into bloom. Bikes are not allowed on the walking trails, but there are locations to park your bikes.

We have always managed to find alligators here. My daughter and I literally made it out mission to look for alligators on our last trip to HH. We always find a gator or two here.

Walking, biking,or driving, there’s so much to see. Great photos of herons, turtles, alligators and more. Flat easy walking. Well worth the admission.

We love this park. It has some wonderful fauna and amazing root structures. If you love nature this is a must see on the island. Bring your mosquito repellent and wear comfortable shoes. There are wooden bridges and structures that are great areas for photographers.

great place to go to. well signed paths and boardwalks allow you to explore this central nature reserve and see all types of raw nature. easy to spend a couple of hours here.

A nice quiet place for walking, riding, picnic or take a tour on a boat. It’s fairly large and you can go in bikes or cars. There is still evidence of hurricane Mathew. There has been lots of clean up, but more to go.

We were the only ones there as we biked the path through it. We look for alligators, but didn't see any -perhaps just as well! We both rode through it and then went back and drove it; very tranquil.

This is a large area that encompasses the entire south end of Hilton Head Island. You pay money to enter this part of the island and then the Sea Pines Forest is within this area. I found the description a bit misleading. In addition to the forest there is also a horse stable, golfing, shopping and a beach area. Lots of residential homes here also.

Sea Pines Forest Preserve is a great family outing, it has terrific and extensive bike trails, beaches, rental homes, and great places to eat as well as sights to see. There is a fee to enter but I understand it is for the upkeep and reforestation project. You can rent bikes and have them deliver them to your rental, beach and umbrella rental as well. You can also ride your bike on the beach. The pristine forest is well maintained and kept.

Great walking trails, filled with Indian history. Picnic area. Great place to spend the day enjoying nature.

When riding bikes we came to an entrance but were not allowed access through the resort entrance so we went back to the hotel and researched how to find our way in. The next day we drove in (paid $6 to come in) and spend a few hours taking the walking paths with our kids. It was a beautiful, shaded hike on paths and bridges. We saw alligators sunning themselves on lawns across the water and plenty of turtles on logs. We even spotted a lizard! Our kids (ages 4 and 7) had a great time looking at plants and looking for animals

Visited the Sea Pines Forest Preserve on a Thanksgiving wagon ride. Very pleasant. The wagon circled the manmade lagoon and stopped a few times for the driver to explain about the history of the Preserve and the animals and vegetation. Saw a few trail ride groups from nearby Lawton Stables, one fisherman. Nice.

What a beautiful preserve. The trails are easily negotiated with a baby stroller and by less nimble walkers. Lots of information on the flora and fauna in the area. Well worth the visit.

Saw nothing at all worthwhile. No wildlife just lots of bugs. Was a nice walk but there are so many beautiful places to walk in the area that I am not sure I'd chose to walk here.

Easy, family friendly trails. Would recommend to bring bug spray with however. On the way to Lawton stables so it's easy to do both in the same day. Just make sure you get a map of the preserve.
Also, there are two entrances to the preserve, a walk in entrance and a drive in one. The walk in entrance is just trails which are still nice!

Good walking trail for the nature enthusiast. We saw a lot of wildlife! Two baby gators in the swampy area and larger ones in the ponds, an owl right over our head in a tree, snakes, turtles, fish, and tree frogs. We walked the path to the fishing ponds, picnic, and wildflower area. I do wish they would have had a little more information along the way and a better map indicating that there is parking back by the fishing ponds for those who are not able to walk the long distances.

The "Shell Ring" unfortunately was not that visually impressive. The idea of it is, but the reality is that it is just a circle of mounded up grass and weeds with fragments of shells mixed in. The history of the area itself is very interesting and I really recommend getting a book or looking up some history on the native tribes that lived in the area and the progression and development of the Island over the years.

If you have little ones, it is not a place for them to wander far away from you especially near the water. We would probably walk the nature trail again because it is a fun family activity to do, but if you happen to miss it, there are plenty of other things to do in the area too.

Stupid policy on a supposedly environmental friendly place, unless you are a resident. I rode 5 miles on a bike here only to get turned away.

we did not stay in Sea Pines so we had to pay the $6.00 to be able to drive around that part of the island. It is a beautiful drive looking at all the beautiful homes, little lakes and all their bike paths. The are several places to stop and visit. We enjoyed South Beach Marina Village for a few hours. Then we drove to Harbor to spend the rest of the day. We took a Dauphin Cruise there and walked around and ate.

Sea Pines is a huge area that's worth driving around and exploring... it contains retail and restaurants in several places, but it's a beautiful drive or bike ride through the area that is filled with beautiful homes...

An accessible gem, the preserve offers several, varied walking and hiking options. In an our, we experiences swamp, old forest, and rice fields reverting to nature.

We went as part of a tour to see alligators. Time of day and a cold snap left us a little disappointed when it came to gators. However, the bird life was incredible and the lakes and ponds have grown to the point where they appear more natural. Our guide was a Hilton Head native and was quite informative.

So enjoyed walking through this beautiful nature preserve. The flora and fauna were exquisite. Take time to visit and decompress from the daily stress.

We've been walking the beaches of Hilton Head on a daily basis. We love the beaches here. It's one big beach. Sea Pines Forest Preserve gives you a different feel for the island. The trail is well marked and the walkways take you through the under growth that would be hard to enjoy on your own. All the wooden pathways wonder through the inner island. Good spot for bird watching or just a peaceful walk. The wooden pathways are well kept and keep the mystery alive as they wonder through the forest.

A drive through the Sea Pines Forest Preserve gives you the full range of live oaks, marshes, lakes, animals (including the occasional alligator and lots of large birds). There are ample opportunities to stop and walk. The road is undeveloped so, unlike other similar areas, one is not overwhelmed with bicycles or runners.

I took my five-year-old nephew on a hike through this area. He thought he was on the wild adventure, and really so did I. We chose to take the foot paths this time instead of the bike paths. We went over wooden bridges and saw beautiful plant life and small but intriguing wildlife (butterflies, dragonflies, millipedes, spiders, Etc). At one point, we stepped into a stunning open clearing that would rival a scene from the movie Avatar. This truly was a fun an unexpected adventure!

Lovely well marked trails. Lots of variety. Some short and some longer trails. All easy walking. We saw lots of gators along the banks.

We rode the trails on our bikes through the preserve. Beautiful, peaceful and a place to enjoy nature. Trails well maintained. Area near the entrance to Greenwood dr where the horses go. A lot of horse poop there. The lake is beautiful.

I loved biking around this place- there are SO many areas to discover each time! I also love the network of biking trails all around- it's one of the best paths I've been on!

When Sea Pines was developed, the original developer set aside all this incredible acreage to be permanently protected and saved for nature and wild life. It is spectacular

Not sure why we didn’t go into the Preserve during any of our previous visits, but happy we did this time. We rode our bikes in, very pretty, well kept paths.

We enjoy going to the preserve a number of times when visiting the island. It is especially relaxing in the morning when there are fewer other visitors there is a good variety of well marked trails. We especially like to visit the shell ring and Lake Joe.

Sea Pines is one of the more lovely residential areas to drive through on Hilton Head. Only one more exclusive neighborhoods, but that one you can not enter unless you are a homeowner. You do have to pay to get into Sea Pines, but ask your resort, they often offer one day passes. You can ride your bike along the numerous trails, shop at the Marina, splash in the water, have a nice dinner at sundown, or take a boat excursion. Either way, it is a lovely place to view.

we went to see the shell ring. what we saw was a hole in the ground with some standing water, sand bags, rotting plywood, and lots of yellow warning tape. we could not tell where this shell ring was located. very disappointing and a waste of time. we did not see much wildlife either. it is a beautiful area and the walk was pleasant but not what i came on the island to see by any stretch of the imagination. there are much nicer nature trails in the area. i would recommend the savannah wildlife refuge.

My Husband and I take Nature Walks, here, tons of Wildlife,and even a Rookarie!The largest Alligator, I have ever seen. Take water and comfortable shoes, beautiful field of Wildflowers, many different Trails to take, even have maps of the Preserve, so you can't get lost.

We all loved the walking trails through the Forest Preserve. The trails and walking bridges are very well maintained. There's a lovely picnic area on one of the two small lakes. You feel miles from the ocean and beach walking through the Preserve because it's so tree covered and lush with green. If you need a break from the beach & want to wander just steps from it, take the time to walk the trails. I do wish they would restore the American Indian site in the Preserve as it's difficult to imagine what it really was like after so many years of not being restored. The signage does give some basic information, but even the posted historical signs are old and too worn.

Nothing to write here they wouldn't let us in riding our bikes and they were charging people 8.00 per car to enter the city. It used to be 5.00 and you would get it back after you shopped in town How do you turn people around that wanted to go into town for lunch SMH

LOVE to ride bikes through the preserve. Path is clear & it's well marked... beautiful & easy to get to !!!

Mosquitoes are super nasty..we had bug spray which we used repeatedly. They were huge and biting through our clothes. You could not stop to observe anything because you were swarmed. Had to cut our walk short and dose up on benadryl.

We rode our bikes here and it was beautiful!! Peaceful is the best way to describe it! We walked around and took in the nature.

GREAT afternoon hiking in Sea Pines. You walk underneath the tall Pines and Palmettos, across boardwalks, resting for a glimpse at the abandoned rice fields, or for a peak at a bird or perhaps even a gator. As you wander along you may find your way to an ancient shell ring and dream of days gone by.

This place is magical! Breathtaking natural beauty! Far exceeded our expectations. Straight out of a fantasy movie or storybook. The prehistoric nature was incredible to see. Lush green forests, ancient oak trees, grassy meadows, wildflower fields and so much more that we didn't have time to explore in one day. Hard to believe a place this beautiful is even real. We walked the trails with our 2 large dogs on the last day of our trip which we learned was during alligator mating season. We encountered several young alligators up close and for safety reasons would like to return without dogs and as often as possible. This place is a must see for anyone who enjoys nature!

Sea Pines is one of the prettiest areas of the island. Day passes may be purchased at the gate for $5.00 if you are not a resident or timeshare owner. Charles and Joseph Fraser, who developed this area, implemented strict regulations and restriction on develooment of this land. After coming here for over 30 years it is a pleasure to see that their covenants are still being followed. Sea Pines is still as spectacular as 30 years ago due to the preservation of the natural habitat.

What a great place to drive the trails and see lots of alligators, birds, and other wildlife. We have been here several times and seen great wildlife.

My kid played on the playground for hours, it is beautifully maintained, and the walking and shops around the lighthouse are so cute and quaint.

Very nice paths/trails through the Sea Pines Forest Preserve.

Some Hilton Head history and lots of birds. Just bring bug spray!

This is an idyllic setting tucked away in the heart of Sea Pines.A beautiful lake with picnic facilities.You can bike or drive through the preserve.Great fishing but watch out for the alligators.

A wonderful quiet place to just enjoy. Beautiful to sit on the dock. Watched for alligators and I think I saw one

Good area for seeing wildlife and not commercial buildings. Good trails well marked for walking and exploring. Stay alert for gators in the edge of the ponds!

We were excited to get out in nature-- we are used to going to state parks and not very crowded beaches. This area was amazing. Lots of wildlife, trails, and history. We were only able to hike a small portion of it but it was worth it! I was disappointed with the shell ringas there hadn't been much done to preserve it however it was neat to learn the history of it and see piles of shells.

We rode our bikes into the Preserve a couple of time on a recent trip. It's beautiful, peaceful and filled with wildlife. It's a nice addition to the beach and marinas. Highly recommend biking or hiking here.

Had my Trump hat on, and was turned away.. We cancelled our reservations at hilton Head and left area. Did not like atmosphere. not recommended for the average person..

We were very disappointed to have pay $8 to enter what turned out to be a private estate. The trees and small boardwalk was nice enough. We went down to see the lighthouse as well rather than pay again another day. That turned out to have been just built for rich folks to look at as well, it's not a real one. Pretty much like most of Hilton Head tbh.

One of the highlights of our week at Hilton Head! Gators & Hawks along with so much wildlife and natural Southern Coastal beauty. Would be great for pre-teens but not always stroller friendly.

I have a friend who has walking limitations who looked forward to walking these trails. Yet without the information as State park’s do on their trails certain individuals will not enjoy as much.

The signage is minimal and confusing. We almost bailed on it until we found the Greenwood entrance. For certain, look for the Greenwood entrance! Great area for walking around. The shell circle is pretty fascinating.

This is a terrific place to spend a day admiring nature's beauty. Bring your camera and take a slow stroll.

We had visitors from Rochester, NY and decided to go to the Sea Pines Forest Preserve as a day trip. We really enjoyed the nature here. We spent about 1.5 hours at the preserve. It was a great way to spend part of the day!

We were going to shelter cove marina for lunch and drove thru the preserve. Beautiful homes, roadways, bike paths, a horse farm. It would have been a great place to go for a walk and take some nature pictures.

Great place to take a walk or ride a bycicle . Very tranqual place was very good walking trails. We did not see the wild life that we had hoped to see but we enjoyed the walk.

Went on a hot day when the kids were cranky and tired, but we loved it nonetheless. The swamp areas with boardwalks are wonderful and the lakes with the wildflowers are serene. Beautiful spot!

Not much to see or do. Just paths and boardwalks through marsh and forest. We did see 1 small gator and some turtles.

We took a lovely walk , as it was off season. So most stores were closed. However the ones that are open , amazing items to purchase. The restaurant that is open is very good

I stopped here as part of an island bike ride, and enjoyed a walk in the woods/swamps. There are extensive boardwalks that allow for close up visit to that interesting environment. walked to the fishermans island, was a nice open spot with pier and picnic tables.

This was a surprising hike in the midst of upscale housing developments. They were doing a bunch of tree clean up with heavy machinery which made for a less than ideal "nature-walk". Even still, we enjoyed the diversity of foliage and wildlife. We would go here again in the future.

This area is well worth a visit even with the $8 charge to get in to Sea Pines. There are many different birds and a baby alligator was on the bank of the lake. The day we were there the lake was like glass. There are interesting walking trails but bike riding is allowed and there is an option to go horse back riding from Lawton Stables.

Wow! Stumbled on the reserve unexpectedly and we were so pleased! It was a nice walk through quiet woodsy areas, around lakes and in raised platforms through marshes. Bring the bug spray though! And your camera! You never know what you might find!

Beautiful, quiet place in the middle of busy Hilton Head Sea pines resort. Had to pay the $9 fee to get in to Sea pines resort but it was worth it. Saw lots of wildlife, even an alligator! Make sure you use the bathroom though before you start your hike! The Porta Potts had not been cleaned in 3 weeks.

Wonderful walking trails through woods and historic rice plantations, reaching beautiful lakes with picnic areas and archaeological site (Indian Shell Ring). Picnic area also accessible by car. Don't miss this!

We saw lots of frogs, thankfully no snakes, we hoped to see alligators- but none, there was tons of poison ivy....wear long pants and close toed shoes.

Whether hiking, taking a guided tour, boat tour or just there to fish or read a book, a splendid afternoon. Bird life is amazing, many gators to view and walking is easy. Trails well marked

This is absolutely the most hidden inaccessible and un-user-friendly place I have visited in years. We had to go past the entrance three times in order to figure out where to turn on an unpaved road. Signage is nearly nonexistent. The staff was particularly unfriendly and not helpful in finding this locale. A security officer there would not help us even when signaled. Once arrived, there is an unpaved dirt road which goes past a sewage treatment center. It stinks to high heaven. Farther into the reserve it was reasonably nice, but finding this tiny little spot of nature in an Island filled with condos and hotels seems not worth the trouble. Only one spot where there are Porta potty's. Not worth the time or expense in finding it. I suggest visiting other nature reserves in the area.

My husband and I have visited HHI for the past 10 years and this is the first time we went to the Preserve because our oldest daughter and her boyfriend insisted on it and we loved it!

We checked out a number of nature walking areas on T.A., and chose this one - we were glad we did. Visited in early February.

This preserve is located within the boundaries of a large residential / vacation resort area. We were not staying there, but knew in advance we would need to pay a small fee at entrance gate. (note other reviews which state you can't drive a bicycle or motorcycle into this area - if not staying in Sea Pines you must enter by car)

The primary parking lot is located a short distance from security gate. Room for maybe 10-15 cars total. So - if going during warm weather consider getting there early. You can also enter around another side, and "drive thru" the preserve. Not sure how much you would see by driving.

The walking paths are in good condition. You start out right next to some homes, but soon disappear into the swamps. Maps in large black mail boxes in a couple of places, with lots of sign markers along the way. Some very nice well constructed wooden boardwalks - very long, take you thru swampy areas. Other areas are very wide open trails, many covered with pine needles.

I know many have complained that the shell ring is not great - but we headed that way - yes, not much to see, but reading the history of it is interesting.

We had packed in sandwiches and drinks and ate lunch on picnic bench at Lake Joe (this lake is along side road if you did drive in). Had a nice quiet lunch and watched birds.

Later, while walking around the far end of Lake Joe, we spotted a large alligator slowing swimming along shore, and then out into lake.

This is a great place for short, medium, or long nature walk. I think some locals probably bike in / out... but i can't imagine it ever gets very crowded due to limited parking lot size.

I think you could spend "all day" here - but plan on at least 2 hours to take it all in.

If you are going to visit Sea Pines, be prepared to pay $8 just to get in for the preserve. Harbor Town and Sea Pines in general is a ritzy area / resort. Don't waste your time anywhere else in Sea Pines outside of the Forest Preserve. The Forest Preserve itself though was awesome, we very much enjoyed our time there.

This was a great adventure! Beautifully built bridges help guide the way! You can hike or bike in the Preserve but watch out for gators!

It was very peaceful to wander the preserve . I would suggest more signage for driving through the preserve.

My husband and I were in town with our dog, Suzie. We looked for an activity to do with her and came across Sea Pines. It costs $6 to visit, but totally worth it. We enjoyed walking along the trails. A couple had signs that they were closed due to damage from last year's hurricane, but there were plenty of other paths to take that it didn't bother us. Signage was pretty good and we came to one spot that had a box with maps. That was the most helpful. The only issue we had was parking for the trails was not really well marked.

Located on Sea Pines ($9 entrance fee!) This nature preserve offers several miles of hiking trails most of which are shaded. Informational plaques are located throughout but are not well maintained. Allow 2 hours or so. Limited parking at the entrance. No services or restrooms.

I was shocked to realize that the address and marker location for this attraction was wrong on trip advisor. We almost missed it while at Sea Pines for the day because the address had it placed on the other side of Hilton Head. The actual address is: 175 Greenwood Dr. (I have submitted an update). It is located in Sea Pines which is a $6 cash only entrance fee per car with in and out privileges for the day. Plan to do some shopping, visit the lighthouse, take the kids to the playground and get on the water during your Sea Pines visit. The preserve is quite large, 605 acres to be exact. Most of the walking trails are paved with the exception of the boardwalks. It was a hot afternoon so we only did the boardwalk and then walked back to the parking lot at the Greenwood entrance. We did spot one alligator and a number of turtles on our walk. Bikes are only allowed in one small portion of the preserve along the rice field. The map indicates that you can drive through portions of the preserve from the Lawton Entrance which is on Lawton Drive. I can’t say that I would recommend making a trip just for the preserve. If you are already planning to spend time in Sea Pines than stop by and check it out OR plan to go in cooler weather. Then again we only saw a small portion of what the preserve has to offer so the rest of it might be really amazing.

Walked around the preserve. The area is so pretty. It makes you think about how the south looked a long time ago with the hanging moss trees.

This out of the way preserve is worth the search; once you pass the smells of the sewage treatment plant and head down the dirt road into the preserve you are treated to a great variety of wildlife - we saw alligator, anhinga, egrets and cormorants on our latest outing. We also visited the ancient shell ring, a short walk from the parking area, and learned much about the archaic Indians who gathered here thousands of years ago. Very good descriptive panels.

This is in Sea Pines which is a gated community that non residents pay 9.00 a car to get in. It is a well laid out diverse area with nice size pond and a lot of natural areas. There are boardwalks to walk over the wetlands. I'm sure there's plenty of wildlife in there but we did not see any on the day we were there. Still worth a visit.

We hiked for about 2.5 hours, but you can really tailor it to however long you want to be there. We saw lots of turtles, alligators, snakes, birds, and geckos. The paths are well maintained and just beautiful, especially the boardwalks. Bring bug spray with you! I got eaten alive. There are horse droppings on several of the paths used for horse back riding tours so watch where you watch. You do pay a small fee per car to get into Sea Pines, but it was well worth it. We got some great photos and just took in the beauty of this park.

The Sea Pines Nature Preserve is a visitor friendly way to see the South Carolina wildlife. There are several board walks that go over marshy areas. There is also a large lake with large grassy areas where you can picnic and fish. Our grandchildren were fascinated watching the large turtles swim in the lake. They were excited to see an alligator and a very beautiful large owl. The marshes are filled with turtles. Perhaps their favorite discovery were the small lizards. We also saw many egrets and a large blue heron. Spring wild flowers were beginning to bloom. The preserve is well worth the $8 car fee. You will see more by walking.

We decided to spend quiet time, due to lack of time we used our car to drive around preserve stopping couple of places and enjoyed the beauty of nature.

This is a beautiful, lush nature preserve on Hilton Head. Trails are flat and easy to navigate . We were able to see a few alligators in the lakes. If you walk on the horse trails, be prepared to hopscotch over the droppings.

We parked at the entrance off Greenwood Drive (there is another entrance closer to the center of the preserve). We took one of the plentiful trail maps and headed off towards the Indian Shell Ring. On the way we took the boardwalk over the marsh and were greeted by several different birds, little crabs scurrying beneath the walk and lots of different types of plants. Further on it became more woodland and then opened up into fields with ponds and wildflowers. We used the port-a-potties and were about to head towards the shell ring when we realized that the ponds were filled with alligators many of whom were sunning themselves on the banks. Not wanting to get that close to one of these wild creatures we gave up on the shell ring and enjoyed the walk back to the parking lot.

When the sun gets high and it's so very hot it is nice there was an outdoor place that was cool. The walk is easy and calming. Look out for geckos.

Every year we visit HHI and it wouldn't be complete without a visit to this wonderful island sanctuary. If you like to take un paved trails (even in your sedan!) and see natural beauty, this is the easy way to do it. It never fails that we spot anhinga, cormorants, osprey, egrets, and other fine birds. Bring bugs spray!

Sea Pines Forest Preserve at Sea Pines on Hilton Head Island is a great place to go for all things nature and trails. I really like the location and the variety of different trails that they have available here. It is very quiet and plenty of room to run around and get some fresh air. I also like all of the water and fishing spots that they have here.

This nature preserve is tucked away in a housing development. We found one of the park entrances off of Greenwood Drive. There was one other car parked there on weekend afternoon. The trails are wide and easy to hike. The trail markers are sporadic. Some are marked well, while others are not, but after awhile they lead back to a marked trail. There are several trails that go through swampy areas, with board walks so that you can get fairly close to the wildlife.

We walked through to Lake Joe, where we saw several alligators swimming close to sure and quite a few large birds such as great blue herons. We also passed through the 4000 year old Shell Ring. The scenery along the trails is beautiful.

If you go, make sure you bring bug spray. There are lots of mosquitoes in the swampy areas. Also, there are no rest rooms at the Greenwood Entrance. Rest rooms and picnic tables can be found at Lake Joe, Round Trip from the parking area, just past the shell ring was about 3.5 miles.

My family and I stopped here first when we arrived in Sea Pines because we really wanted to see some alligators. After consulting the map in the parking lot, we followed the path and then picked the trail with a bridge over the rice field. We somehow walked in a circle and while we found the bog, it was tiny and unimpressive. On the day we went, the weather was unpleasantly hot and being in the swamp increased the mugginess. We saw one beautiful egret but nothing else. I am prepared to accept that maybe we took the wrong path. From other people’s pictures, it’s clear there is more to see than what we saw. But I’m pretty good at directions and reading maps and it feels to me like things weren’t marked very well. I think you can skip this one.

The forest reserve is very arge with many bike trails throughout. The ponds are great for fishing and gator watching. There are very nice picnic areas for the family and gazebos for observation. There is a lovely wildfower area with local flowers in bloom all summer.

If you need some time off from your place in the sun, head here. We rode our bikes from South Beach and it was a very pleasant ride. Riding bikes in the Preserve was another matter! It is very sandy and soft so if you have little ones or infrequent bikers, you may want to drive over or plan to bike and walk. Lots of birds and very peaceful. You can picnic as well.

A birder's paradise. Many birds in the forest and shore birds in the ponds and canals. Nice trails to walk and accessible by car or bike. A beautiful field of wildflowers was there as well. A great experience and would definitely go here again on our next visit.

Nice place for an easy hike. Well shaded. Interesting shell ring to see. Very pleasant. You can do longer loops or shorter ones. Lots of options. Lots of birds near the ponds. Well marked trails. If you're staying in Sea Pines, it's free. If coming from outside, be prepared to pay the gate pass fee of $10.

We took a side trip to Hilton Head Island from Savannah and this was our first stop. The preserve is a very peaceful and serene sanctuary of hiking trails and natural beauty. There is an ancient shell ring built by native people which was incredibly interesting. The trails are easy to walk. We went in winter but the weather was mild and we were able to enjoy all the different types of plants and trees. Watch out for alligators.

Beautiful place. Lots of hiking and biking paths. I took the alligator tour w/ Joey and it was great. We saw maybe 5 or 6 alligators. Very relaxing being out on a boat in the water. Joey was very informative and a great guide.

This is a must do when on the island. Besides the bike riding, this is a must do. Take your time and check every ounce of water and you will see baby Gators up to the big boys. Walk thru the swamp on the deck and go to the fishing area. We have always seem Gators there. Just know that if you do fish there the gator will come up on land to steal your fish

This is a large area that can be seen via car, bike or on foot. It offers a lot of shade during a hot HHI day.

This is a quiet place to explore the forest and plants of the area. There is still signs of the hurricane that damaged the area a couple of years ago but that doesn't spoil the visit. There is a beautiful picnic area and fishing pond located in the preserve.

The forest preserve is filled with trees and wildlife. It is in Sea Pines so you will have to have cash to pay per car. You can make the most of it by doing the bike trails or the walking trails. enjoyable for young kids also

We rode through the preserve with Lawton Stables, and it was SO beautiful. Massive trees and peaceful environment. Lots of places to sit and relax, ride, or fish. $9 to enter the area, but worth it for the scenery and more.

We really enjoyed the boardwalks and the hike is flat and quick. The signage is excellent along the paths and it is difficult to get lost. We saw a lot of birds and turtles but, sadly, no alligators.

Take a picture of the map before you go in so you can plan your route.

Note: bring CASH for the daily pass. It does not say this on the website and we watched car after car having to turn around because they do not take credit cards. Of course, the cash-only sign was on the ticket booth and not earlier, where people could have had time to get cash. In a socially distanced environment (not to mention the 21st century), cash should not be the norm.

About a week ago we took our dog for a stroll thru a little part of the preserve. Then this past Wednesday my Wife and I went on horse from the Lawton Stables. Our horses were gentle and we very much enjoyed seeing the Preserve ob Horseback. The only problem was the hour went too quickly. Our guide was very informative in telling us about the different areas of the Preserve.

We really enjoyed the natural beauty and quiet space this place provides. This is a great place to stroll and reconnect with nature!

This was magnificent, the vanishing forest is really, cool, the marshes are very cool. You need hiking boots though, an this place has many, many alligators, so be mindful, they won't come after you, but you WILL see alligators. There is significant construction, and it is fairly difficult to find the entrance, we parked near the security entrance and walked to the adjacent perserve,you have to access this via car and have to pay the $8.00 day pass, you cannot bike to the sea pines resort in any event, they will not let you, and they have blocked off the bike paths from the public. It is very cool, once you access it.

Very nice easy walk. This part of the island is not very busy even during spring break. The reason - entrance fee $9. It limits number of people and cars. As a result - you get great and peaceful part of the island. We walked on hiking trails, watched birds, noticed two alligators.

If not staying at Sea Pines, be warned: Their web site does not clarify that there is a $9 fee and you can only enter by car. I suggest going instead to Pinckney Island, which is very beautiful, has plenty of wildlife and is free of charge.

Nice place to visit and do some sightseeing. And of course, some shopping and having lunch. There are also some ruins to visit.

very nice preserve and good walking trails. saw lots of alligators and turtles,birds. lot of tree damage from the past huricane, but they are cleaning up pretty quickly.

Drove through - pretty but evidence of recent hurricane damage was everywhere. Generally unspectacular but not unexpected given the season and recent damage.

I ride my bike up to it nearly every day we’re there. During the afternoon it’s cool enough to sit and read under the trees. The quiet is great.

This would definitely be my favorite preserve in the Hilton Head area. Though you have to pay $8.00 to get into Sea Pines, it is well worth it. The preserve is well maintained. When we were there we did see security driving through and an occasional truck doing work in the area, so we felt safe in the preserve. You are able to drive through part of the preserve or walk through. We chose to walk and we saw more than you would see if you drove through. We went on a sunny day and saw at least eight alligators sunning themselves on the sides of bodies of water. We also saw many turtles and a good variety of birds. While in Sea Pines visit the Lighthouse and the shops and restaurants in the area so you get the most of your $8.00. Plan on spending a few hours in the Preserve to see everything. There are picnic tables near the lake if you want to bring food in.

We enjoyed about a 3 mile walk through the Preserve enjoying all the different types of trees, several ponds and many birds. (We were staying in Sea Pines so no charge for a day pass) As we started out, a person who had been there before suggested which way to go and we are glad! Some of the trails are a bit rough with roots and are shared with horses so you have to step carefully.

The tip or toe of HHI is breathtaking. Small area with such diversity. There is a $5 fee but is well worth the time. A day trip in the making!

This preserve offers numerous trails for walking and bike riding. Very informative plaques and trail head markings. This is a very pretty area and you can easily walk around for a couple of hours.

Due to a recent hurricane part of the trail was closed. The shell mound was open and was interesting to read the history. There was a a charge to enter the park area which we found out later you could enter by a different road that was free because it went through Harbor Town and a whole lot of condo's and marina.

We drove into the preserve a couple of times while we were there. What a beautiful place to visit! Definitely spend some time there if you can.

This was a great tour spent with the family! Great Alligator sightings, as well as turtles! It's hard to believe you are minutes from the bustle.

Beautiful, accessible nature preserve. You can bike it, walk it or drive it, depending on the entrance you choose (there are two). The place is impeccable maintained and birds, alligators, beautiful vistas, and two lakes.

Awesome experience. Guide Joey is fabulous, really knows his stuff about the wildlife on HHI. Had a great time, highly recommend.

Our daughter goes tp school right beside the preserve and on the Cross Country (Go Prep) she runs through the preserve. The rest of our family has walked through a few times and it never ceases to amaze me the amount of wildlife (gators and such) we see every time.

This is a nice walk through the preserve. It has a wooded boardwalk and if you keep going to the end, it opens up to a big area with water and birds and alligators