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Hunting Island

Hunting Island State Park
Hunting Island
Hunting Island 2.jpg
Marshes surrounding Hunting Island
Type state park
Location Beaufort County, South Carolina
(Lowcountry & Sea Islands)
Nearest city Beaufort
Coordinates 32°21′59″N 80°26′40″W / 32.36639°N 80.44444°W / 32.36639; -80.44444Coordinates: 32°21′59″N 80°26′40″W / 32.36639°N 80.44444°W / 32.36639; -80.44444
Area 5,000 acres (20.2 km2)
Elevation sea level
Created 1935
Etymology "Hunting Islands" map reference (ca. 18th century)
Operated by South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism
Visitors 1.2 million
Camp sites Both regular and RV campsites
Hiking trails
  • island hike/bike trail (8.0 mi)
  • campground trail (1.0 mi)
  • marsh boardwalk (0.4 mi)
Other information Admission fees:
$5.00 for adults
$3.25 for S.C. seniors
$3.00 for children ages 6-15
free for children ages 0-5
Website Hunting Island State Park

Hunting Island is a 5,000-acre (20 km2) secluded semitropical barrier island located 15 miles (24 km) east of Beaufort, South Carolina, United States. Since 1935, it has been classified as a state park. It is the most-visited state park facility in South Carolina and is a part of the ACE Basin estuarine reserve area. Renowned for its natural beauty, the island remains one of the few remaining undeveloped Sea Islands in the Lowcountry. The park is known for its 19th century lighthouse which bears its name. The park's unique beach has been featured in several travel publications and was listed in 2013 as a Top 25 beach in the United States by TripAdvisor.

Hunting Island retains its colonial designation of the "Hunting Islands," which served as hunting preserves for Lowcountry planters and elite in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Hunting Island light was constructed in the 1850s and soon thereafter destroyed by Confederate forces in the early days of the Civil War. Ten years after the Civil War ended the lighthouse was rebuilt, and later relocated to its current position. The 1893 Sea Islands hurricane swept Hunting Island and other nearby Sea Islands clean, but the lighthouse survived.

In the 1930s, the island was developed into a state park by the Civilian Conservation Corps as bridges were constructed to connect the outer Sea Islands with Beaufort. Thanks to limited human development, the island remains a preserve for its abundant wildlife. Visitors enjoy more than 4 miles (6.4 km) of beach, a dense maritime forest in the interior areas, and an extensive saltwater marsh on the western side. The most notable attraction is the 19th-century lighthouse, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. While not operational, the lighthouse tower currently features a rotating light in the tower that is turned on at night.


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