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Best Places for Hiking Near Manning, SC

Great hiking trails in Manning, SC
Hiking is a great way to get close to nature and release yourself from the rigors of everyday life. Within easy reach of Manning, South Carolina, are some awesome parks with hiking trails offering a variety of scenery and terrain. Here are some of the best places to hike.

Poinsett State Park

A little over a half hour drive west from Manning is Poinsett State Park on the edge of the Manchester State Forest. It offers over 1,000 acres of diverse landscape with more than 25 miles of hiking trails. Some trails connect to the Palmetto Trail which takes you through the Manchester State Forest. The hiking areas include the Scout Trail, Hill Top Trail, Laurel Group Trail, and the Coquina Trail. Along the way, you can enjoy the serene setting of the 10-acre Poinsett Park Lake, visit the 1930s coquina bathhouse, and the ruins of the pre-revolutionary grist mill. There is a variety of wildlife habitat in the park and over 300 plant species.

Woods Bay State Park

A similar distance to the northeast of Manning is the 1,590-acre Woods Bay State Park. The park provides the opportunity for you to get a close-up look at one of the last Carolina Bays remaining in the State. The landscape features oak-hickory forest, sandhills, marsh and shrub bog. Hikers can follow the 0.9-mile Mill Pond Nature Trail, or you can take the 1,150-foot boardwalk which offers the opportunity to see alligators in the cypress-tupelo swamp. Other wildlife you might spot includes more than 80 species of birds, raccoons, otters, tree frogs, and various snakes.

Santee State Park

Santee State Park is located on the western shore of Lake Marion, South Carolina's largest lake, which was created in 1949 to provide hydro-electric power. The 2,500-acre park is approximately 30 miles south west of Manning and offers four easy to moderate hiking trails covering more than 10 miles. The twisting trails will take you through thickly wooded areas with mixed pine and hardwood, and around swamplands, ponds, and sinkholes. At some points you'll have spectacular views of the lake and the cypress forest that flourishes in the middle of it. The lake habitat makes this an ideal location for birdwatching.

Santee National Wildlife Refuge

Located on the north shore of Lake Marion, the Santee National Wildlife Refuge is around 15-miles south of Manning. Set in 13,000 acres, the refuge is divided into four units and features forests of pines and mixed hardwoods, old croplands, marshland, and open water. Over 10 miles of hiking trails meander through this beautiful refuge. While hiking, you can visit the Santee Indian Mound, a ceremonial temple and burial site dating back over 1,000 years. During the Revolutionary War it was used by the British as an outpost named Fort Watson. Wildlife species you might see include 45 mammals, 54 reptiles, and almost 300 birds, depending on the season. These stunning locations provide great hiking, and most offer camping facilities enabling you to turn your trip into an overnight adventure.   Image by Tony Webster via Flickr | CC BY 2.0 | Cropped from original
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Congaree National Park and other hiking spots in Manning, SC

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If you are looking to get closer to nature or get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, Manning and the surrounding areas offer several perfect hiking opportunities for you. While Manning is a beautiful city located in the heart of South Carolina, nothing compares to the tranquility that a day navigating through a trail provides. With so many options available, we've narrowed it down to five amazing places to hike near Manning, South Carolina. Poinsett State Park Poinsett State Park is located upon the gorgeous High Hills of Santee. This park is sometimes called the “mountains of the midlands” and provides a gorgeous backdrop with the different mixed ecosystems that you will see. Poinsett has several different trails that wind their way through the entire park and add up to over 25 miles available to the public. Poinsett State Park can be found at 6660 Poinsett Park Road in Wedgefield. Lake Marion Passage The beautiful Lake Marion Passage provides you with miles upon miles of magnificent views of the lake and plains that surround it. The foliage surrounding the entire area is seasonally colorful with views that amaze year-round. The entire length of the trail is over 33 miles but you are able to start from different points in order to shorten it to fit your needs. There is access to the trail from Santee Town Hall Complex, Pack's Landing, and Mill Creek County Park. more Congaree National Park Visit Congaree National Park to experience astonishing biodiversity including the largest intact area of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest still existing in the southeastern U.S. Waters from the Wateree and Congaree Rivers wind through the floodplain, carrying sediments and nutrients that rejuvenate and nourish this ecosystem while supporting the growth of state and national champion trees. Santee National Wildlife Refuge Located along the north shore of Lake Marion, this awe-inspiring refuge is home to trails, wildlife, and a nature center that adults and children alike will enjoy. The visitor center will provide you with a loaner backpack with items you may need on your hike such as binoculars and field guides.  This service is offered free of charge. The Santee National Wildlife Refuge can be found at 2125 Fort Watson Road in Summerton and is open from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. from October to February and 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. from March through September. Santee State Park This beautiful state park located near Lake Marion is home to over 10 miles of pristine hiking trails. It houses over 2500 acres right in the heart of Santee Cooper County. They do require a daily admission fee of $2.00 for adults. Kids ages 15 and under are free. These fees go to maintaining the park. Santee State Park can be found at 251 State Park Road in Santee and is open from 6 a.m. until 10 p.m. year-round. South Carolina may be known to outsiders for features such as cities and beaches, but locals know what the real appeal is, and that's an abundance of hiking trails. Whether you are a beginner just starting out or a seasoned pro, any of these places would be a great pick for a hike near Manning, South Carolina. Image by daveynin via Flickr | CC BY 2.o | Cropped from original