9 Incredible Natural Wonders In South Carolina That You Can Witness For Free
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Robin Jarvis
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Why spend money when you don’t have to? There are plenty things to do in South Carolina that don’t cost a single dime. The next time you’re looking to do something on the cheap, head to any one (or all!) of the following natural wonders in South Carolina. Each and every one is worthy of a visit, so be sure to come back to this list over and over again until you’ve exhausted every item on the list.
Estimated to be 400 years old, the alluring Angel Oak tree is a living testament to survival and vitality. The tree has endured scores of hurricanes and yet, it's still standing — and thriving. See it at 3688 Angel Oak Rd, Johns Island, SC 29455. The park is open every day but Wednesday. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day except Sunday when the hours are 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Learn more here.
Spend the day exploring the country's largest old growth bottomland forest. Several trails allow visitors to navigate through the forest and swamp. Check it out in this previous article. Find Congaree National Park at 100 National Park Rd, Hopkins, SC 29061.
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The two sources of the Edisto River are actually found in two separate counties (Saluda and Edgefield) and about 30 miles apart The two streams flow toward the Atlantic, merging into one just below Columbia. As one of the longest blackwater rivers in the country, the Edisto flows a total of 250 miles as it makes its way to the Atlantic Ocean near Edisto Beach. In places, the river's color is so dark it resembles black tea. Read all about the paddle-in treehouses and campsites found along the Edisto in this previous article.
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Hike up to the top of Forty Acre Rock to explore natural pools of water filled with colorful rare plants that only grow in this nature preserve in South Carolina. Forty Acre Rock actually clocks in at 14 acres, not 40 as the name suggests. To see more of this gorgeous spot, check out the drone footage in this previous article. Roll up on Forty Acre Rock at the Forty Acre Rock Heritage Preserve at 2207 Conservancy Rd, Kershaw, SC 29067.
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People drive from all over to partake in the natural spring water found at God's Acre. The water here is credited with having special healing properties. Oddly enough, the spring isn't named for the divine intervention of the healing waters, rather, it got its name because when the owner of the springs died, he willed the springs to God upon his death. Hence, the name. Find it at Springs Ct, Blackville, SC 29817.
Head to Peachtree Rock Heritiage Preserve in Lexington and take a short hike to discover a top-heavy rock oddly shaped like a peach tree. But this isn't the preserve's first Peach Tree Rock. Until about five years ago another Peachtree Rock was in the spotlight; however, it toppled over. You'll see both of them on the trail that winds through this locale. Find it at 883 Peachtree Rock Rd, Lexington, SC 29073.
The state's most photographed mountain is Table Rock, which can be seen for miles along the Cherokee Foothills Scenic Byway in the Upstate. To get up close and personal with the rock means paying for admission into Table Rock State Park, but visitors can enjoy views of the rock for free from along the highway. Find the state park at 158 E Ellison Ln, Pickens, SC 29671. Get a better look at the rock itself in the drone footage found in this previous article.
View a stunning 75-foot double waterfall in the forest after a short hike. A platform at the end of the trail affords beautiful views. Visitors also hike down to the base of the falls for a closer look. Learn more about the waterfalls and the trail by reading this previous article.
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Although Pretty Place isn't a natural wonder, the view from inside the chapel is. A.k.a. Fred W. Symmes Chapel, this open-air church found inside a boy scout camp in the upstate affords the absolute best sunrise view in the state. Find it at 100 YMCA Camp Rd, Cleveland, SC 29635. Learn more here.
What are some of your favorite things to do for free in South Carolina? Let us know here!
Here’s yet another thing you can do on the cheap in South Carolina: The Lighthouse Road Trip On The South Carolina Coast That’s Dreamily Beautiful.
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Featured Addresses
Angel Oak Tree, 3688 Angel Oak Rd, Johns Island, SC 29455, USA
Congaree National Park, South Carolina, USA
585 Donnelley Drive, Green Pond, SC 29446, USA
40 Acre Rock Heritage Preserve, 2207 Conservancy Rd, Kershaw, SC 29067, USA
God's Acre Healing Springs, Springs Ct, Blackville, SC 29817, USA
Peachtree Rock Heritage Preserve, 883 Peachtree Rock Rd, Lexington, SC 29073, USA
Table Rock State Park, 158 E Ellison Ln, Pickens, SC 29671, USA
Twin Falls Trail, Waterfalls Rd, Sunset, SC 29685, USA
Fred W. Symmes Chapel aka "Pretty Place", 100 YMCA Camp Rd, Cleveland, SC 29635, USA