Visit Beaufort's Unspoiled Natural Ecosystem

The Lowcountry’s famed salt-marsh ecosystem, one of the world’s most productive and unspoiled ecosystems, is easy to explore from any of our three Beaufort military bases.  The A.C.E. basin is a vast wilderness created at the juncture of the Ashepoo, Combahee and Edisto Rivers. Guided boat tours allow visitors to see and photograph hundreds of bird species; guided kayak tours offer a more active role in coastal discovery; and a boat rental allows independent adventurers to explore the ecosystem on their own.
 
Fishing, sailing, shrimping and crabbing are popular activities for Beaufort visitors, and residents are happy to teach newcomers the tricks of the trade. Local marinas offer fishing boat rentals, and can also arrange chartered fishing excursions.  Visitors can also enjoy tours of the area by horseback. 
 
Port Royal’s boardwalk and Hunting Island State Park’s pier are among the ideal fishing venues as well as popular for sightseeing and leisurely strolls. In addition to its unspoiled beaches, Hunting Island includes a Nature Center, miles of well-marked trails for hiking, running and cycling throughout the island and a marsh boardwalk.  A five-mile leisure trail winds through Port Royal for jogging and bicycling and includes an observation deck.
 
The Lowcountry offers many opportunities for avid bird watchers to fill blanks on their checklists.  Aside from healthy populations of year-round residents, a myriad of species traversing the Atlantic Flyway take advantage of the ocean beach, maritime forest, salt marsh, and freshwater wetland environments.  You’ll also not find a more comfortable and accommodating human environment on any flyway.