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Sea Pines Forest Preserve

© Stephen Strother

Have you ever noticed that some of the most rewarding experiences in life are those that are completely unexpected. This was definitely the case with a recent visit I made to Sea Pines Forest Preserve on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

I was visiting Hilton Head on business in mid-January. I know, to many of you, it probably sounds like a tough gig visiting a beach resort community like Hilton Head on business, but keep three things in mind. First, I was visiting Hilton Head in January - not exactly prime beach season in South Carolina. Second, I was only there for a day. Third, although I love all beaches in the Carolinas, Hilton Head is not at the top of my list - mainly due to the fact that it is very popular and, therefore usually, quite crowded. These three factors combine to make what I found there on this visit even that much more amazing.

I was driving through Sea Pines Plantation on a January afternoon trying to find the location of my next customer appointment. I had apparently made a wrong turn or two and was beginning to get a little frustrated with my search. I continued driving and while I was working on figuring out where I had gone wrong, I noticed a sign for Sea Pines Forest Preserve. Quite honestly I was shocked. I have always enjoyed visiting Hilton Head. Residents and developers have done a great job of maintaining the island as a slightly upscale beach and golf community filled with more tree filled resorts than you can count. I have always enjoyed Hilton Head but I have to admit that due to its popularity as a beach and golf resort area I have never associated this community with nature conservation. I was intrigued by my discovery of this Preserve and made a mental note of its location. I promised myself that I would return once I had completed my appointments for the day.

Return I did and the experience was well worth the effort. Sea Pines Forest Preserve protects 605 acres of mostly swamp, forest, and marsh land located in the midst of Sea Pines Plantation Resort. Some of the land that now makes up this preserve was once a rice plantation. Long before that it was home to a village of Native American Indians.

I entered the Preserve at the Lawton Road entrance. I found the trail head and quickly glanced over an information sign which gave details about the preserve trails. My interest was captured by the description of the Indian Shell Ring Trail which was described as a trail .4 of a mile in length that ended at a mysterious ring-shaped mound that was built out of oyster shells by Native American Indians almost 4,000 years ago. This was exciting I thought - an opportunity to experience nature and learn more about ancient history and since time was of the essence the fact that it was only a walk of four tenths of a mile was important too.

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