Whooping Crane Pond - Member Hike
| Hike Name: | Whooping Crane Pond |
|---|---|
| Country: | United States |
| State: | South Carolina |
| Nearby Town: | Hilton Head |
| Rating: |  |
| Directions: | Whooping Crane Pond is located within Hilton Head Plantation (which requires a permit for access). Enter through the main gate then look for signs for Whooping Crane Pond after about a mile on the right. If you hit a stop sign where you must turn either right or left - then you have gone too far. |
| Total Hike Distance: | 0.90 miles |
| Hike Difficulty: | Easy |
| Permit Required: | Yes |
| Hike Type: | Roundtrip, Loop Hike |
| Hike Starts/Ends: | Whooping Crane Pond Parking Area |
| Trails Used: | Nancy Cathcart Path, Whooping Crane Pond Boardwalk |
| Backcountry Campsites: | No |
| Backcountry Water Sources: | None |
| Management: | Other |
| Contact Information: | Hilton Head Island Land Trust P.O. Box 21058 Hilton Head Island, SC 29925 http://hhilandtrust.org/Crane.html |
| Best Season: | Winter, Spring, Fall |
| Users: | Hikers, Dogs |
| Road Conditions: | Primary Paved Roads, Secondary Paved Roads |
| Hike Summary: | The 137-acre Whooping Crane Pond Conservancy is located on Hilton Head Island within Hilton Head Plantation. It consists primarily of freshwater black gum (or tupelo) forested swamp and open "savannah" swamp. A swamp edge transition zone of thick, head-high bushes separates the swamp from the pine dominated uplands and the habitat supports approximately 75 plant species and 100 wildlife species. This pleasant hike in Hilton Head Plantation has two components. The first is along the Nancy Cathcart Path which winds through a dry pine forest and joins with the second section of "trail" on the Whooping Crane Boardwalk. The boardwalk is an impresive engineering feat in itself and obviously took significant effort to build (and I expect requires significant effort to maintain.) The area formed as a shallow valley between ancient shoreline dunes, and the swamp is fascinating to explore over the course of about 0.5 miles (which includes the nancy Cathcart Path). Views from the platform areas are sure to offer bird sightings among other things. |
Trail Map For This Area
3 replies on “Whooping Crane Pond - Member Hike”
Unfortunately, pets are no longer allowed on the boardwalk.
Yes, that is true. Another option … Jarvis Creek Park is right across the street from the Hilton Head Plantation and has a nice hiking trail that circles the lake.
https://n2backpacking.com/hikes/south-carolina/jarvis-creek-park-jarvis-creek-park-lake/
I was told by the armed guard at the gate to Hilton Head Plantation that the Whooping Crane Conservancy is restricted to Hilton Head Plantation residents only.