Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge

Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge is a protected area featuring salt marshes, tidal creeks, and forest ecosystems situated between Hilton Head Island and the South Carolina mainland. The refuge covers approximately 4,053 acres and provides habitat for numerous wildlife species in its different natural zones.

Charles Pinckney purchased the land in 1736 and transformed it into a plantation worked by enslaved labor over the following centuries. The site was inhabited long before European arrival, with evidence of human presence dating back thousands of years to the Archaic period.

The place names and landscape features reflect the people who lived here across different periods, from indigenous communities to later settlers. Walking through the refuge, visitors encounter these layers of history woven into the land itself.

The refuge is open from sunrise to sunset year-round and offers more than 10 miles of paths for hiking, biking, and viewing wildlife. Visitors should come prepared for changing weather and bring insect protection, especially during warmer months.

The refuge serves as a critical nesting ground for colonial wading birds such as ibises, egrets, and herons that gather in natural rookeries. These bird communities use the area each breeding season, making it a priority spot for bird watchers.

Location: Beaufort County

Inception: 1975

Website: https://fws.gov/refuge/pinckney_island

GPS coordinates: 32.24380,-80.76530

Latest update: December 8, 2025 20:03