Simba and I visited and hiked through Vereen Memorial Historical Gardens in Little River, South Carolina, a beautiful Lowcountry preserve where wooded trails and long wooden boardwalks wind through more than 115 acres of coastal forest, wetlands, salt marsh, and small islands along the Intracoastal Waterway. Despite being only a short distance from the busy attractions of the Grand Strand, the park feels surprisingly quiet and secluded.
With approximately three miles of nature trails and boardwalks, Vereen Memorial Gardens turned out to be an ideal place for an easy hike with Simba. Much of our walk took us beneath a shady coastal forest before the trails transitioned onto boardwalks extending across the tidal marsh. Eventually, we reached the waterfront, where overlooks provide views across the Intracoastal Waterway and boats pass through the surrounding coastal landscape.
The natural scenery alone would make Vereen worth visiting, but there is considerably more hidden throughout the property. The trails cross land once associated with Big Landing Plantation, pass a historic family cemetery with Revolutionary War connections, intersect a surviving section of the colonial King’s Highway, and lead to one of the park’s strangest traditions — an old cypress covered with oyster shells containing handwritten wishes.
🌳 More Than 115 Acres of Preserved Lowcountry
Vereen Memorial Historical Gardens protects more than 115 acres near Little River, preserving a mixture of upland forest, wetlands, salt marsh, tidal creeks, and waterfront habitat. That variety creates a surprisingly diverse hiking experience considering the park’s relatively compact size…