HILTON HEAD Outdoor ADVENTURES
Discover all there is to do on Hilton Head Island beaches, parks, and waterways.
Golf at one of the Island's 24 courses, some with views of the Atlantic Ocean. Kayak the tidal waters of the coast and see wildlife up close or go fishing in the Atlantic surf. Sail through our waterways and get up close and personal with a bottle-nosed dolphin. Or, spend the afternoon hiking through one of our nature preserves and discovering wildlife you haven't seen.
Explore the natural wonder of nature and the outdoors. The Hilton Head Island outdoors experience is one like no other. Experience Hilton Head videos at www.HiltonHead.TV.
Nature Preserves
Revisit nature at one of Hilton Head Island's nature preserves.Visit the Newhall Audubon Nature Preserve and view the natural flora and fauna of the Island. Find wildlife at Pinckney Island Nature Preserve, a former lookout used by early settlers. Walk the last remaining tract of undisturbed land on Hilton Head Island at Sea Pines Forest Preserves. Explore a 4,000 year-old Indian Shell Ring. Or, visit one of many registered historic landmarks designated by the National Register of Historic Places. Listing of Hilton Head Nature Tours
Hiking & Biking
Hike, bike and wander designated paths on the Island bordered by plants, wild animals and marshlands. Each trail leads to a point of interest on the Island. Explore trails from sunrise to sunset. Or, cross the bridge to the Main Trail on Pinckney Island.
The 3.5 mile trail is completely bordered by water and watched over by dolphins and alligators. Birds and foliage spill onto the trail in some places making the experience even more spectacular. All trails are suitable for walking or careful biking.
One of the most popular activities while visiting is cycling. With over 50 miles of paved paths covering the Island, there isn’t a place visitors can’t go with their bikes, including the 12 miles of sandy beaches. Click here for a map of Hilton Head Island's Bike Pathways. Listing of Bicycle Sales & Rentals & Bike Tours
Four-legged Friends
Hilton Head Island natives also include deer, bobcats, otters, minks and even a few wild boar. Of all the Island creatures, the bobcat proves to be the most elusive, lurking in the forest preserves and in the undeveloped parts of the Island. With great foresight, plantation designers in the 1950’s set aside areas for an animal habitat, when the master plan for the Island was first conceived. This ingenuity and high regard for environmental preservation set the standard for resorts worldwide. To view these Island creatures in their natural habitat, guests can take a Lake and Forest Hayride, Horseback Tour or Walking Tour of the Sea Pines Forest Preserve. These informative, award-winning nature-based tours are ideal for families and can be booked by calling 800-SEAPINE.
Endangered Loggerhead Sea Turtles
The loggerhead turtle, an endangered species, nests extensively along Hilton Head Island’s 12 miles of wide, sandy beaches. Few visitors ever meet these 200 pound giants, for the turtles choose the darkest hours of the summer night to crawl ashore and bury eggs in the soft sand. If a visitor happens to spot one of these wondrous creatures, they are advised not to interact with the turtle in any way. These rare animals, some almost a century old, must be allowed to lay their eggs to help ensure the survival of the species. Anyone who is lucky enough to witness this extraordinary sight is advised to mark the spot after the eggs are covered and inform the local Wildlife Department through the wild life hotline at 1-800-922-5431.
Coastal Discovery Museum on Hilton Head Island offers a late night Turtle Watch for visitors who are interested in observing the habits of the loggerhead turtle. Please call 843-689-6767 for more information. Enjoy Year Round Activities on Hilton Head Island.
Bottle Nose Dolphins
Several oceanfront resorts on the Island, such as Hilton Head Plantation, Port Royal Plantation, Palmetto Dunes or Forest Beach, are excellent places to see a bottle nose dolphin. In the summer, dolphins are prevalent along the shoreline, where they feed on small fish and sea creatures. There are also many companies offering dolphin tours.
Marine life study and dolphin-watching excursion cruises are available through several of the Island’s public marinas and through Coastal Discovery Museum on Hilton Head Island.
Bird Watching
Protected wetlands make Hilton Head the place to watch shorebirds and inland birds. See Egrets, Sandpipers and Wood Storks. Look above to catch Sea Gulls in flight alongside Pelicans and Osprey Eagles. Hilton Head Island is a bird watcher's haven.
According to the Audubon Society, nearly 200 species of birds flock to the lakes, marshes and shoreline of Hilton Head Island. However, more than 350 species of native American birds have been sighted on the Island over the past ten years. Among the most notable of species are the Snowy Egret, the Large Blue Heron and the Osprey, but bird watchers will also discover the White Ibis with its unique beak that curves downward. In addition, smaller Cattle Egrets that first arrived on Hilton Head Island in 1954 from their South American habitat may be observed following Island cows, horses and tractors.
To learn more about the birds of Hilton Head Island, visitors are encouraged to take a bird-watching tour at the Audubon-Newhall Preserve. Please contact the preserve for additional information at 843-671-4721.
View a listing of Bird-watching companies
