Botany Bay
by Carl Miller
Directions
Botany Bay is located about 30 miles (as the crow flies) SW of Charleston, SC. Coming from Charleston, go a little over 20 miles south on Hwy 17, then turn left on Hwy 174 toward Edisto Beach. Go just about 15 miles and look for the Edisto Island Serpentarium on your left. Botany Bay Road is only a couple hundred yards after the Serpentarium on the left. It is about half a mile on this dirt road before it dead ends into a private drive. The entrance to Botany Bay is on the left. Just inside the gate is the kiosk where all visitors are requested to sign both in and out.
Description
Botany Bay Plantation Wildlife Management Area is managed by SCDNR and was opened to the public in the Summer of 2008. The property is 4,630 acres and is a mix of pine and hardwood forest, agricultural fields, coastal wetlands, and a barrier island. There is a 3 mile driving loop with helpful markers and a detailed guide (available at the entrance kiosk). There are a number of hiking trails that get you to the beach, into the wetlands, and around agricultural fields. The driving tour does a good job of pointing out the remains of several tabby and wood structures dating from the 1700s. One of these is a Gothic Revival style ice house that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Botany Bay is open during daylight hours every day, but is closed during scheduled hunts for deer and turkey. There are several places on the plantation where fishing is allowed. There are NO FACILITIES. No restrooms, no picnic tables, no playgrounds, not even trash receptacles. Just nature and lots of it! Bicycles and boats are allowed. Horses and dogs are prohibited on the beach. ATVs are prohibited everywhere.