Huntington Beach State Park is one of the best parks in South Carolina for viewing wildlife. Split between a brackish pond, saltwater marsh, and long beach, there are several areas each with unique wildlife throughout the year. Add to that the migratory birds and you have the opportunity to see an abundance of wildlife in a peaceful setting almost any day of the year.
Getting to Huntington Beach State Park (843-237-4440 | 16148 Ocean Highway, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576 | http://southcarolinaparks.com/huntingtonbeach/introduction.aspx | $5/adult; $3.25/ S.C. Senior; $3/youth age 6-15; Free for children 5 and younger) is easy: it’s located along Highway 17 between Myrtle Beach and Georgetown. Although it is just 30 minutes south of Myrtle Beach most tourists don’t even know this majestic park is here.
The best place for viewing the wildlife is along Causeway Drive, the main road through the park. After entering the park and driving down the causeway you will see the brackish pond on the right and saltwater marsh on the left. The pond is where the infamous alligators of the park mostly live (they will occasionally cross the road to the marsh). The saltwater marsh will bring out hundreds of birds during low tide at peak times throughout the year; the birds will hunt for fish in the shallow waters after the tide begins to return.
Here are some of my favorite photos I have captured of the wildlife at this park. I have spent entire days sitting at the edge of the water with my camera on a tripod ready for whatever action may unfold in front of me. I’m rarely disappointed with the wildlife, although I have walked away with an empty memory card at times. I hope you enjoy the photos!
If you would like to view more photos of Huntington Beach State Park, please visit my website at http://photography.southeasterntraveler.com/South-Carolina/Huntington-Beach-State-Park/
