Starting from the Grove Plantation house, a former rice plantation house built in 1828, which serves as the refuge headquarters, you can cross the road and walk a series of interconnected trails, or drive back toward the entrance and walk two shorter out and back trails. This area was once rice fields, but now is the habitat of a very diverse range of wildlife, from land based to water based. You can see shorebirds such as egrets, herons, sandpipers, plovers, yellowlegs, and ibis along with animals such as deer, raccoons, bobcats, otters, gray fox, and rabbits. You may notice remnants of burning in parts of the basin, and this was done on purpose to improve the habitat and remove undesirable plants.

Insect repellent is highly recommended during warm months. Almost half of the ACE Basin is tidal marsh and is flooded twice daily, so it’s possible you may encounter flooded sections of the trail. Removing plants, animals, or artifacts from this area is prohibited.

Hours: 7:30 am to 4:00 pm. Monday - Friday.

Refuge grounds are open during daylight hours year round. If the front gate is closed, you may park and walk in to the refuge. 

From Charleston: Drive west on US 17 to Osborn (approximately 24 miles) and turn left onto SC 174. Drive 3.3 miles and turn right onto Charleston County S-7-55. Drive 1.8 miles and turn left into the refuge on S-7-346. Parking and the refuge headquarters are at the Grove Plantation House.