Myrtle Beach Hiking Areas
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Myrtle Beach is a beach destination first, and it’s honest to say so: this isn’t a hiking hub, and no one should plan a trip here around trail mileage. That said, two parks cover the real walking-in-nature options if you want a break from sand between your toes.
Huntington Beach State Park
About 18 miles south near Murrells Inlet, Huntington Beach State Park is the better of the two for anyone who wants a real nature walk. It’s premier birding territory, with 300-plus species recorded, and the mix of marsh, maritime forest, and undeveloped beach gives you more to look at than a straight beach walk would. Pair it with a stop at Atalaya Castle, the 1930s Moorish-style winter home on the same grounds, before or after. Entry runs about $8, separate from the Myrtle Beach State Park fee below.
Myrtle Beach State Park
Inside city limits, Myrtle Beach State Park has a self-guided trail through maritime forest, a shorter and easier walk than Huntington’s, with a pier and a campground attached. It’s the convenient option if you’re staying in the Boardwalk core and don’t want to drive south, though the trail itself is modest by hiking standards. Entry runs about $5. Note this is a separate park from Huntington Beach State Park, with its own fee.
Brookgreen Gardens, for a gentler option
Brookgreen Gardens, next door to Huntington Beach State Park, isn’t a hiking spot but its grounds cover real distance on foot if you want a longer walk paired with sculpture and the Lowcountry Zoo, included in the roughly $25 admission and valid for 7 consecutive days.
What to bring
Sunscreen, insect repellent, and water matter more here than elsewhere, since the coastal humidity is real even on a short walk. Stick to marked trails at both state parks, since the marsh terrain off-path isn’t stable.
Read more: see Brookgreen Gardens and Huntington Beach State Park for the fuller picture of the area’s nature spots, or the full Myrtle Beach guide for everything else.
One concrete tip: go to Huntington Beach State Park in the early morning if birding is the goal, since the marsh birds are far more active before the midday heat sets in.