Enjoy a camping adventure in eastern South Carolina

With gardens full of new flowers, it might be a good time for even more outdoor adventure: a camping trip or three. You might be surprised to know that without leaving eastern South Carolina, you can go exploring from mountaintop to seaside. The entire eastern side of South Carolina used to be the ocean floor, and as the sea receded, it left a lot of sand behind … even actual mountains of sand.

Surprised to hear the word “mountain” in reference to this side of the state? The ancient sand dunes that make up the Sand Hills region of South Carolina include Sugar Loaf Mountain at Sand Hills State Forest. Sugar Loaf is a mountain of sand, which is, as the state forest website describes it, “an unusual geological phenomenon towering a hundred feet above the surrounding terrain.” You can camp at the state forest and hike up to a great view of the area.

Heading down these hills and eastward toward the beach, you will find the flatter, still very sandy terrain that is more characteristic of the Coastal Plains and the Pee Dee region. Here you can camp alongside the state-designated Scenic Lynches River at Lynches River County Park.

The Coastal Plains are known for their black water creeks and rivers, and the Little Pee Dee River might be one of the most beloved examples of that among locals. The water is stained like tea by the leaves that fall in from the overhanging trees, and the riverbed beneath is white sand. Try the camping at Little Pee Dee State Park not far from I-95 in Dillon. Most state parks, and Lynches River County Park, too, have cabins as well as campgrounds.

On the coast, you’ll find great camping in the midst of our current sand dunes at Huntington Beach State Park or Myrtle Beach State Park. At Huntington, there is a rare opportunity to see a saltwater habitat right across the causeway from a freshwater habitat. When you have unusual land forms like these ponds, the black water streams, or the ancient sand dunes, the nature study, birding and camping are especially rich.

A set of three camping trips in three parts of eastern South Carolina can make for uncommonly good geology and ecology lessons, as well as really good times.

This story was originally published May 14, 2015 at 10:12 AM with the headline "Enjoy a camping adventure in eastern South Carolina."