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Spanish Moss Rail Trail

SC PICTURE PROJECT 1 Comment

SC Picture Project / Beaufort County / Spanish Moss Rail Trail

The former Beaufort Depot, constructed in 1901 as a stop along the Charleston and Western Carolina Railway (fomerly the Port Royal and Augusta Railway), is now the focal point of a popular walking and cycling trail. The trail, called the Spanish Moss Trail in honor of South Carolina’s most famous epiphyte, will eventually cover 13.6 miles, beginning in Port Royal and culminating at the Whale Branch Pier when completed. The trail is also known as the Magnolia Trail for its location along the former Magnolia Rail Line, a section of the railroad that received its moniker in 1877 for using Southern magnolia trees (Magnolia grandiflora) as mile markers.

Old Beaufort Depot

Jonny Miller of Camden, 2014 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

The Beaufort-Jasper Water and Sewer Authority obtained the right-of-way to the former rail line in 2009 for use as a utility corridor. The department granted an easement to Beaufort County in 2011 for the establishment of a recreational trail along the route. Both private and public funds have contributed to the trail’s current development, the first mile sponsored solely by the James M. Cox Foundation.

Spanish Moss Trail

Jonny Miller of Camden, 2014 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Today five miles of the trail are complete and connect pedestrians and cyclists from Port Royal to Beaufort. The paved trail takes visitors through the some of South Carolina’s most scenic vistas, including marshes and waterways. Trail heads with parking are located at Depot Road, Broome Lane, Westvine Drive and Roseida Road. Small scenes like the one below showcase a clever book exchange only highlighting the community aspect of the area.

Baeufort Rail Trail Book Exchange

Stephen Fastenau of Beaufort, 2019 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Plan Your Trip: Spanish Moss Rail Trail

Where is Spanish Moss Rail Trail located?
Address: Depot Road, Beaufort, SC 29902
GPS Coordinates: 32.427012,-80.692244
Website: http://www.spanishmosstrail.com/
What else should I see?
Seacoast Packing Company 0.4 mile
Tabby Manse 1.6 miles
Cuthbert House 1.7 miles
Milton Maxcy House 1.7 miles
Show me more like this!
  • Beaufort Historic Sites
  • See other South Carolina Parks
  • See other South Carolina Trains & Depots
    Spanish Moss Rail Trail Map

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lonnie Elliott says

      August 28, 2015 at 5:49 PM

      Love to ride my bike through the old depot. Wonderful smell. Reminds me of the packhouse or old barn on the farm where I grew up.

      Reply

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