PARK ADVISORY
The park will resume normal operations on Saturday, January 24.The office at Woods Bay is closed due to construction. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Woods Bay
HOURS
9 a.m. - 6 p.m., daily
OFFICE
11 a.m. - noon, daily
ADMISSION
Free admission
PETS
Pets are allowed in most outdoor areas provided they are kept under physical restraint or on a leash not longer than six feet. Owners will be asked to remove noisy or dangerous pets or pets that threaten or harass wildlife.
No Wifi Available
- Introduction
- Photo Gallery
- Things To Do
- Trails
- Picnic Shelters
- Programs & Events
- History & Interpretation
- Groups
- Area Info
- Unique Features
- Volunteers
- Visitor Survey
GET SOME GEAR!
Woods Bay State Park
Midlands
Michelle Cunningham
Park Manager
My name is Michelle Cunningham, and I am the park manager at Woods Bay State Park. Growing up I had access to many parks, open country and the Shawnee National Forest. I spent a lot of time in nature but never dreamed being able to work in a park was a possibility. In 2017 I sold everything I owned, bought a camper and gave myself a year to travel the US. I became a park host and realized I could work in a park. It’s been a wonderful decision and experience.
My favorite thing about Woods Bay is the abundance of nature. No matter what area of the park you visit there are birds to listen to, squirrels to watch, turtles swimming, and maybe even an alligator to see.
A first time visitor should check out the Mill Pond Nature Trail. This trail will provide you with a wonderful opportunity to explore the park and what it has to offer.
**Our Ultimate Outsider stamp is located in a box beside the kiosk in front of the picnic shelter.
Woods Bay State Park offers a close-up look at one of the last remaining large Carolina Bays on the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain. The 1,590-acre park, located in the coastal plains region, features a wide range of habitats including marsh, sandhills, oak-hickory forest and shrub bog.
The habitats of Woods Bay can be explored by taking the nature trail encircling the mill pond or by walking the length of the 1,150 foot boardwalk, which provides views of alligators in the cypress tupelo swamp. The best way to see the park is by following a canoe trail which takes paddlers past the Carolina Bays, elliptical depressions which appear swampy but remain dry.
BY THE NUMBERS
1
Carolina bay, an elliptical depression of unknown origin
1
mile kayak trail which takes paddlers past the Carolina bays
1150
foot boardwalk through a cypress-tupelo swamp
1
picnic shelter that accommodates up to 50 people, that is available for rent
114
bird species that have been seen and reported within the boundaries of the park
0.75
mile loop trail, the Mill Pond Nature Trail
1590
acres of parkland in the coastal plains region of South Carolina
SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Use #SCStateParks and your content could be featured here! You can also upload your photos for us to use across South Carolina State Parks' Marketing by using the Public Uploader and agreeing to the Terms & Conditions.