For nature lovers near Bluffton, top trail options include Victoria Bluff Heritage Preserve, Buckwalter Place Greenway, New River Trail, Altamaha Town Heritage Preserve, and nearby routes in Savannah National Wildlife Refuge.
Close to Bluffton town
Buckwalter Place Greenway Trail is a roughly 1.35‑mile scenic path with nature signage and an interpretive walking guide, great for easy walks, families, and casual wildlife viewing.
Bluffton Oyster Factory Park Trail offers short walks along the water and through Lowcountry scenery, ideal for relaxed sunset or weekend strolls.
New River Trail / New River Linear Trail gives a longer, more natural-feeling route through marsh and forest habitats, good if you want a quieter, more immersive walk without big climbs.
Victoria Bluff Heritage Preserve
Victoria Bluff Heritage Preserve has about 4 miles of easy, crisscrossing trails through pines, palmettos, and coastal plain habitat, making it one of the best “true woods” hikes close to Bluffton.
It’s open dawn to dusk but closed to hikers October–December for hunting season, and visitors should prepare for ticks and bring bug spray in warm months.
Altamaha Town Heritage Preserve
Altamaha Town Heritage Preserve (Altamaha Towne HP) combines hiking with Indigenous and colonial-era history, protecting an archaeological site tied to early Native communities.
The preserve includes a multi‑mile forested trail system used by walkers and runners, with live oaks, maritime forest, and a quiet backcountry feel a short drive up SC‑170 from Bluffton.
Savannah National Wildlife Refuge
Savannah National Wildlife Refuge, a bit farther but still a realistic half‑day trip, has nearly 40 miles of dike-top trails through marshes, tidal rivers, and former rice fields.
Loops such as Kingfisher/Tupelo (about 7.1 miles) and Little Back River (about 6.2 miles) are generally easy, with wildflowers, birds, and broad water views that nature lovers and photographers appreciate.
If you tell preferred distance (1–3 miles vs 5–7+), difficulty, and whether you’ll have kids or strollers with you, a more tailored short list can be put together.
SOURCES
[1](https://app.advcollective.com/travel-guides/Bluffton/best-hiking-trails-near-bluffton-sc)
[2](https://southcarolinalowcountry.com/savannah-national-wildlife-refuge-hiking-trails/)
[3](https://www.bluffton.com/hike-bike-and-wildlife/)
[4](https://www.advcollective.com/south_carolina/Hiking/nature-walks-and-wildlife-at-victoria-bluff-heritage-preserve)
[5](https://wesellthelowcountry.com/a-guide-to-outdoor-adventures-in-and-around-bluffton/)
