State parks, refuges and trails on the Grand Strand
Myrtle Beach and Huntington Beach state parks charge $8 per adult ($5 SC seniors, $4 ages 6-15, under 6 free). Myrtle Beach State Park's trails are closed November through January. Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge lists 11 open trails with no entrance fee listed. Source: South Carolina State Parks and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, checked Nov 1, 2026.
Myrtle Beach and Huntington Beach state parks, Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge and Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve: what each costs, what is closed, where dogs can go and when hunters are in the woods. Every line comes from South Carolina State Parks, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service or the state hunting regulations.
Is it hunting season today?
Deer still-gun season on Lewis Ocean Bay and Waccamaw River heritage preserves runs Oct 21, 2026 - Jan 1, 2027. On private land in Game Zone 4, gun hunting runs Sept 1 - Jan 1. In Brunswick County, NC, gun season runs Oct 17, 2026 - Jan 1, 2027.
- Oct. 21, 2026 – Nov. 1, 2026: Still-gun deer season (Lewis Ocean Bay and Waccamaw River heritage preserves)
Hunting is allowed on heritage preserves and parts of Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge by permit; not in Myrtle Beach or Huntington Beach state parks.
State parks and forests: fee, reservation, dogs
-
Myrtle Beach State Park
Horry Co., SC Myrtle Beach
ALL TRAILS CLOSED November through January for maintenance and construction.
- Admission
- $8 adults; $5 SC seniors 65+; $4 ages 6-15; under 6 free
- Pier
- Pier fishing has an extra daily charge (no SC saltwater license needed on the pier)
- Hours
- 6 a.m.-10 p.m. March-November; 6 a.m.-8 p.m. December-February
- Reservation
- Optional guaranteed parking ($5) on summer weekends and holidays, 6 a.m.-noon; admission is extra
- Dogs
- Leash of 6 feet or less in most outdoor areas; no pets in cabins; no pets on the beach 10 a.m.-5 p.m. from May 1 through Labor Day (county ordinance).
-
Huntington Beach State Park
Georgetown Co., SC Murrells Inlet
Marsh Boardwalk closed for construction. Alligators on the freshwater side of the causeway. Best birding: the marsh side of the causeway and Sandpiper Pond Trail.
- Admission
- $8 adults; $5 SC seniors 65+; $4 ages 6-15; under 6 free
- Atalaya
- Atalaya castle: $2 per person 6 and up
- Hours
- 6 a.m.-6 p.m. daily (to 9 p.m. during Daylight Saving Time)
- Reservation
- Optional guaranteed parking ($5) on summer weekends and holidays, 6 a.m.-noon. Weekend closures when parking fills: arrive before 10 a.m. or after 2 p.m.
- Dogs
- Dogs welcome year-round on a 6-foot leash, but only on the south end of the beach; not on the north end (north lot to the jetty) or in buildings.
-
Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge
Horry / Georgetown Co., SC Conway
11 open trails with listed lengths, from Yauhannah Bluff to Cox Ferry Lake; five more trails are marked 'coming soon'.
- Day use
- No entrance fee listed (2026-11-01)
- Reservation
- No reservation needed
-
Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve
Horry Co., SC Conway
- Day use
- No fee listed
- Reservation
- No reservation needed
- Hunting
- Public hunting preserve: deer still-gun season Oct 21 - Jan 1 and bear still hunts Oct 17-30 (2026). Wear blaze orange.
Stay near the parks on the Grand Strand
Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park, with prices for your dates.
13 official trails, shortest first
| Trail | Miles | Difficulty | Uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| White Trail |
0.04 | Not rated by the park | hike |
| Kerrigan Trail |
0.25 | Not rated by the park | hike |
| Blue Trail |
0.26 | Not rated by the park | hike |
| Little Bull Creek Trail |
0.32 | Not rated by the park | hike |
| Yauhannah Trail (West) |
0.71 | Not rated by the park | hike |
| Orange Trail |
0.74 | Not rated by the park | hike |
| Yauhannah Trail (East) |
0.87 | Not rated by the park | hike |
| Sandpiper Pond Trail |
1 | Not rated by the park | hike |
| Bike Trail (Green Trail) |
1.39 | Not rated by the park | hike, bike |
| Yauhannah Bluff VC Boardwalk |
1.43 | Not rated by the park | hike |
| Larry Paul Trail |
1.47 | Not rated by the park | hike |
| Environmental Education Center Trail |
1.99 | Not rated by the park | hike |
| Red Trail |
4.26 | Not rated by the park | hike |
Gear, rentals and outfitters on the Grand Strand
Rent skis, bikes, kayaks or guide trips?
Hikers, tell us how the trails are
Questions hikers ask
Are Myrtle Beach State Park trails open?
Not from November through January: all trails close for maintenance and construction. Source: South Carolina State Parks, checked Nov 1, 2026.
How much does Huntington Beach State Park cost?
$8 adults, $5 SC seniors 65+, $4 ages 6-15 and free under 6; Atalaya is $2 extra per person. Source: South Carolina State Parks.
Can I bring my dog to Huntington Beach State Park?
Yes, on a 6-foot leash, but only on the south end of the beach and not in buildings. Source: South Carolina State Parks.
Do I need a reservation for Myrtle Beach State Park?
No, but on summer weekends and holidays you can buy guaranteed parking for 6 a.m.-noon for $5; after noon entry depends on capacity. Source: South Carolina State Parks.
When is deer gun season near Myrtle Beach?
On Lewis Ocean Bay and Waccamaw River heritage preserves: Oct 21, 2026 - Jan 1, 2027. On private land in Game Zone 4: Sept 1 - Jan 1. Source: South Carolina hunting regulations 2026.
Sources
- South Carolina State Parks – Myrtle Beach FAQs
- South Carolina State Parks – Huntington Beach FAQs
- South Carolina State Parks – Reserved parking FAQs
- U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service – Waccamaw NWR trails
- SC Hunting Regulations 2026 – Game Zone 4 WMAs
- SC Hunting Regulations 2026 – Deer seasons on private lands
- NC Hunting Regulations 2026-27 – Deer seasons
- SCDNR – Game zones