Wilderness Landscape & Natural Heritage
Great Pee Dee Heritage Preserve encompasses approximately 9,773 acres of riparian forests, wetlands, and riverine habitats centered around one of South Carolina’s largest bottomland hardwood areas. Located along the Pee Dee River in northeastern South Carolina, the preserve features oxbow lakes, sloughs, and floodplain forests that provide critical habitat for a wide variety of fish, amphibians, birds, and mammals. The area is known for its extensive bald cypress and tupelo gum swamps interspersed with towering oaks, hickories, and sweetgum trees. Protecting a landscape that is subject to periodic flooding, the preserve plays an important role in maintaining water quality and sustaining the biological integrity of the Pee Dee River basin. Visitors can explore several miles of marked hiking trails that wind through diverse habitats, offering excellent opportunities for birding—particularly during migration—as well as spotting white-tailed deer, river otters, and elusive amphibian species. The preserve also includes remnants of Native American cultural sites and early settler history, linking the natural landscape with the human past. Canoeing and kayaking on the river and adjacent sloughs are popular activities, especially during spring and fall. The preserve is especially appealing to those interested in wetland ecology and seeking a quieter, less developed outdoor experience outside crowded state parks.
