ACE Basin Combahee River Plantation Circuit

This 24-mile loop follows centuries-old rice plantation dike roads through the ACE Basin, where three rivers converge into the largest undeveloped estuary on the East Coast. The route connects abandoned rice fields at Combahee Ferry, passes through Grove Plantation’s slave quarters ruins, and navigates the Ashepoo Cutoff where General Harriet Tubman launched Civil War raids. Tidal flooding can make the Combahee River crossing impassable, while the Grove Field causeway disappears completely during spring tides.

Easy to moderate difficulty suitable for stock high-clearance vehicles, though tide timing is critical for safe passage. Best run during falling tides from October through March when mosquitoes calm down and water levels stay predictable. The basin holds the densest alligator population in South Carolina – over 4,000 counted in recent surveys. Dispersed camping available on higher shell mounds, but check tide charts religiously or risk waking up underwater.