Lake Marion sits just about midway along South Carolina’s stretch of I-95 just a bit over an hour west of Charleston. At 110,000 acres, it’s the state’s largest freshwater lake, drawing thousands of boaters and anglers to its shores each year.
Visitors to Lake Marion can point their RVs to Santee State Park, a 2,500-acre facility sitting on the lake’s southwest shore, with plenty of campsites and lake-oriented activities to enjoy. If you’d like to ditch the RV for a while, the park offers a collection of unique cabins called rondettes taking full advantage of the lakefront setting.
There are 30 these rental cabins, each built in an unusual octagon-shaped design. I spoke with Brittany Fuller, reservation Specialist at Santee State Park about the unique structures. She said, “The cabins were built in the late 60s to early 70s” which would reflect their styling. Ten rondettes sit on piers right over the lake and twenty more dot the lakeshore. So, if you appreciate a waterfront setting, the cabins offer a great lodging option. It’s no wonder they’ve been attracting guests for all these years.
The units are fully outfitted with all the creature comforts of home. Ms. Fuller says, “The cabins are fully furnished two-bedroom units with a bathroom in between, living space, and kitchen,” adding, “All the linens and towels are provided, cooking and eating utensils are provided and there is satellite TV and a DVD player.” The cabins also have coffee makers, microwaves, and complimentary Wi-Fi.
Because of their popularity, reservations are necessary and can be made here.
Ms. Fuller notes, “It can be difficult on the weekends to reserve a cabin. The busiest times for the cabins are from March-October. It’s best to make reservation months in advance for the weekend, summer, and holidays. Weekday reservations can be made closer to the desired time of arrival, but isn't recommended.”
The park will do their best to accommodate guests’ preferences. Ms. Fuller said, “It’s possible for a guest to reserve a particular cabin, whether it’s a pier or land cabin.” There are some stay restrictions in summer and on holidays. On a side note, beginning in 2020, well-behaved pets will be allowed in two of the lakeshore cabins.
Kayaking at Lake Marion [Photo: Santee State Park]
Beyond lodging, Santee State Park has a lot to offer. Water activities in the beautiful Southern climate naturally prevail. But, the park also features miles of hiking and biking trails, picnic shelters, playgrounds, and tennis. The community building, called the Village Round, has screened-in grilling facilities and there’s a park store with a Wi-Fi lounge.
Fishing on Lake Marion is a treat with largemouth bass, striped bass, and channel catfish being popular catches. If you bring a boat, the park has two boat launches. Or, use the fishing pier (handicap accessible) located next to the park store.
The Santee-Cooper lake system consists of two world-class fishing lakes created between 1939 and 1942 for a hydroelectric project. Lake Marion was formed by flooding a cypress forest that was not completely cleared when the lake was created. As a result, it is dotted with stumps, tree trunks, and live cypress trees. Lake depth can vary from shallow black water swamps to large expanses of deep open water.
To the southeast of Lake Marion is 60,000-acre Lake Moultrie. The lakes are connected by a 6.5-mile canal. At the end of Lake Moultrie lies the 75-foot tall Pinopolis Lock which will lower boaters down to the Tailrace Canal then onto the Cooper River. According to South Carolina State Parks, “These bodies of water allow boaters to travel from Santee to Charleston.”
Built between 1939 and 1941, the Santee-Cooper Locks were an engineering marvel in their day. The locks were built to handle a quick 75-foot elevation change from the Cooper River to Lake Moultrie only 30 miles upstream from the Atlantic. Originally, engineers planned seven 10-foot locks. Instead, the impressive 75-foot engineering challenge was undertaken. The lock drains 6-million gallons of water into the Tailrace Canal in less than 20 minutes. The 8-story single-lift lock once held the record as the world’s largest.
Pontoon boat tours are available at Fisheagle Wildlife Tours adjacent to Santee State Park. The 40-foot Osprey holds 30 passengers. Fisheagle offers eco-boat tours on Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie as well as along Pinopolis Lock, the Cooper River, and the Tailrace Canal. During each journey, naturalists will teach about local wildlife, the area’s heritage, and the formation of the Santee-Cooper lake system.
Their wildlife Swamp Tour is the most popular, lasting approximately 2 hours. Along the way, guests can see wetland birds like egrets and herons and the tour includes a stop at “Osprey Village” packed with scores of osprey nests. Riders can see alligators and plenty of turtles along the way.
Visitors who prefer to paddle can also rent kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards.
Santee is one of the country’s best locations for bird watching. South Carolina Parks notes, “198 species” have been recorded in the area. These include osprey, great blue heron, hawks, storks, egrets, and several species of woodpecker.
Santee State Park has 10+ miles of trails for outdoor enjoyment. There are four trails; three are 1-mile hiking trails and one is a 7.5-mile loop for mountain biking or hiking.
Located on the northeast shore of Lake Marion, about fifteen minutes from the park is the Santee National Wildlife Refuge. Along the 13,000 acres that make up the refuge is approximately 39 miles of shoreline. Fishing, hunting (deer and feral hog), bird and wildlife observation, hiking, photographic opportunities abound.
Within the refuge are 10 miles of hiking trails and another 13 miles of hiking/biking trails. Part of the South Carolina Palmetto trail runs through the refuge. There are eight miles of in-water canoeing/kayaking trails that can be explored. And, for drivers, there’s a seven-mile wildlife drive.
The refuge is particularly known for its high migratory bird population. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says it’s “a major wintering area for ducks and geese, as well as a nesting and stopover area for neo-tropical migratory birds, raptors, shorebirds, and wading birds.” In total they say, “300 bird species” have been observed in the refuge. In addition, U.S. Fish and Wildlife has recorded, “45 mammals, 54 reptiles, and more than 100 species of fish.” Endangered, or threatened, species on the refuge include the American alligator and the wood stork.
Alligators can be seen during the park's wildlife Swamp Tour [Photo: Wikimedia Commons]
Within the refuge lies the Santee Indian Mound, dating back over 1000 years. The mound was used as a ceremonial and burial site by the Mississippian culture. In the 1700s, the mound was used by the British as an outpost during the Revolutionary War.
The Santee area is a golfer's Mecca. Three area courses are located within 15 minutes of the park: Lake Marion Golf Course, Santee National Golf Club, and Santee Cooper Country Club. Four additional courses are within 20 minutes, and another 10 lie within 40 minutes.
If you prefer to stay in your own digs, Santee State Park has two campgrounds with a total of 158 campsites. Cypress View Campground has 50 sites and Lakeshore Campground has 108 sites. Many spaces can accommodate RVs up to 40 feet in length; 48 spaces have 50-amp service. Each campground has bathhouses with hot showers.
Camping, Destinations, Features, South Carolina, State Parks, Wildlife