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Audubon Newhall Preserve
Plan Your Visit
The Audubon Newhall Preserve is a 50 acre nature preserve located at 55 Palmetto Bay Road on the south end of Hilton Head Island that is owned and operated by the Hilton Head Audubon a non-profit and volunteer organization. Please consider making a donation toward the upkeep and improvements of the Preserve.
The Preserve has a series of interconnected trails that add up to about a mile total. It is the mission of Hilton Head Audubon to protect the Audubon Newhall Preserve as a native forest ecosystem for the benefit of its diverse ecosystem inhabitants, and to manage and maintain the preserve on a sound economic footing, while improving access for appropriate human recreational and educational activities.
Audubon Newhall Preserve is open every day from sunrise to sunset for visitors to enjoy. Parking is available. For visitors who are mobility challenged or have health issues, the Preserve has wide paths and boardwalk that are manageable for short walks, an observation deck overlooking the pond for wildlife viewing and many benches to sit and rest. The preserve is dog-friendly but dogs must be leashed and please pick up after your pets. No smoking is permitted. We remind visitors to the Preserve to be good stewards of the land, please do not pick flowers or plants or gather and remove native materials like pine cones.
Free guided nature tours of the Preserve are held weekly on Tuesday and Friday mornings led by one of our dedicated volunteers. No reservations required. Please gather in the parking lot by 8:30 AM. Water, binoculars, and insect repellant are recommended.
Groups Are Welcome by Appointment. Please direct inquiries to Bob Clemens at rclemens318@gmail.com
Directions: Please put the address 55 Palmetto Bay Road, Hilton Head Island, SC into your GPS or traffic app, rather than the name of the Preserve. Some navigation apps may route you to the Sea Pines Gate where you have to pay a fee and where there is no access to the Preserve. Do not enter Sea Pines!
There are over 140 bird species recorded at the Preserve. For a complete list and recent bird sightings, check the eBird list for the Audubon Newhall Preserve linked here.
Images of a Great Horned Owl, Great-crested Flycatcher and Black and White Warbler by Carol Tunnicliffe.
By pointing out some of the special ecosystems and native plants that exist in this preserve, as well as some of the features you will see along the trails, you can gain ideas of how to establish your home gardens. The trees and plants that are listed in the Trail Guide have been labeled by our Hilton Head Audubon volunteers and can provide inspiration to you. In addition, the National Audubon Society has created a Native Plants Database to attract more birds to your home with native plans – just enter your five digit zip code and you will see a list of native plants and resources. Start exploring native plants here.
Praise for the Preserve from RootsRated: There are informative panels scattered throughout the preserve that explain the various micro-ecosystems that make up Hilton Head Island, from the bog-like Pocosin to the majestic Pine Flatwoods, and you’ll have the chance to see them first hand. The trails are situated around a freshwater pond in the middle of the preserve. There are benches around the pond as well an observation deck that extends into the pond. The Audubon Newhall preserve is a fantastic spot for quiet reflection and slow, mindful walks through the woods. It is most calm in the morning hour. Right after the sun comes up there is a flurry of bird and wildlife activity.
To learn more about the Preserve, including a birding checklist, download the trail guide in the link below.
Get in Touch
If you would like information about Newhall Preserve such as visiting, volunteering or donating, or just have a question, please email Bob Clemens at rclemens318@gmail.com, the Chair of our Newhall Committee will respond to you. Thank you for your interest.
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