Bring Your Mom on a Field Trip to Cypress Wetlands!

MOTHERS DAY SPECIAL !

Join Master Birder Lynn Hodgson for our favorite spring birding location. We will meet at the Cypress Wetlands on Paris Avenue in Port Royal, SC. for an hour or so birding from the boardwalk, which offers close-up views of bird MOM’s! -- waterfowl, wading birds, alligators, turtles, and occasional surprises. The rookery here is huge, with all the wading birds nesting, and by early May should have lots of egret and heron chicks begging for food!  Other species may still be sitting on nests with eggs. 

 If there is enough interest, we will detour to another smaller section of the Wetlands about 2 blocks away. Then we return to the main trail around the other side of the larger wetland, including a viewing platform with views of the “backsides” of the islands visible from the boardwalk.  While there are a few roots to avoid on the trail part, this is a flat, easy walk of about a mile. Maybe a mile and a half if we do the detour. The Boardwalk is open to the sun & weather, but the trail part is shaded. Dress for the weather, sunscreen, sunglasses, and hat recommended -- and expect bugs. 

Directions: From Hilton Head / Bluffton, take Rte 170 toward Beaufort. Cross the Broad River bridge, then right at the traffic light onto Rte 21. Watch for the veer to stay on Rte 21 which becomes Ribaut Rd. In Port Royal, look for a Parkers gas station on the right, just where Ribaut Rd and Paris Ave. come together. The entrance to the Cypress Wetlands is actually on Paris Ave, directly across from the Parkers (also the nearest restrooms), and next to the Police Station. Park along Paris Ave, and walk back to the Wetlands boardwalk. We recommend you plan to stay for lunch at one of several small restaurants near the Wetlands or the Fishcamp Restaurant on 11^th St. They will be crowded on Mother’s Day, so we will try to finish the loop trail around 11. 

Tickets for Members and Nonmembers are $12.00.