Hiking in Skidaway Island State Park: Bring the Bug Spray!

Skidaway Island State Park isn’t known for having hiking trails that you “just can’t miss”.  But they do offer over 6 miles of easy hiking trails perfect for the whole family.  While the trails probably aren’t on anyone’s bucket list, they are still worth strolling down! Just don’t forget that bug spray.

The trails are made up of both sandy trails and boardwalks, and they are home to dozens of species of wildlife.  You’ll even get to see a touch of history as Skidaway Island is known for having a moonshiner presence during the Prohibition era.  

Skidaway also has a great campground perfect for any length of stay.  So let’s dive right into hiking in Skidaway Island State Park.

Important Links 

• Skidaway Island State Park website
• State Park Trail Map
• Skidaway Island Camping – Make Reservations Here
• Campground Map
• Camping in Skidaway Island State Park post

Location

Just 20 minutes away from the Historic District of Savannah, Georgia, Skidaway Island State Park is a great place to get out into nature.  

Whether you’re a Savannah local or someone passing through, Skidaway Island State Park offers plenty of wildlife, 6 miles of trails, and is a great place to escape the rat race of today’s world.  

As the long driveway to enter Skidaway greets you with Spanish Moss and plenty of shade, you’ll feel like you are leaving the modern world.  This sandy state park is far enough away from any highways that you can’t hear any noise and you’ll enjoy some true peace and quiet.  

 But if you’re just here to hike the trails, where should you park?

Parking

If you are headed to hike at Skidaway Island State Park, you can park right in front of the Visitor’s Center.  They have a large parking lot perfect for any vehicle.  

Two of the trails (Sandpiper Trail and Avian Loop) start right behind the Visitor’s Center, while the Big Ferry Trail is further in the park.  But guess what!?  You can simply take the Connector Trail at the back of the Avian Loop and it will also take you to the Big Ferry Trail.  

If you aren’t sure which trail you want to do, I suggest stopping at the Visitor’s Center to get a complementary map, and to get your bearings. You can ask any of the people/rangers there and they can guide your parking decisions!

Time to Spend Here

Usually when it comes to hiking in a state park, I typically recommend a few days to complete all the trails.  But Skidaway Island State Park is quite small and there are only 6 miles of easy trails here.  Because of this, my guess is that you would only need about half a day here.

Don’t get me wrong, there is a lot to do in the area and the campground is definitely worth a weekend stay if you enjoy camping.  However, if you are just here to hike the trails, it’s a very quick trip.  

Speaking of the campground, here’s a few details on Skidaway Island’s campground.

Camping – Also See Camping Post

At Skidaway Island State Park, there are many ways to stay the night.  My husband and I camped here for 2 full weeks in our camper.  But there are more ways to stay than just camping.  They have partial hook-up sites, full hook-up sites, yurts, camper cabins and a group camping option for youth groups, boy scouts, etc.  

With such close proximity to Savannah, Tybee Island and other amazing attractions, staying at Skidaway Island is a great way to make your trip more affordable.  

For more details about camping here (and a price comparison!), go check out my Camping in Skidaway Island State Park post here!   

List of Trails

• Avian Loop (2.0 miles) 
• Big Ferry Trail (2.4 miles) 
• Connector Trail (0.6 miles) 
• Sandpiper Trail Loop (1.6 miles) 

Our Hikes

Because my husband and I camped here for a full two weeks, we were able to hike all of these trails multiple times.  They each presented their own highlights so here’s our take on the trails.  

Avian Loop (2.0 miles)

The Avian Loop is a small hiking loop, but you have to walk part of the Sandpiper Trail or the Connector Trail to access it.  This trail is a great place to see little Fiddler Crabs, and it has a great view of the Savannah River.  

Big Ferry Trail (2.4 miles)

This trail was the longest and had the most history!  All along the trail are plaques with pieces of history from different eras.  Back in the 1920’s and 30’s many moonshiners had stills back here and you can see a few of these old and beat up stills along the trail.  There is also a wooden lookout tower on this loop perfect for watching the sunset.  

Connector Trail (0.6 miles)

This trail connects the Big Ferry Trail to the Avian Loop and the Sandpiper Trail Loop as well.  Along the trail you will find the group campsites that may or may not be in use.  There wasn’t much to this trail except for providing a connection to all the trails here at Skidaway Island State Park.  

Sandpiper Trail Loop (1.6 miles)

And finally, we have the Sandpiper Tail Loop.  This trail begins right behind the Visitor’s Center and is a mixture of a sandy trail and boardwalks that keep you out of the marsh.  We saw so many birds on this trail, including the stunning Painted Bunting!

Overall, these trails were very short, flat and dusty.  And while they won’t stick out in our memories as being the best trails we ever hiked, we will remember the trails where we first saw a Painted Bunting and got an up close view of some Fiddler Crabs.

And isn’t that what hiking is really about!?  Getting out in nature and seeing new things instead of seeing it on a screen?  So get out there and hike in Skidaway Island State Park.  You never know what you might see!

**WARNING** These trails are all near the Savannah River and host many bugs, including mosquitos and biting flies. Make sure you are wearing bug spray on your hikes to help prevent bites.

Things to do in the area

Since Skidaway Island State Park is so close to Savannah, Georgia, we were able to go on some tours and do things other than hiking in the area.  And while this list is far from exhaustive, here are a few things that you can do in the area!

• Visit Wormsloe State Historic Site ($12 per person)
• Tour the Prohibition Museum in Savannah ($17 per person)
• Climb to the top of Tybee Island Lighthouse ($12 per person)
• Spend a day on Tybee Island enjoying the Beach ($2 per hour for parking)
• Walk around Bonaventure Cemetery (Free)
• Walk the Riverfront on River Street (Free)
• Walk around Forsyth Park (Free)
• Walk around the Historic District of Savannah (Free)
• Walk through the Cathedral of John the Baptist ($3 donation suggested)
• Spend a day on Hilton Head Island (Free Parking at Coligny Beach Park!)
• Walk through Savannah’s History Museum ($10 per person)

And there are so many other things to do and see in the Savannah area that we didn’t get to do.  So you won’t be bored here if you spend half a day at Skidaway Island State Park and the other half around the area.  

Conclusion

Skidaway Island State Park does not make the list for best places to hike in the state of Georgia. The trails are flat and easy.  But on these 6 miles of trails, you can see unique vegetation, incredible birds and wildlife, and peaceful parts of the Skidaway River. 

If you’re looking for some time away from the city of Savannah, or a great campground, you won’t want to miss Skidaway Island State Park!

As always, feel free to reach out at averagewildexperience@gmail.com with any questions or any help planning your trip to Skidaway Island.

Happy Hiking!