The Spanish Moss Trail follows a disused rail bed for about ten miles, running north from Port Royal through Beaufort and into the rural country beyond. The path is paved, mostly flat, and wide enough for joggers, cyclists, and walkers. It cuts through tidal marsh, pine woods, and old plantation land, with several trailheads and parking lots that make it easy to do just a section.
The middle stretch — between Ribaut Road and Mossy Oaks — is the best section if you have an hour or two. Bring water (there is little shade), and an early start helps in summer, when the heat builds quickly off the asphalt.