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The Friends of the Spanish Moss Trail

The Friends of the Spanish Moss Trail was founded in 2012, by Dean Moss and other community-minded leaders, as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in Beaufort County, SC by advocating for the development, enhancements and maintenance of the Spanish Moss Trail. The continued success of the Trail is made possible through community partnerships, local government participation, and private support from people like you. The Friends are governed by an active Board of Directors and led by Volunteer Executive Director Dean Moss. In addition to the many volunteers and contributors supporting the Trail, the Friends have a long-term professional consultant, Sissy Perryman, who is dedicated to the Trail’s public awareness and development needs.

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Latest News


Port Royal Connection

Friends of the Spanish Moss Trail
Statement Regarding Port Royal Crossing Issues


Many of you have seen the coverage regarding the dispute between the Town of Port Royal and Safe Harbor Marinas. This dispute is unfortunately affecting the new highly-anticipated and fully-funded segment of the Spanish Moss Trail crossing into the Town of Port Royal. 


The good news – the new section on the northern side of Ribaut Road is nearly complete. The difficult news – the section on the southern side of Ribaut Road is being held back at this time. Last Tuesday, Safe Harbor proposed a new agreement – which allows for the completion of the Trail on their property in exchange for the Town to agree to a number of non-Trail related requests. 


While the Town and Safe Harbor are trying to work these issues out, the Friends of the Spanish Moss Trail are carefully monitoring these negotiations and working closely with Beaufort County and the Town of Port Royal to help in any way we can. 


We are hopeful there will be a resolution that includes the construction of the originally designed Spanish Moss Trail. Thank you for your continued support of our community work. 


Project Detail: This fully-funded Phase 1 into the Town of Port Royal is now under construction. We expect this section to be open to the public by Spring 2024. This important section will continue the current Trail across Ribaut Road into Port Royal allowing people to easily navigate through the Village. For Phase 2, we are already working closely with Town leadership on the funding, design and engineering phase to bring the Trail to the Sands Beach. We are laser focused on this project.


What’s next in Port Royal? There will be two more sections of the Trail in Port Royal. The Town of Port Royal will continue to work closely with the new developers of the former State Ports Authority property to continue the Trail through this waterfront property towards Shellring Ale Works and Fishcamp restaurants. Then, they will concentrate on bringing the Trail to its termination at the Sands Beach.


New Connection at

Beaufort Plaza Shopping Center

With a grant from Beaufort County, we have completed the new path between the Trail and the busy shopping area at Beaufort Plaza. We are currently establishing all the amenities including landscaping, water fountain, bike rack and our important Trailhead “You are Here” map. In addition, we will be installing navigational signs within the large shopping area and along Boundary Street. 


Downtown Beaufort Connection

Phase 1 of this project has been fully funded for several years but has stalled due to SCDOT and private land issues. Beaufort County has indicated they will begin soon on this path that will go along Depot Road between the popular Depot Trailhead and Ribaut Road. Phase 2 of connecting into downtown Beaufort will be led by the City of Beaufort. We hope you will help us advocate for this essential connection into the heart of community.


Outside Magazine

Names Spanish Moss Trail 

Top 10 Urban Walking Trails in the U.S.

What a huge accolade for the Spanish Moss Trail to be named among the Top 10 Urban Walking Trails in the country in Outside Magazine – in the company of Trails in New York City, Washington D.C., San Francisco, and Chicago! We are excited that our wonderful Trail is receiving national recognition. It truly is one of the best trails and we hope you are getting out there to enjoy it!  Here is what Outside Magazine said about us:


Charleston gets all of the love, but the smaller coastal town of Beaufort, an hour and a half to the southwest, has just as much southern charm, with a fraction of the tourists. And it’s incredibly walkable, thanks in part to the Spanish Moss Trail, a ten-mile paved path that follows the former Magnolia Rail Line through the best of South Carolina’s Lowcountry landscape. The trail starts in an old rail station near Depot Road and carries you over creeks, through expansive wetlands, and amid stately neighborhoods shaded by live oaks thick with the iconic Spanish moss. 


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