HIGHLIGHTS: The $1 million Jarvis Creek Park is part of a rainwater management system for Hilton Head Island that pumps runoff into the lake for sediment to settle. It is then filtered through the wetlands before being released into Jarvis Creek.
Although the Cross Island Parkway borders the park to the northwest, the trail is very pleasant with a variety of birds frequently visiting the area and wading along the shallow shores of the lake. The Town of Hilton Head was able to protect many of the large oaks and pines in the area, and Jarvis Creek Park offers a surprising amount of solitude on an island that has a tremendous amount of activity.

This roundtrip loop hike can be completed in either direction, but is profiled here running clockwise. Both hikers and their dogs can enjoy some views of the lake from a floating dock, which is located near the trailhead. The 53-acre Jarvis Creek Park also includes rest rooms, barbeque grills, a playground, a picnic pavilion, and boardwalks that traverse the wetlands. The asphalt and mulch hiking trails are well marked and easily followed. Dogs are permitted as long as they are kept on a leash, and your best option (and the best scenery) is along the main asphalt trail that circumvents the scenic 11-acre lake. It is stocked with Blue Gill and Largemouth Bass for catch-and-release fishing.

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