Updated November 2026.
Watching a loggerhead sea turtle crawl out of the surf to nest is one of the most incredible sights on Edisto, and the best way to have a chance at seeing it without disturbing her is on a guided turtle walk with Edisto Beach State Park.
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Sea Turtle Night Walks
- When: a handful of nights in June, at the height of nesting season, from about 9 p.m. until around midnight. Dates are posted on the South Carolina State Parks reservation site, often months ahead.
- What happens: a short indoor presentation about loggerheads, then a guided walk on the beach in the dark looking for a nesting turtle. The walk can cover up to 3 miles and can run past midnight if a turtle is found.
- Cost and ages: $40 per person in 2026, ages 11 and up. Advance registration is required, and walks sell out.
- Rules: no photography of any kind. The park provides turtle-safe red flashlights. Walks go on rain or shine but can be canceled for lightning.
Seeing a nesting turtle isn’t guaranteed, but even without one, a night on the beach with a ranger is a memorable way to learn about Edisto’s loggerheads. The park also offers morning shorebird and sea turtle walks at other times of year. Check the South Carolina State Parks program calendar for Edisto Beach, or call the park at 843-869-4430.
If You See a Turtle on Your Own
- Stay back, stay quiet and stay behind her. Never shine a flashlight or phone light on a turtle, and never use a flash.
- Don’t touch her or try to help. She knows what she’s doing, and disturbing a nesting turtle is against the law.
- Keep the beach dark and clear: lights off at dusk, holes filled and gear off the sand.
- Report an injured or stranded turtle, or a disturbed nest, to the SCDNR hotline at 1-800-922-5431.
Learn when turtles nest and hatch, and every season rule, in our Edisto sea turtle guide.
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