Santee lies on the southern shore of Lake Marion, the largest freshwater lake in South Carolina. Water, forest trails, golf and local history give the area several distinct focal points. When planning, it is worth considering these offerings separately rather than as a single itinerary: Lake and trails are at the heart of Santee State Park, while golf courses and cultural sites each offer their own points of interest.
Nature and Water on Lake Marion
Visitors can fish for largemouth bass, striped bass, bream, crappie and catfish in Lake Marion at Santee State Park. A valid South Carolina fishing license is required. Two boat ramps in the state park give private boats access to Lake Marion. Fishing and boat access offer different ways to enjoy the lake; a fishing trip specifically requires a license.
The trails in Santee State Park also offer different experiences. The Limestone Nature Trail is an easy loop through densely wooded terrain, with wildflowers and wildlife such as deer, rabbits and snakes. The Sinkhole Pond Trail, by contrast, passes through pine forest and swampy areas around a limestone sinkhole pond. The landscape there is described as almost desert-like. Visitors choosing trails by their surroundings will find both dense forest and unusual scenery around the pond.
There are two access points to the Palmetto Trail near the Town of Santee. The Lake Marion Passage follows the lakeshore and crosses Lake Marion at Santee over an old highway bridge. Alongside the trails in the state park, sections of the Palmetto Trail offer another distinct option.
About five miles north of Santee and Santee State Park is the Santee National Wildlife Refuge. Visitors on the Wright’s Bluff Nature Trail can spot wildflowers, songbirds, small mammals and reptiles, as well as wading birds, Canada geese, shorebirds and other wetland species. The refuge’s Bluff Unit is also home to the Santee Indian Mound-Fort Watson archaeological site.
Culture and History
Santee’s Cultural Arts and Visitor Center is housed in the former Old Parler School. The building retains original Southern Heart Pine floorboards that are well over 100 years old. The building’s former use and preserved materials give the site a different historical connection from the archaeological site in the Bluff Unit.
The Santee Indian Mound is more than 1,000 years old and later served as the site of British Fort Watson during the American Revolutionary War. Two clearly distinct periods meet at this site: the mound’s long history and its later use during the war.
Golf Courses with Distinctive Features
Santee National Golf Club combines rolling hills and moss-draped oaks with five strategically placed lakes on the course. Each hole has four sets of tees. Five of the 18 holes at Lake Marion Golf Course have water hazards; the course also has a lighted driving range. Santee Cooper Country Club offers an 18-hole golf course. The club has a clubhouse, driving range, putting green, golf cart rentals and a snack bar.
The three golf options can be distinguished by these features: Santee National Golf Club stands out for its terrain, oaks and five lakes, while Lake Marion Golf Course is notable for its water hazards and lighted driving range. Santee Cooper Country Club complements its 18-hole course with the facilities listed above. To choose a focus in Santee, it is therefore helpful to compare specific course features rather than treat all the golf courses as alike.
Explore more destinations: Orangeburg.
For the broader travel overview: Orangeburg County.
