Palmetto Trail — Lake Moultrie Passage landscape

Photo: Photo by Paul Earle on Unsplash

Palmetto Trail — Lake Moultrie Passage

~2 days · 26.8 mi · easy · Point-to-point

Quick facts

Distance26.8 mi
Days out2
Elevation gain276 ft
Gain / mile10 ft
High point125 ft

What the Palmetto Trail — Lake Moultrie Passage is known for

The Lake Moultrie Passage covers about 26 miles along the eastern shore of Lake Moultrie in Berkeley County, the second of the Santee Cooper reservoir system built in the 1940s. The coastal plain route traverses longleaf pine and mixed forest corridors with periodic views of the lake, ending as it approaches the Francis Marion National Forest. Maintained by the Palmetto Conservation Foundation as part of the ~500-mile Palmetto Trail.

Route map & campsites

Route map of the Palmetto Trail — Lake Moultrie Passage on OpenStreetMap terrain Open in Planner →

Route shape from OpenStreetMap geometry. Start · End · Camp

Elevation profile

Elevation ranges from 194 ft to 387 ft over 26.8 mi. Measured from OSM geometry (approximate).

  • Uphill 2.1 mi · 8%
  • Downhill 2.6 mi · 10%
  • Flat 22.1 mi · 82%

Ridgefold breaks every route into uphill, downhill, and flat — see the full per-day breakdown in the app.

Frequently asked questions

How many days does the Palmetto Trail — Lake Moultrie Passage take?

Most backpackers hike the Palmetto Trail — Lake Moultrie Passage in about 2 days (1 nights out) over its 26.8 miles, though pace varies with fitness and conditions.

How much elevation gain is on the Palmetto Trail — Lake Moultrie Passage?

The Palmetto Trail — Lake Moultrie Passage climbs roughly 276 ft total — about 10 ft per mile, topping out near 125 ft.

Related trails

Sources & attribution

Route geometry and stats derived from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL) — source relation. Stats are approximate and may differ from official surveys; permit rules and conditions change — verify with the managing authority before your trip. Last reviewed July 2026.

Plan the Palmetto Trail — Lake Moultrie Passage Plan Free →