Donnelley Wildlife Management Area — Attraction in Walterboro

Update 5/15/2022 Got in touch with Game Management about low pond water levels. In case anybody wanted to know why. "The ponds require periodic draw downs to promote germination of desirable wetland plants to provide food for wintering waterfowl and water birds. When the ponds are drawn down to this extent baitfish such as mullet that don’t go out through the trunk are subject to dying due to lack of oxygen in the water left in the shallow canals. The pond will be reflooded this week and depending on growth of desirable plants may need to be drawn down again mid-summer"

Donnelley loop was great. Some sand wash on road. Your average car, suv, van or endurance motorcycle (klx650, BMW, etc) can make it make it down the road. To rough for a corvette or bmw car. Too sandy in spots for a highway motorcycle. Got map from entrance at 17a. We somehow missed the turn after the restrooms (backside loop) and ended up on Bennett Point Rd. Saw 4 gators in one pond and some pink...

Donnelley is a great spot to take visiting friends and family if you want something a little more off the beaten path. There's a driving tour you can download off their website that takes you on a lovely winding drive through the area. But the highlight is the former rice fields behind lodge which are home to dozens (if not hundreds!) of alligators! From adolescents to big giants, there are always gators to be seen. This area is also great for photographers - not only are there gators, but also birds and other small wildlife. As a travel tip, if you enjoy Donnelley, I recommend exiting the area on Blocker Run Rd to Hwy 26 (Bennett's Point Rd), turning right, and driving 10-15 minutes down to Bear Island WMA. A couple other tips: check their website for days that they are closed due to hunting. Also, you most likely will lose cell phone service deeper into the area so make sure you have the driving map downloaded prior...

I went today on a Sunday for the auto tour. I enjoyed the first part of the tour, but then I turned left to follow the tour sign and the road became muddy. I am driving a Sedan, so I am being careful but I can not turn around on this single lane road and I got stuck in the mud and water on the road. It took me three hours to get a tow truck to come get me and no one answered the DSNR phone. I finally called 911 and they sent the game warden to check on me and he said he could NOT pull me out with his winch???? I asked why the road was open and he said the manager should have closed it. Now who is going to cover my $150 and the lost time??? Be aware that they do not maintain the roads and leave open danagerous roads and don't...