Silver Bluff Audubon Center & Sanctuary

Silver Bluff Audubon Center & Sanctuary is a 3,400-acre woodland overlooking the Savannah River owned and operated by The National Audubon Society. Habitat and wildlife diversity make Silver Bluff a favorite destination for birding, wildflower viewing, photography or a simple quiet walk. Visitors enjoy the miles of walking trails winding through the property which are well-marked and accented with interpretive signs.

In addition to the extensive pine and hardwood forests, 50 acres of lakes and ponds and 100 acres of grasslands, Silver Bluff has archaeological sites from nearly every period in American history. Educational programing, tours and special events for groups of all ages are offered.

The Sanctuary is free and open to the public from dawn to dusk. Pets are prohibited. Venue rental available.

Please note: Some GPS systems tell you that you’ve arrived one mile before you actually reach the Silver Bluff gates. At the point where Silver Bluff Rd transitions from a paved road to a well-maintained sand/clay road, continue driving for one more mile and you’ll see the gates on your right.

Birding

For the birdwatcher, Silver Bluff boasts more than 200 species, including the federally threatened Bald Eagle and formally federally threatened Wood Stork. Many visitors enjoy stopping by the Wood Stork foraging ponds, which are located at the point where the pavement ends on Silver Bluff Rd. While storks are present only during late July through September, a walk around the ponds at any time of year can yield a wide variety of bird and other wildlife sightings. Visit the National Audubon Society’s website to learn more about what birds can be seen at Silver Bluff.

Trails

• Tanager Trail – A two-mile loop trail begins at the grassy parking area just inside our main gates. It takes you through both pine and hardwood forests, with a stop halfway along that features a short boardwalk ending at a wet-weather pond.
• Quail Trail – A three-mile loop that you can follow through the piney woods, into a “prairie” filled with native grasses and flowers, then onto the high bluffs overlooking the Savannah River.
• Nuthatch Trail – A leisurely 0.75-mile loop trail begins near the butterfly garden. The trail surrounds a mature longleaf pine stand and features interpretive stops along the way.
• Kathwood Stork Ponds – Just down the road from the main campus of Silver Bluff. A trail circumnavigates the three ponds, and crosses the impoundments separating them, providing full views of the ponds and banks. This area features viewing decks and a bird blind for optimal bird watching opportunities. An annual viewing event called Storks and Corks is held here in August.

History

The land at Silver Bluff holds quite a bit of diverse history. One such interesting story is that of Fort Galphin/Fort Dreadnought, originally the home of George Galphin, a well-known trader with Indigenous Americans. During the Revolutionary War, Tories occupied and fortified Galphin’s home to keep his trade goods from falling into American hands. They renamed the fortification Fort Dreadnought. Galphin became a prisoner in his own home, but even as a prisoner, he was able to make secret contact with his revolutionary and Indigenous American allies. Unfortunately, Galphin never saw his home freed as he died December 1, 1780. On May 21, 1781, Colonial troops led by Lt. Col. Henry Lee captured the fort. The structure was still standing until the early 1870’s.

In the 1840s, James Henry Hammond acquired Silver Bluff as well as much of the land surrounding the property. He built a large home nearby which is now a part of Redcliffe Plantation State Historic Site.

Floyd Starr, an investment banker and avid outdoorsman from Philadelphia, purchased Silver Bluff in the 1930s. Star deeded the property to the National Audubon Society in 1975 with the request that the Audubon manage the land to support a healthy and diverse wildlife population.