Visit Angel Oak Tree at Johns Island, SC
Angel Oak, located near Charleston, South Carolina, is a magnificent ancient Southern live oak. Estimated to be between 400 and 500 years old — though some suggest it could be over 1,500 years old — the Angel Oak stands as one of the oldest living trees in America.
There is no admission charge to see Angel Oak. It is protected by a large fence that surrounds the area to protect it during nonoperational hours. Once you make your way through the unlocked fence and down the parking area, you will pass by the visitor’s center where you buy souvenirs and such. Enter the park and you will be walking straight towards the incredible Angel Oak.
The oak reaches a height of about 65 feet, with its sprawling branches stretching out nearly 90 feet in length and shading an area of 17,000 square feet. Its branches appear like tentacles, reaching out to surrounding areas.
The tree is absolutely incredible. But because of its age, it’s very brittle. Because of this, they have security guards walking around and barking (pun intended) at people if they lean, climb or put anything on the tree. The tree itself is rotting from the inside out so its limbs are hollow. The bark actually protects it. You are allowed to touch the tree, but any type of weight is not allowed.
A quick side note, as I was taking pictures, a person sat on the ground in front of the tree to take a picture and they were told by security they could not sit on the ground. That made no sense to me, as the person wasn’t touching the tree.
Outside of the pure beauty of the tree, I encourage everyone to walk around and get an up close and personal view of it. It’s incredibly majestic from every angle. You’ll find supporting rods in place to support the limbs in certain locations, but the overall structure of the tree is amazing.
Exploring places like Angel Oak offer up outstanding opportunities to be more active, burn calories and create memorable experiences.
Challenge Yourself
Legend has it that Angel Oak is protected by the ghosts of former slaves who died on the plantation. It is said that they appear as lights around the tree. Your challenge is to spot these mysterious orbs of light and get a glimpse of the paranormal.
Calories Burned: 50-100 calories
Find Great Photo Ops
Angel Oak gives you an impressive amount of angles for taking great photos of the tree and all of its charm. Although you can’t climb it, any picture of this oak is sure to impress the social media crowd.
