Folly Beach is Charleston’s surf beach, and it earns the title. The beach faces southeast and catches swells from tropical systems and nor’easters that produce rideable waves for much of the year. The surf is best in fall when tropical activity sends groundswell up the coast.
At the south end of Folly Beach, a tidal flat connects to Morris Island at low tide. The walk across the flat and along the beach to Morris Island Lighthouse is one of the most dramatic short hikes on the South Carolina coast. The lighthouse stands in the surf, surrounded by water, its foundation eroded by decades of beach migration. It is one of the most photographed structures in the state.