Conservation // 1 min Read

Preserving River Road

Written by Palmetto Bluff

Sitting on the eastern edge of Palmetto Bluff adjacent to the May River and Cooper River lies 130 acres of protected maritime wilderness. Known as River Road Preserve, this massive plot of land was given an additional 122 acres in 2007 as a conservation easement that will be shielded in perpetuity from development.

What is a conservation easement?

The primary goal of a conservation easement is environmental protection. Therefore, a conservation easement is a legal restriction of development and usage of a given property to conserve natural resources. In the case of the River Road Preserve, the purpose is for natural resource protection and to provide a unique series of wilderness trails.

A magical place located beneath the shelter of century-old live oaks, the River Road Preserve includes some of the best maritime forests at the Bluff. It’s also home to several species of plants and wildlife…

  • Habitats: islands, maritime forests, mixed pine hardwoods, pine flat woods, evergreen wetlands, and hardwood bottoms
  • Plants and Trees: sprawling live oak, southern magnolias, eastern red cedar, and cabbage palmettos
  • Wildlife: white-tailed deer, eastern wild turkey, opossums, raccoons, mink, coyotes, grey fox, and bobcat (bonus: when the tide is up you can see fiddler crabs and redfish)
  • Birds: wood storks, great egrets, snowy egrets, great blue herons, tricolored herons, summer tanagers, and painted bunting

The next time you’re out exploring the Bluff, be sure to take some time and explore the River Road Trail, which incorporates parts of two old plantations, Pettigrew and Moreland.

bramble park palmetto bluff

Real Estate
Bramble Park: New Palmetto Bluff Homes for Sale

Inside Bramble Park: Palmetto Bluff’s Newest Neighborhood in Moreland Forest  Neighborhoods in Palmetto Bluff feel less like new additions and more like places that have always been there, waiting to be discovered. Bramble Park is the latest community to take...

Jul 2026
Palmetto bluff restaurants

Food & Wine
Restaurants of the Bluff: A Taste of Lowcountry Summer

Palmetto Bluff Restaurants: A Guide to Summer Dining  Dining at Palmetto Bluff offers a range of options from small cafes to fine dining. From a coffee run at Canteen in Moreland Village to a sunset dinner at Canoe Club overlooking the May River, each restaur...

Jul 2026
Waterways in south carolina

Waterways
The Waterways That Define Life at Palmetto Bluff

Exploring the South Carolina Waterways of Palmetto Bluff Water surrounds Palmetto Bluff on three sides. The May River wraps the north and northeast, while the Cooper River runs along the east and southeast, and the New River borders the south and southwest. A...

Jul 2026

Club Life
PBGO: Where Childhood Grows at Palmetto Bluff

At Palmetto Bluff, some of childhood's best moments begin outside. Days are measured by muddy shoes, saltwater adventures, and the excitement of discovering something new just beyond the next trail.That spirit is at the heart of PBGO (Palmetto Bluff Growing Ou...

Jul 2026

Food & Wine
Chef Beth Cosgrove’s Sun-Ripened Tomato and Rich Ricotta Tart

This simple tomato and ricotta tart recipe from Palmetto Bluff Club Executive Chef Beth Cosgrove is the perfect summertime dish for your next gathering. The flaky puff pastry crust is topped with a creamy ricotta mixture along with fresh herbs and sun-ripe...

Jul 2026

Real Estate
Contemporary Classics: Three Homes With a Modern Take on Lowcountry Architecture

Timeless Lowcountry architecture has always been defined by its connection to the landscape. Wide porches invite conversation and capture cool coastal breezes, while natural materials and sunlight filled interiors blur the line between indoors and out. As life...

Jul 2026

Club Life
Hampton Watts: Painting the South to Life

This August, Savannah-based painter Hampton Watts will join us at the Bluff to share his contemporary Southern art celebrating the landscapes, traditions, and enduring spirit of the South. Drawing inspiration from generations of Southern heritage, Hampton c...

Jul 2026

Food & Wine
Home Grown

From weekly harvests to farmers markets and seasonal dinners, The Farm plays a central role in Palmetto Bluff’s culinary program. Story by Joanny Palsson | Photographs by Summer Pagatpatan Most mornings at Palmetto Bluff begin at sunrise, before the kitche...

Jul 2026
Palmetto Bluff Real Estate

Real Estate
Inside 20 Butterweed Road: A New Moreland Forest Home Built for Lowcountry Living

Palmetto Bluff Real Estate: 20 Butterweed Road, Moreland Forest  Moreland Forest sits a short walk or ride from Moreland Village and Crossroads, Palmetto Bluff’s nine-hole reversible course. Moreland Forest centers around an intricate trail system and an ...

Jul 2026
Palmetto bluff golf

Club Life
Behind the Bluff: A Conversation with an Anson Point Golf Pro

Palmetto Bluff Golf: A Pro’s View of Anson Point   Anson Point doesn’t look as if it were man-made. The rolling dunes and sandy areas look as though they settled into the Lowcountry on their own, and the fairways follow the ground rather than fighting it. Thi...

Jul 2026

CURIOUS ABOUT LIFE AT THE BLUFF?

Sign up for our newsletter

LIVE
Community Villages
Experience
Palmetto Bluff Club
On The Water
The Arts Initiative
Events
Conserve
About Us