There are thousands of acres of old rice fields located within the county, however, the Caw Caw Interpretive Center is one of the few locations where the public may actually visit to learn about the importance of rice in Charleston's culture. Equipped with multi-interactive exhibits, Caw Caw's 8 miles of guided trails explain the progression from a rice and slave culture to the transformation into a rich wildlife preserve. Today, diversity is the draw. It's a place to retrace the steps of rice growers along centuries-old dikes while learning about wildflowers, birds and wetland critters. You can visit nearly everyday of the week and never see the same thing.
Interpretive trails meander through salt marshes, swamps, freshwater wetlands and maritime forests.
The park is an area of high nesting density and provides specific natural habitats that are crucial to a variety of wading birds. Today, Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission operates the enhancement of wildlife habitats at Caw Caw Interpretive Center. The Commission stabilized earthen dikes and installed water control devices in 200 acres of old rice fields and swamp reservoirs that created five distinct wetland communities. The park planned firebreaks to reduce the risk of forest wildfires while offering feeding opportunities for mammals and birds. And nesting platforms and boxes were built to attract a variety of birds such as osprey, barn owl and wood ducks.