The Angel Oak - John's Island, South Carolina

The Angel Oak - John's Island, South Carolina
Just south of Charleston on Johns Island I found a most amazing tree. This tree is known as the Angel Oak. Some may say “A tree? No big deal” but they who say that would be wrong. This tree is remarkable, stunning and even inexplicable. It makes no sense really as none of its neighboring trees are even a shadow of this monster that has somehow survived the ages. According to the Angel Oak Tree website, the tree is estimated to be 1500 years old by some but the official Charleston City website states the tree is somewhere between 300 & 400 years old which better jives with the life span of the live oak. The tree stands 65 feet tall and measures 28 feet in circumference and produces shade that covers 17,200 square feet. The best thing about a visit to the Angel Oak tree is that it is free. I find that quite appealing. Even if you had to pay a fee it would be worth it though. The City of Charleston owns the property now and there is a small gift shop and some portable toilets there. The Angel Oak in my opinion is an organism that is completely out of control. It has dozens of branches that are the size of very large trees in their own right. Some of these massive branches extend from the main trunk and then dip to the ground and crawl along for a stretch and then head upward again. While it is called the “Angel Oak” it is quite disturbing in its appearance. It is almost frightening. If there are such things as monsters…the Angel Oak would be a fearsome one. One of the strangest things about this tree is that it is alone in the woods. There are no other trees of similar age and none of the trees in the area even come close to its massive size and sprawl. The name of the tree was mysterious to me as it looks nothing like an Angel. Come to find out it was named after the estate of Justis and Martha Angel. Some locals have a different spin on it though. There are legends that the ghosts of former slaves would appear as angels around the tree. Kind of puts a sad, melancholy even spooky spin on the whole deal. Others have noted on blog posts that being in the presence of such a magnificent tree is quite an experience and I would agree. This old tree has managed to hang on for possibly over a millennia and some believe it is the oldest living thing east of the Rocky Mountains. This tree is a must for your Charleston bucket list. It is just over 12 miles from downtown and an easy trip from that place.


The Angel Oak Tree
3688 Angel Oak Road
Johns Island, South Carolina, 29455
(843) 559-3496

Hours are:
Monday – Saturday 9am-5pm
Sunday – 1pm-5pm



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