Taking It Outside

Go Take A Hike!

One of the most beautiful resources in South Carolina is right out our back door. The Cheraw State Park offers many opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors. In addition to camping, canoeing and golf, hiking is another terrific way to enjoy nature. The state park offers two trails for your enjoyment. The Cheraw Nature Trail is an easy 1.9 mile walk, which is the inner loop of the larger 2.6 mile Turkey Oak Trail.

Pick the distance you want, for both trails offer you a pleasant walk through a very dense forest of longleaf pine, blackjack oak, turkey oak, and hickory trees. Closer to the ground, you will find native irises called Blue Flags in the spring, and rose pogonia orchids in the summer. As you walk, you may also be treated to an encounter with some common Palmetto State wildlife, such as lizards, deer, snakes, and a vast assortment of birds.

A short spur trail offers a chance for you to see the rare red cockaded woodpecker. If you chose to continue on the Turkey Oak Trail, you will enter a cypress swamp as you approach Lake Juniper. There you may see waterfowl such as ducks, egrets, geese, and pied billed grebe. You may also be treated to a wide array of raptors such as bald eagles, ospreys, red-tailed hawks, northern harriers and Mississippi kites.

A hike in the park is the perfect way to relax and enjoy a time of solitude or bonding time with family and friends.

How To Get There: From Cheraw, drive south on US 1/52 for four miles. Stay on US 52 when it splits to the left going towards Florence. The Cheraw State Park entrance is one mile on the right. When you enter the park, signs will direct you to the hiking trails and golf course (take a right when you reach the first stop sign) or take a left to reach the park office and lake. The park is open April through August from 7:00 am until 9:00 pm, from 7:00 am until 8:00 pm September and October, and 7:00 am until 6:00 pm November through March. Cheraw State Park is located at 100 State Park Road. For additional information, you may contact the Park Office at 843.537.9656 or toll-free at 800.868.9630.