Lake Hartwell State Recreation Area (Blog Hike #287)

Trail: Beech Bluff Trail

Hike Location: Lake Hartwell State Park

Geographic Location: north of Fairplay, SC (34.49445, -83.03377)

Length: 0.75 miles

Difficulty: 2/10 (Easy)

Date Hiked: April 2012

Overview: A leg-stretcher loop hike leading to an inlet of Lake Hartwell.

Park Information: https://southcarolinaparks.com/lake-hartwell
Hike Route Map: http://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=96147
Photo Highlight:

Partial Hike Video:

Directions to the trailhead: Just shy of the Georgia-South Carolina line, take I-85 to SR 11 (exit 1).  Exit and go north on SR 11.  Take SR 11 0.5 miles to the Recreation Area entrance, and turn left to enter the area.  Pay the nominal admission fee, pick up a map at the Visitor Center, and park in a small blacktop picnic area parking lot on the left just past the Visitor Center.

The hike: Consisting of 680 acres on the east shore of Hartwell Lake, tiny Lake Hartwell State Park (yes, the lake is called Hartwell Lake, but the park is called Lake Hartwell; go figure) is best known for its campground and lake access.  Even with 116 developed sites in addition to several tent sites, the popular campground still manages to fill up due to its close proximity to the water.  In fact, many sites sit on or near the waterfront.  The park also features a pair of boat ramps and a couple of picnic areas.

            While hiking is certainly not the main attraction here, the park does have one short trail, the Beech Bluff Trail.  This trail is just long enough to give you a good leg stretch and (maybe) a little sweat after driving in to camp for the night.  Even better, since the park is located only 0.5 miles from busy I-85, you don’t even need to camp here to take advantage of this leg-stretch. 

Before coming here, there is one thing you should know: this trail’s length is listed at 1.4 miles on the official South Carolina trail registry.  However, when I hiked this trail, it took me only 20 minutes to hike this trail.  Other sources list the trail length at 0.75 miles, a number that seems more accurate to me and the number I have used here.

Trailhead

The trail starts at a wooden sign on the left side of the parking lot that says “Nature Trail.”  The trail immediately enters the forest and begins a gradual descent, heading west toward the lake.  Most of the forest is broadleaf trees, but a few pines appear along the way.  Strangely given the trail’s name, beech trees are conspicuously absent from this forest.

The trail crosses a few small tributaries using narrow wooden double plank bridges.  The bridges are sturdy, and some dowels fastened across the bridge width-wise add to your traction if the wood is wet.  At 0.2 miles, there was a large downed tree that blocked the trail.  This tree is only noteworthy because of how well-maintained and easy to follow the rest of the trail is.

Narrow bridge on trail

At 0.4 miles, the trail reaches a small inlet of Hartwell Lake.  A curve to the right is marked by diamond-shaped metal markers bearing printed arrows.  Now treading just above the lake level, the trail maintains a constant elevation with lake views through the trees on your left.  On my hike, my approach sent five turtles off of their logs and plopping back into the water.  Since this section of trail passes right beside the still waters of the inlet, mosquitoes will make their presence known during the warm months.  Wear insect repellent accordingly.

At 0.5 miles, you will intersect what appears to be an old road, where another arrow on a brown post directs you to turn right and head uphill away from the lake.  You will eventually need to head that way, but if you turn left and walk a short distance downhill, you will arrive at the inlet’s edge for the best lake view on this trail.  Unfortunately, this inlet is small, and so the view is still not that impressive.

Lake Hartwell during a minor drought

Climbing away from the lake on the old road, the moderate grade soon gives way to a gentler ascent.  If you are going to work up a sweat on this trail, this section will be the one that does it.  At 0.7 miles, the old dirt road on which you are walking intersects the paved main park road.  A right turn and another 0.05 miles of gradual uphill walking will return you to your car and complete the hike.