Trail: Nature Trail
Hike Location: N. R.
Goodale State Park
Geographic Location: northeast of Camden , SC (34.28568, -80.52430)
Length: 1.5 miles
Difficulty: 1/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: March 2014
Overview: A short lollipop nature trail loop.
Park Information: https://southcarolinaparks.com/goodale
Directions to the trailhead: From downtown Camden ,
drive US 1 north 3.2 miles to Old Stagecoach Road . Take a soft right on Old
Stagecoach Rd.
Drive Old Stagecoach Rd. 2.5 miles to Park Road
and turn left on Park Road . The park entrance is 0.4 ahead on the
right. Turn right to enter the park,
pass a nice new picnic shelter with bug-netting, and park in the sandy lot in
front of the park office/canoe rental center.
The hike: Known primarily as a canoeing and kayaking
destination, N. R.
Goodale State Park Camden . The area boasts a rich history, starting with
the Revolutionary War Battle of Camden fought in August 1780 some 5 miles north
of town. The British won a resounding
victory that day, as the Patriots took over 900 casualties and had 1000
soldiers captured, thus losing nearly their entire southern force.
The area
also saw action during the Civil War. During
his devastating rampage, Union General Sherman marched his troops on a path
through what is today the Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge some 20
miles north of here. Goodale
State Park
Things are
much quieter around Camden these
days. The waters of this area are
filtered clear by the sandhills’ sandy soil, so this area’s ponds are some of
the clearest bodies of water this side of Florida . Paddlers come from near and far to paddle
their boats through the maze of cypress trees contained in the park’s
lake. For hikers, the park has only one
short nature trail, the one described here.
Note that this park is only open seasonally, so check the park’s website
to make sure it will be open when you plan to visit.
 |
| Nature Trail trailhead |
Either
before or after your hike make sure you take the short walk past the park
office to the lake’s edge to take in the lake view: this is one of the
prettiest lakes in South Carolina . When you tear yourself away from the lake,
the signed Nature Trail trailhead is located a short distance back out the park
road. The trail heads into the loblolly pines
on a wide needle-covered treadway that appears to be an old road.
At 0.2
miles, the trail forks to form its loop.
As directed by a metal marker nailed to a pine tree, I turned right here
to leave the old road and hike the loop counterclockwise. Some numbered posts along this trail indicate
the presence of an interpretive guide, but you will have to come during this
park’s very short office hours if you hope to obtain one. See the park’s website for current office
hours.
 |
| Plank bridge over wet area |
The trail assumes a meandering
eastward course as it alternates between dense greenery in the wetter areas and
open loblolly pine forest in the higher and dryer areas. A few southern magnolias dot the pine woods
to the left. The wetlands to the right
make you think that the lake might come into view any minute, but throughout
the entire hike it never does. Some
plank bridges take you over a few small creeks, and overall the going is quite
easy.
 |
| Hiking toward the uplands |
At 0.9 miles, the trail curves left
and climbs slightly to leave the lower areas for good. 1.1 miles into the hike, you re-intersect the
old road you started this hike on. As
directed by more metal markers, angle left on the old road. In another 0.2 miles you close the loop, and
0.2 miles after that you arrive back at the trailhead to complete the hike. Make sure you go down and view the lake
before you leave if you did not do so before the hike.
 |
| Park lake |
No comments:
Post a Comment