Baker Creek State Park: Wild Mint Nature Trail (Blog Hike #732)

Trail: Wild Mint Nature Trail

Hike Location: Baker Creek State Park

Geographic Location: west of McCormick, SC (33.88025, -82.36451)

Length: 0.8 miles

Difficulty: 2/10 (Easy)

Date Hiked: March 2019

Overview: A short, secluded campground nature trail through pine forest.

Park Information: https://southcarolinaparks.com/baker-creek

Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=737136
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: From McCormick, take US 378 west 3.8 miles to Hugenot Parkway and a signed false entrance for Baker Creek State Park.  Turn right on Hugenot Parkway and drive north 1.2 miles to the signed real entrance for Baker Creek State Park on the left.  Turn left to enter the park, pay the nominal entrance fee, and drive the main park road 1.4 miles to the campground loop entrance on the right.  Turn right and drive the one-way paved campground loop to the main campground (Campground #2).  Turn right to enter the main campground on a gravel road.  The signed trailhead for the Wild Mint Nature Trail is between campsite numbers 55 and 56 on the left.  A small pull-off for the campground restroom building on the right provides trailhead parking.

The hike: Along with Hickory Knob, Hamilton Branch, and Elijah Clark, 1305 acre Baker Creek State Park is one of several Georgia and South Carolina state parks on the shore of Strom Thurmond Reservoir near McCormick, SC.  The park was created in 1967 when the State of South Carolina leased lakeside land from the US Army Corps of Engineers.  Unlike its larger and better-amenitied brethren, Baker Creek is only open March through September.  While lake access takes center stage, the park also offers a 50-site developed campground, 2 picnic shelters, and several trails open to hiking and mountain biking.

            Baker Creek State Park offers 11 miles of trails open to hikers, but the only hiker-only trail is the short Wild Mint Nature Trail described here.  I have to be honest and report that this trail was in pretty bad shape when I hiked here: a thick layer of pine needles covered the trail surface, and numerous fallen trees blocked my path.  While I was here, I also did a short hike on one of the park’s multi-use trails, which were in substantially better shape.  Thus, this park’s best hiking may be on trails designed primarily for mountain bikes.

Trailhead for Wild Mint Nature Trail

            The Wild Mint Nature Trail starts at a signed trailhead on the east side of the gravel campground road.  The trail curves left as it drops toward the lake with the campground close on the left.  As I mentioned above, the path is frequently indistinguishable from the surrounding forest, but there are enough white blazes and other trail markers to keep you on the right general course.  Numbered posts indicate the presence of an interpretive brochure, but I could not find such a guide.

            After crossing a creek on an old wooden footbridge, the trail splits to form its loop.  As indicated by a trail sign, I turned right and used the left fork as my return route, thus hiking the loop counterclockwise.  The lake stays in view downhill to the right as the trail maintains an eastern course through dense pine forest.

"Trail" along the lake

            At 0.3 miles, the trail curves left and begins climbing away from the lake.  This turn is well-marked with several white paint blazes and a white metal diamond marker bearing a black arrow.  Soon the trail crosses the paved campground access loop road for the first of two times.  Trail conditions improve slightly once you get inside the campground loop road.

Crossing the campground loop road

            The trail curves more left than right as it undulates on gradual contours.  The quiet pine forest makes the setting feel very remote for a short campground nature trail.  You re-cross the paved campground road just before closing the trail’s loop.  Turn right and hike the short distance back to the main campground to complete the hike.  While you are here, you could try hiking on some of the hiking/biking trails as I did.  Also, although the park map shows a 0.7 mile walking trail near the boat ramp, I was not able to find that trail on my visit.