Sadlers Creek State Park: Walking Trail (Blog Hike #795)

Trail: Walking Trail
Hike Location: Sadlers Creek State Park
Geographic Location: west of Anderson, SC (34.42149, -82.83256)
Length: 0.6 miles
Difficulty: 1/10 (Easy)
Dates Hiked: (many)
Overview: A short lollipop loop, partly on ADA-accessible concrete trail, along the shore of Lake Hartwell.
Park Information: https://southcarolinaparks.com/sadlers-creek
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=806112
Photo Highlight:

Full Hike Video: 

Directions to the trailhead: From downtown Anderson, take US 29 south 10 miles to SR 187.  Turn right on SR 187.  Drive SR 187 north 0.8 miles to Sadlers Creek Road and turn left on Sadlers Creek Rd.  Sadlers Creek Rd. deadends at the park entrance.  After paying the nominal fee to enter the park, follow signs for the park office and picnic area, and park in the cul de sac at the picnic area.

The hike: For my general comments on Sadlers Creek State Park, see my longer hike on this park’s Bike Trail.  Sadlers Creek State Park is located less than 15 miles from my house in Anderson, and for many years I saved this short nature trail for a hiking “emergency,” i.e. an opportunity for me to get out and do a hike even if I could not hike anywhere more distant or more famous.  With the coronavirus outbreak of 2020, such a scenario emerged, and I spent a pleasant couple of hours on a seasonally cool mid-May morning hiking around the Walking Trail several times.

Trailhead at parking area

            The signed trailhead for the Walking Trail is located beside the picnic area’s restroom building.  The concrete ADA-accessible trail heads north through the newly constructed disc golf area with Lake Hartwell visible through the trees on the left.  Numerous interpretive signs describe the park’s flora and fauna.  After passing the park’s butterfly garden, the trail enters the forest and crosses a small stream on a fancy wooden bridge before climbing gradually via switchbacks.  The relatively young forest with bare understory consists of many sweetgum, oak, and pine trees.

Concrete portion of trail

            Just past 0.2 miles, the concrete trail ends at the park road that leads to the fishing pier.  Cross the road to continue the Walking Trail as the trail surface turns to dirt.  A slight decline brings you to a metal bench that overlooks a fantastic lake-level view of Lake Hartwell.  This bench and several others were constructed by Drew Hogg as an Eagle Scout project in 2004, and they provide nice shady places to rest and enjoy the forest.

Lake Hartwell view

Climbing the switchback

            Past the lake view, the steepest part of the hike ensues as the trail climbs a switchback to recross the park road.  The difference between maximum and minimum elevations on this hike is only 70 vertical feet, so all elevation changes are manageable.  A gradual right curve closes the loop, where a left turn will take you back to the picnic area to complete the hike.  Before you leave, be sure to check out the lake views at the picnic area and pavilion, which included a Canada goose floating across the water on my visit.