Peachtree Rock Heritage Preserve: Blue Trail (Blog Hike #983)

Trail: Blue Trail
Hike Location: Peachtree Rock Heritage Preserve
Geographic Location: southwest of Columbia, SC (33.82813, -81.20238)
Length: 2.2 miles
Difficulty: 4/10 (Moderate)
Date Hiked: December 2023
Overview: A lollipop loop passing Peachtree Rock, Little Peachtree Rock, and a waterfall.
Park Information: https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/peachtree-rock-heritage-preserve/
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=952196
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming November 15)

Directions to the trailhead: In Columbia, take I-26 to SR 302 (exit 113).  Exit and go west on SR 302.  Drive SR 302 west 10.9 miles to SR 6 and turn left on SR 6.  Drive SR 6 south 1 mile to the dirt parking lot for Peachtree Rock Heritage Preserve on the left.  Park here; there is room for 8-10 cars here.

The hike: Many people know of South Carolina's state parks, national parks, and national forests, but few people seem to know about South Carolina's heritage preserves and their function.  Created by the South Carolina Legislature in 1976, the Heritage Trust Program protects lands of cultural and natural interest called heritage preserves, and over 83,000 acres have been protected under the Trust.  The heritage preserves are managed by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, which also manages South Carolina's state parks.  Thus, heritage preserves are like state parks but with no amenities, and most heritage preserves offer at most a parking lot and a few trails.

            Peachtree Rock Heritage Preserve fits the Trust's undeveloped pattern, although it is jointly managed with The Nature Conservancy, a private organization.  The preserve was established to protect its namesake rock, a large boulder that sat atop a small pedestal in a balanced-rock type configuration.  Unfortunately, Peachtree Rock fell over in 2013, but the preserve still offers plenty to see including Little Peachtree Rock, a smaller version of the larger rock, and the only naturally occurring waterfall in South Carolina's coastal plains.  Several trails allow hikers to access the preserve.  This hike features the Blue Trail, the preserve's main trail that passes every major point of interest in the preserve.

Leaving the trailhead

            From the parking area, head in the entrance trail, which is marked with blue aluminum trail markers.  The single-track sandy dirt trail heads into the pine woods along the ridge top, but soon the trail descends gradually via a couple of switchbacks.  The difference between maximum and minimum elevation on this hike is only a little over 100 feet, so all grades are moderate and brief.

            At 0.2 miles, you approach a small creek and reach a trail intersection.  The Red Trail goes right here, so you want to turn left to stay on the Blue Trail.  All official trails in this preserve are well-marked with small metal discs of the appropriate color, but there are a large number of unmarked unofficial trails that need to be avoided.

Bottom of Peachtree Rock

Top of Peachtree Rock

            Topping a low finger ridge brings you to Peachtree Rock at 0.3 miles.  Today you see the stone pedestal and the rock on its side, and an interpretive sign tells you the story of Peachtree Rock and its formation via erosion.  A chain fence prevents you from touching or climbing the rock.

            Continuing up this small hollow brings you to a small waterfall.  Though only about 15 feet high, this waterfall is the only naturally occurring waterfall in South Carolina's coastal plains.  Some sandstone cliffs in this area, another rarity for the coastal plains, add to this hollow's interesting rock scenery.

Small waterfall

            Some wild trails ascend near the waterfall, but the official Blue Trail heads out of the hollow below Peachtree Rock.  After stepping across the stream that formed the waterfall, you reach the trail intersection that forms the Blue Trail's loop at 0.45 miles.  To give myself some more options near the end of the hike, I chose to turn left and use the trail going right as my return route, thus hiking the loop clockwise.

Old moonshine still

            The narrow sandy dirt trail climbs moderately through the pines.  As you near the top of the ridge, an interpretive sign points out the ruins of a moonshine still on the left, a reminder that this hollow was used for illegal liquor production during the Prohibition era.  0.7 miles into the hike, you reach the top of the ridge and an intersection with what appears to be a two-track fire road.  Turn right to begin hiking east with the preserve's north boundary immediately to your left.

Hiking through pine forest

            After about 1000 feet on the road, the trail turns right to leave the fire road.  Watch for the blue aluminum trail markers to ensure you do not miss this turn.  The next 0.3 miles stay along the ridgetop and pass through sunny open pine forest.  Burn marks imply this area has been cleared by a controlled burn recently.

            1.2 miles into the hike, you descend a brief steep and rocky area to reach Little Peachtree Rock.  Though only about half the size of this preserve's namesake, Little Peachtree Rock still stands on its pedestal, and it gives you some idea of what Peachtree Rock looked like before it fell over.  Some boulders here make nice places to sit and rest near the midpoint of this hike.

Little Peachtree Rock

            The trail exits downhill from the Little Peachtree Rock area.  The rest of the Blue Trail's loop is a gently rolling excursion through streamside forest that contains a few oak and sweet gum trees.  Where the Green, Orange, and Red Trails exit left, stay right to remain on the Blue Trail unless you want to extend your hike.  At 1.75 miles, you close the Blue Trail's loop.  Walk past Peachtree Rock one more time as you retrace your steps back out of the hollow to return to the trailhead and complete the hike.