Cowpens Nature Trail

The park's 2-mile Nature Trail leads you through varied habitat -- from floodplain to forest -- typical of the South Carolina upcountry. Sycamores, hollies, hickories, cedars, and 12 species of oak shade the trail. Look carefully on the forest floor for fan club moss and dwarf flower heartleaf (leaf), a threatened species. Of the 500 plus plant species in the park, most are native. Morning and evening are the best times to spot wild turkeys, white tailed deer browsing on tender underbrush, and cottontail rabbits and gray squirrels scurrying for cover at the sound of your footsteps. As you cross the footbridges, look for turtles sunning on rocks, as well as frogs, salamanders, and perhaps snakes.