- This event has passed.
Pacolet River Heritage Preserve
September 23, 2023 @ 10:30 am - 4:30 pm
Pacolet River Heritage Preserve sits along the Pacolet River in Spartanburg County. It sits in the Broad River tributary. The 278-acre site contains 2 Native American Soapstone quarries. Dating back to 3,000 to 1.100 BC in the Late Archaic period, the Cherokee and Catawba used this area during migration from the coast to the uplands.
Soapstone is a metamorphic rock consisting mainly of talc giving the rock a soapy feel. Depending on the amount of talc and other minerals it was formed with produces a rock for carving or more hard surfaces such as our modern counter tops and sinks. Soapstone’s properties of carvability, heat resistance, non-absorbing, non-porous and high heat capacity were valuable to carve bowls, smoke pipes and use for boiling stones.
The mix of pine hardwood forests along with Pacolet River and Richland Creek provide a good ecosystem for birds, reptiles, amphibians, mushrooms and less common plants, protected moss and liverwort.
There is a main trail from the parking area to the Pacolet River where you will see an old bridge abatement. The dirt trail is approximately 2 miles in and out. There are a couple of short spur trails to explore. The elevation change from parking area to river is 125’. At SCAN’s pace this is an easy trail. Some parts are wide packed roadbed to narrow paths. Please bring bug spray for chiggers and tick protection.
There are no facilities at the location so plan a pit stop accordingly. In the town of Pacolet, there is a Hardees and a Clock restaurant.
Directions:
From US 176/SC 9, turn (east) onto Bethesda Road (S-42-680). Cross Goldmine Road onto Nature View Lane. At the fork, bear right onto Lucky Lane. Lucky Lane becomes a gravel road. Drive to the end of the road and park in the parking area.
From US 176/SC 9, turn (east) onto Bethesda Road (S-42-680). Cross Goldmine Road onto Nature View Lane. At the fork, bear right onto Lucky Lane. Lucky Lane becomes a gravel road. Drive to the end of the road and park in the parking area.
Location: 445 Lucky Ln Spartanburg, SC 29302
Latitude: 34.931
Longitude: -81.778
Google maps link https://goo.gl/maps/qJqutmXtZUfgUrM2A
Let’s explore this alluvial forest!
Rita Zollinger
Northern Regional Director
Northern Regional Director