Lynch’s Woods

Lynch’s Woods Park
Newberry County, SC
Regional Director: Dave Kastner

Lynch’s Woods Park is a well-kept secret tucked behind a strip of businesses off Hwy 76 on the south side of the charming city of Newberry, South Carolina and is comprised of 276 acres of old growth hardwood trees and upland oak-hickory-pine forests. A 4.2-mile one-way gravel road circles through the woodlands, offering
access to 7.5 miles of hiking and biking trails; elevation gains top out at 130 feet. Gently flowing streams are found throughout the park and serve as the headwaters of the rambling Rock Branch Creek, a tributary of Cannon’s Creek that feeds into the Broad River.

A three-mile section of the cross-state Palmetto Trail also runs through the Piedmont park. Lynch’s Woods Passage is billed as the Trail’s “Gateway to the Upstate” and connects to six miles of equestrian paths. Two primitive campsites are located within the park for hikers who want to rest up on their way to the mountains.

The land for Lynch’s Woods was deeded to Newberry County and the City of Newberry in the early 1930’s by Rev. Elijah Lynch and the park was established in 1934, hence the name Lynch’s Woods. Built during the Great Depression by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), the park still features structures dating back to the 1930s,
including stone headwalls. In recent years, a picnic pavilion, information kiosk and restroom (which is just really a pit toilet) were added for the convenience of visitors.

Lynch’s Woods Park is what nature in the piedmont of South Carolina is all about. Streams flowing over rocks, hardwood forests on steep slopes and upland oak-hickory-pine forests make Lynch’s Woods an area with a diversity of wildlife. As you get into the park you may see raccoon footprints, a scarab beetle crawling through
the leaves, a black rat snake on the road or hear the call of a pileated woodpecker. Park your car along the side of the loop road and get out to explore.

Directions:
Lynch’s Woods Park
440 Wilson Road, Newberry, SC
Latitude 34.273220, Longitude -81.588270
(meeting location just outside the park)

From I-26 Eastbound, use exit 74 (SC-34): Turn right onto SC-34 W (Winnsboro Road) and drive West toward Newberry for approximately 2.3 miles to the intersection of US-76 Bypass East (Wilson Road). Turn left onto US-76 Bypass East (Wilson Road) and drive approximately 0.9 miles to Walter Cousins Lane (which is directly after Cromley’s Ford on the left side of the road). Turn left onto Walter Cousins Lane and drive up to the tree line. We will meet in the open “parking” area on the right that’s located just before entering the park through the trees.

From I-26 Westbound, use exit 76 (SC-219): Turn left onto SC-219 W (Main Street) and drive West toward Newberry for approximately 3.2 miles to the intersection of US-76 E / US-76 Bypass East (Wilson Road). Turn left onto US-76 E / US-76 Bypass East (Wilson Road) and drive approximately 0.8 miles to Walter Cousins Lane
(which is directly after Cromley’s Ford on the left side of the road). Turn left onto Walter Cousins Lane and drive up to the tree line. We will meet in the open “parking” area on the right that’s located just before entering the park through the trees.

Dinner:
The Palms Grill & Bar
612 Wilson Road
Newberry, SC 29108
(803) 276-4668

Prices are a little higher than we normally pay at a House of Pizza but we thought a change might be nice. A copy of the menu is included in the July 2019 newsletter. On the plus side, we won’t need to travel very far because the location is almost next to the entrance for Lynch’s Woods Park; refer to the map in the newsletter.