Landsford Canal State Park

2019 Hiking week 20

This time of year is the best time to visit Landsford Canal State Park. The park is known as a prime location to view Rocky Shoals Spider Lilies. There are only a few places where these flowers grow in the Southeast. There are three locations in South Carolina - Columbia, McCormick County, and the Catawba River near Landsford Park. These flowers like to grow in the rocks in rivers and begin blooming around mid-May. 

Last year, I was able to visit the park with my mom in May. They have a short trail that leads from the parking area along the river to a viewing spot for the lilies. When we were walking along the trail, we kept looking for the flowers but didn't see them. We were worried that we were too early but once we got too the viewing deck, we were able to see tons of them. It was really surprising. It ended up raining on us but we had a good time checking out the park and the trails.

The park is actually a historical site of the canal that used to be on the river. There are locks and canals in multiple places that were used to transport goods up and down the river and to the surrounding areas. It's really interesting to see these huge stone structures that were so well made. It looks like it wouldn't take much to make them work again. If you follow the main trail, called the Canal Trail, past the spider lily viewing platform, you can hike to the south end of the park, where there are huge locks that were used as part of the canal. There is also a historical marker explaining how this area was a colonial-era trading path that was connected to Native American trading paths.

Another option for viewing the spider lilies is to kayak among them. This year we were able to do it. It was a pretty easy kayak, you put in at the main section of the park and kayak downstream to another take out at the park's south entrance. The kayaking itself can be a little challenging. Since the lilies like to grow in shallow, rocky water, you have to navigate around some rocks and sometimes you may get caught on them. I recommend paying attention to where you go and be prepared to possibly get out of your kayak to move it along. There are some groups and companies that take groups down the river. It's a neat way to see the plants up close. 

About a 30 minute drive from Landsford Canal Park is the Andrew Jackson State Park.  This park is pretty popular with families and schools for the history museum and programs. They explore what life would have been like for Andrew Jackson while growing up in South Carolina. There's also a replica of an 18th-century schoolhouse and a lake for boating and fishing.

Both of these parks have a small fee for entrance, Landsford is $5/person and Andrew Jackson is $2/person.

Another interesting place to visit while in the area is the Catawba Indian Nation Cultural Center. It isn't far from Landsford Canal Park. I haven't been here but I think it would be a good place to visit and learn about the people from that area. 

If you're looking for somewhere to eat while visiting this area, I highly recommend Legal Remedy Brewing in Rock Hill. They have good food and they brew a wide variety of beers. Also, not too far is Fort Mill, which also has some good restaurants in their downtown area. All of these areas are about a 30 minute drive to Charlotte.