Lake Conestee Nature Preserve, Greenville SC: Walk w/Several Observation Decks

We will be making an early start to try and beat some of the heat. Meet at 7:30 a.m. in the Conestee Nature Preserve Spanco Dr. Parking Lot. There are only 16 parking places, so make every effort to be on time, or even a tad early.

We will follow the Pink Trail, with its views of the Lake Conestee Dam and the South Bay Observation Deck. We will then follow the Yellow Trail and the White Trail, looping back to the Marrow Bone Overlook. Re-joining the Yellow Trail, we will then take a piece of the Swamp Rabbit Trail to the Future Native Plant Society Greenhouse Entrance. Retracing our steps, we will loop past the Shortleaf Shelter, the Henderson Meadow, and the Piedmont Steeps. We will then make our way back to the start point. I estimate the walk at about 5 miles, but it is hard to tell with piecing together portions of various trails. For sure, we will be stopping to take lots of photos.

Admission is free with a suggested donation of $3 apiece (unless there ends up being 10 or more of us, in which case there is a required fee of $5 apiece).

Bring water and a protein snack. There appears to only be one restroom facility, about midway on the walk. I did not find information about dogs in the preserve, so please hold off this time (and hopefully we will discover you can bring them on future trips).

The Pink, Yellow, and Swamp Rabbit Trails are paved; the White Trail is not. Sneakers will probably be fine, unless there has been a lot of rain recently, in which case I would recommend light hiking boots. I don't anticipate needing walking sticks, but I plan to bring 1 just in case. Due to the White Trail, I don't recommend wheelchairs this time, but trail strollers should work just fine.