Orangeburg County, SC

Including:

• Branchville
• Elloree
• Eutaw Springs
• Eutawville
• Orangeburg » Find hotels in Orangeburg, SC
• Santee » Find hotels in Santee, SC
• Vance
• Lake Marion
• Edisto River
• North Fork Edisto River
• South Fork Edisto River

Parks and recreation areas

• Baughman's Landing

  This small boat ramp, north of Orangeburg, provides access to the North Fork of the Edisto River. Note that parking here is limited, so this may not be a good place for large groups to meet.

• Branchville Railroad Museum and Shrine

  Branchville, South Carolina, is home to the world's oldest railroad junction, and was on the route of the country's first scheduled passenger train. The Branchville Railroad Shrine and Museum now serves as a reminder of the years when the railroad industry was a dominant force in the United States. Outside, a caboose, a semaphore signal, and several baggage carts are on display. Inside, you can see numerous artifacts, including a model of the "Best Friend" steam locomotive.

  Click here for more information about the museum.

  Across the tracks, you will find an old freight station that awaits restoration.

• Carson Park

  This area provides access to the North Edisto River for small boats.

• Edisto Memorial Gardens and surrounding parks

  Just outside of downtown Orangeburg is a string of parks along the North Fork Edisto River. At the center, you will find the Edisto Memorial Gardens, which feature hundreds of species of roses, as well as wisteria, dogwoods, azaleas, and crape myrtle. The adjacent Horne Wetland Park has a series of boardwalks through the swamp. Many picnic tables are available here, and an arts center is open at certain times of the week. There are plenty of things to see and do here.

  Farther downstream, you will find a disc golf course, the Orangeburg City Landing, and some great riverside pathways.

  Click here to see a history of the gardens.

• Eutaw Springs Battle Ground

  At this lakeside park, you can visit the site of the last important Revolutionary War battle fought in the Carolinas, which took place on September 8^th, 1781. You can also get to the Palmetto Trail from here.

• Eutawville Park

  This small town park in Eutawville has a playground, a baseball diamond, and a meeting building. It is also a convenient parking area for the Palmetto Trail.

• Indian Bluff Recreational Park

  Here is a good place to go for a picnic or to spend a nice relaxing afternoon on the shores of Lake Marion. In addition to some great views of the lake, you will find a boat ramp, a fishing pier, and a short boardwalk through the woods with many Cypress trees. This park is also known as the “Indian Bluff Recreation Area”.

• Joe Miller Park

  The small town park in Elloree, SC has a large grassy field with a stage and a picnic area. Sports facilities include a gymnasium, tennis courts, and a gravel walking trail. Several old buildings are located here as well.

• Livingston Landing

  This unpaved landing for small boats is located along a dirt road, in a remote location south of Orangeburg on the North Fork Edisto River. You can get some nice river views with Cypress knees here. The boat ramp is unpaved and it is not maintained very well.

• Rowe's Bridge Landing

  This paved boat ramp near Rowesville is located along a lightly-traveled scenic highway. It provides access to the North Fork of the Edisto River for small and medium-sized boats. Parking here is limited.

• Santee Cooper Wildlife Management Area

  A scenic wildlife management area with plenty of hiking trails is located on the south side of Lake Marion near the community of Eutaw Springs, SC.

• Santee State Park

  Santee State Park is a popular recreation area along the south shore of Lake Marion, just outside of the town of Santee. Access is easy from Interstate 95, and a wide variety of activities are available.

  Numerous hiking and bicycling trails run through the woods, allowing you to explore the park's natural features. One of these trails, for example, takes you to several sinkholes that have formed over the years with some signs explaining the process of sinkhole formation. Other trails offer some great views of the man-made lake.

  Fishing is very popular here also, with several piers available. Two boat ramps provide access to Lake Marion for private boats. The park store, located on the main pier, offers snacks, drinks, and fishing supplies.

  The Palmetto Trail runs near this state park, but does not pass through it.

  If you are staying overnight, you have a choice of accommodations. Two campgrounds are available for tents and RVs, both of which overlook the lake. The park also offers a group of cabins which are sometimes known as the "roundhouses". Some of these popular cabins are actually located on a pier over the lake. Alternatively, the town of Santee has a number of full-service motels. Click here for information about them.

• Santee Town Hall Complex

  This complex includes Santee's Town Hall, the Cultural Arts & Visitors Center, a gazebo, and picnic shelters. Restrooms and drinking water are available here. This place is a nice resting spot along the Palmetto Trail. Parking is available here, although some of the lots require a special permit.

• Slab Landing

  This is a small boat landing on the North Fork Edisto River.

• Vance Community Park

  This town park has a picnic shelter and a large playground. The Palmetto Trail runs near here, but parking is limited.

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Bicycling routes

For more information about Orangeburg County, see http://www.sciway.net/cnty/orangeburg.html.

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