From Columbia, I took I-20 towards Aiken/Augusta, got off at exit 33 South on hwy 39 to Wagener (14 miles), then turned right at Kent Korner gas station at the stop light. Bear to the right onto hwy 302. Go for about 8 miles past horse farms named "Broken Arrow" and "Hidden Creek". There is cotton in the fields ready for harvest. Bag worms are in the branches of small trees. The road is framed by pines and giant oaks turning vertigris and bronze now. Go through Kitchings Mill, stop at the four way and go across and you will be on State Park Road. The entrance is on your right.
The Park Manager, Robert Mahoney, was there and told me an interesting story about how big logs were floated down the Edisto to the lumber mills, but many sank to the bottom. The solution was to wrap rubber tires around the logs and have men swim with them down the river. Some of those logs were used by the CCC to build the camp. This CCC group was African American. There are four artesian lakes and three artesian wells for drinking water.
I took the 3 mile Jungle Trail, a foot path through the forest, as beautiful as any I have seen. There are signs noting the wildlife including the Barred Owl, famous for it's call "Who Cooks for You? Who Cooks for You All?". The Similax vine has been cut back along the way so that hikers do not have to be caught by its barbs. It is also called "Catbrier" due to its cat like scratches that rip the skin of the unobservant.
At the crest of the trail is a short turn off to the put in of the Canoe Trail on the South Fork of the Edisto. Here there is the artesian fountain made of rocks spouting clear water to the left and right. I tasted it and it had a clear metallic flavor. Red, blue and orange canoes are here to put in, Thursday, Sunday and Monday at 10 am, noon and 3 pm and on Friday and Saturday at 10 am , noon and 2 pm. It is a one and 3/4 mile float down river and you take out and leave the canoe on standards. If you just drift with the current it takes 3 hours and if you paddle, it can be much shorter. The cost is $15.00 a canoe for this lazy trip through paradise.
There is camping in a cleared pine area with bathroom facilities or primitive camping along the river with fire rings and privies. You can fish and you can swim in one of the deep, dark luminous green green artesian pools (no life guard).
I left the park, my radio tuned to KRX Oldies singing "Cause you've got:...
Personality
walk personality
talk personality
smile personality
charm personality
love personality
plus you've got
a great big heart!
So over and over
I'll be a fool for you.." -Livingston Taylor
On Hwy 39, I discover this road was once called "Old Ninety-Six Indian Trail" and later I pass Indian Trail Country Club. I drive up through Batesburg-Leesville and on hwy 391 to the lovely small town of Prosperity on the same road once traveled by the early inhabitants of this land.
Post Script: At night, I found I had many many itching insect bites, so use your repellent generously here, it is buggy.
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