Cottonwood Trail, Spartanburg, SC, USA

Spartanburg's Hidden Gem: A 115 acre nature preserve with over 5 miles of trails and 1.5 miles of the Lawson's Fork Creek.

SPACE’s first project was the Cottonwood Trail Preserve, currently a 115 acre urban preserve and trail system. Located minutes from downtown Spartanburg, the property protects a 1.5 mile stretch of Lawson’s Fork Creek and several feeder streams. The preserve serves as an important water quality buffer in a fast growing region as well as providing habitat for a myriad of plants and animals. Over 5 miles of trails offer runners and naturalists a break from city traffic. It provides a place for citizens to run, walk, kayak, canoe, and to enjoy other recreational outings. This urban greenspace has many unique and outstanding features including several wetlands, open spaces, geological formations, and offers habitat for deer, wild turkey, fox, beaver, raccoon, numerous birds and reptiles, wildflowers, and trees.

Signs name the trails, and identify over 50 species of trees. A 550 foot boardwalk and observation deck allows users to learn about the different flora and fauna of wetlands.

The Spartanburg Running Club and other runners enjoy the trails as a break from running the streets and sidewalks. Area schools use the trails for their cross-country teams and science classes use the preserve to learn about water quality issues and wildlife habitats.

Local boy scouts have partnered with SPACE on various projects to enhance the preserve. The cooperation has been beneficial to both parties - we offer worthwhile projects to the boys, and we benefit from their hard work. To date, over 60 boys have achieved Eagle awards by completing projects such as footbridges, bird and bat boxes, benches, and kiosks.

Preserve Rules:
Preserve is open from dawn to dusk.
Place litter in trashcans or pack it out.
No motorized vehicles.
No hunting.
No camping.
No campfires.
No firearms.
No paintball.
No climbing on bridges.
No cutting of flowers, trees, plants.
Pets must remain on a leash under owner’s control.
Swim at your own risk- shoes required.

Location:
The Cottonwood Trail is located near Spartanburg High School along Lawson’s Fork Creek. It can be accessed off of Beechwood Drive, below the tennis courts at Spartanburg High School, or off Woodburn Road.

History:
In June of 1989 the "Barnett" property on Lawson's Fork Creek was explored as a possible project. The property was 94 acres of mostly floodplain land with thick vegetation. Walking and biking paths were noted as a possible use of the land. After research and negotiation it was decided that an offer of $20,000 would be made for the property, which was owned by York Place. The Spartanburg County Foundation granted $21,000 for help in this purchase. On February 28, 1990, the closing on the property occurred and a $1,000,000 insurance policy was purchased. A dedication ceremony was held April 20, 1990. Within a few months a nature trail was cut. The trail parallels the creek and would be open to the public.

During the summer of 1992, Duke Power Company built a large footbridge over Lawson's Fork Creek to give access to the other side of the Cottonwood Trail Preserve. Clement Lumber donated the lumber for the bridge.

In 2003, SPACE received a $10,000 Urban and Community Forestry grant from the SC Forestry Commission. We used funds to help build a boardwalk, make signs for the trails and tree identifications, hire a consultant for GPSing the entire preserve and designing a map.

In May of 2004, a 425 foot boardwalk and observation deck was built on the Cottonwood Trail in a wetlands area. Funding for this project came from the Mary Black Foundation, Dr. Clancy Ballenger, and the SC Forestry Commission.

In 2006, SPACE was awarded a grant from the SC Conservation Bank to purchase an addition to the Cottonwood Trail. 29 acres were purchased and adds significant habitat to the preserve. The very next year, landowners Ed Griffin, Ed Miller, and Don Miller donated 3.5 acres that would take our land holdings all the way to Woodburn Road. Morgan Corporation donated the grading and parking lot for a new trailhead there.

In the summer of 2012, the Duke Power bridge was renovated and renamed Rachel's Bridge after our friend, Rachel Ruff. Rachel served on a preserve advisory team and is dearly missed.