Hickory Knob State Park is located along the shores of Lake Strom Thurmond in South Carolina near the Georgia border. Activities include hiking, biking, fishing, boating, swimming, and camping in the over 1,000-acre park. For those interested in historic places, you can stay in Guillebeau House which was moved to the park in 1983.
There are three main hiking trails in the park: Beaver Run Trail, Lakeview Loop, and Turkey Ridge Loop.
Turkey Ridge Loop
The 1.7-mile loop is the shortest trail in Hickory Knob State Park. This hike is considered easy to moderate in difficulty due to fairly steep hills, switch backs, and sharp curves.
Turkey Ridge trailhead is not far from the park entrance. After driving through the entrance gate, look for The Barn, a red barn on the left side of the road. Park here for easy access to the trail. The Barn parking area also offers access to the 7.2-mile Lakeview Loop.
To begin your hike, cross the road and walk through the fenced trailhead. Turkey Ridge Loop has yellow painted blazes to mark the path. Sporadically, there are white diamond blazes with “Turkey Ridge Trail” written on them.
I visited in May 2020, just after the park opened again from COVID-19. The pine and oak forest was covered in an ethereal, green glow.
Most of the trail is a narrow, dirt path. The first natural marker you will come to is a small creek. There are no bridges, so you will have to find a tapered section to step or hop over.
Be aware that all along the trail there are tall grasses with sharp stickers, shaped like arrows, that catch on clothing and skin, at least in the spring.
Insect Sightings
Early on, I noticed several insects including a question mark butterfly, white moth, and an eastern leaf-footed bug. You can differentiate a question mark butterfly from an eastern comma butterfly by its markings: the question mark has 4 dots in a line on its forewings while the eastern comma has 3 dots. On the underside of their hindwings, there are small markings that look like the punctuation marks they were named for.
As the trail climbs uphill, large sections of moss and lichen line the path. Here, I had to crouch under or step over fallen logs.
Flora and Fauna
Following the trail, I found several vibrant flowers. My favorite was the maroon Carolina milkvine (also known as the climbing milkweed). A female ruby-throated hummingbird buzzed by my ear and settled on a tree close by.
Near the hummingbird, deer tracks marked the fresh dirt. Sadly, I didn’t get the chance to see the animal itself. I did spy a ground skink in the leaves.
On my return, I somehow got turned around and lost the path. However, the loop is small enough that it was easy to find my way back. I just needed to cross the creek again and listen for the road.
Beaver Run Trail
To get to the third trail, Beaver Run, head deeper into Hickory Knob State Park. The trailhead is located across from the lodge/park office building. You can park in that lot.
Beaver Run is a 2.5 mile out-and-back trail. It follows near Lake Strom Thurmond, with offshoots providing access to view the lake. When I visited in September 2020, pine needles covered the dirt path. I consider it to be an easy trek.
White blazes mark the route; often accompanied by white arrows or small diamond markers with “Beaver Run Trail” on them. The path is well blazed and easy to follow.
Almost immediately after starting on the path, I spotted 2 white-tailed deer fawns. Thankfully, they were more curious than scared, so I was able to snap a few photos.
Beaver Run Scenery
The trail is mostly open and shaded by woods; however, at times you have to trudge through a narrow path between bushes. Watch out for spiders and their webs. I ran into several webs face-first! I did have to step over several fallen logs but none of them were difficult. There were multiple dry creek beds as well – so be prepared to traverse streams after heavy rains.
Early on the trail, you pass beside Guillebeau House. The trail jogs next to the gravel driveway and then behind the home itself. Guillebeau House was built circa 1770 by Andre Guillebeau when the French Huguenots settled New Bordeaux. The family’s cemetery is part of the Historic Savannah Valley Railroad hiking trail located nearby.
Lake Strom Thurmond
Shortly after Guillebeau House, there is a sharp right turn to continue the hike along the lake. However, if you go a few feet forward, you can step onto the shores of the lake. It was so nice to get a view of the water and trees while staying cool in the shade. There was even a great blue heron perched on a tree down the shore.
After stopping to watch a pileated woodpecker high in the trees, I found a tiny frog on a plant. He held on tightly as the wind swayed the leaf.
Wildflowers dotted the landscape in beautiful purples, pinks, and yellows. There were also bright purple berries on a bush known as American beautyberry.
The trail ends at the skeet shooting area/archery range. You’ll know you’re almost there when you spot signs with “Shooting Area | CAUTION | Archery Range” on them. Then you will have to turn around and walk the path back.
Beaver Run and Turkey Ridge Loop trails are calm walks full of natural beauty. I recommend them for those in the area looking for easier hikes. Check out my South Carolina blogs for other hikes nearby.