Sesquicentennial State Park, located in the Sandhills region, lies near Columbia, South Carolina. Also known as Sesqui, it was established in 1936 for Columbia’s Sesquicentennial (150th anniversary) Celebration. Activities include hiking, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, pedal boating, and camping – all around a 30-acre lake. The park also offers a splash pad, dog park, and picnic areas.
Sesquicentennial State Park
2024 Price: $6 per person
Hiking Trails
There are three hiking trails and an additional biking trail in Sesqui. I hiked two of them: Sandhills Hiking Trail and Jackson Creek Nature Trail.
Sandhills Hiking Trail/TRACK Trail
Sandhills is an easy 1.9-mile loop. It is a TRACK Trail designed for kids and families as part of the Kids in Parks program.
This trail circles the lake offering views of the water and quiet moments in the pine forest. White diamond markers blaze the way. From the parking lot, I started my hike counterclockwise (to the right).
I loved the reflection of the clouds in the lake during my visit. The temperature was mid-70s, making it a perfect day to explore.
While the path is paved (along with wooden boardwalks to cross wetlands), I would not consider it universally accessible. The pavement is deteriorating and very uneven in sections. At times it is just gravel and dirt. While I still consider it an easy trail, I suggest caution for those with serious mobility issues.
A positive for the Sandhills Trail is that the surrounding pine trees provide shade most of the way. Because the multi-use Loop Road Trail uses an existing roadbed, it has less shade and is often under direct sunlight.
The far end of the loop had beautiful views of Jackson Creek! I stood here for a long time taking in the forest sounds.
A portion of the trail shares the same path as the Loop Road Trail and the Mountain Bike Trail. It was noticeably more crowded. This section was short, and I was soon back in the woods to continue the Sandhills Trail.
Jackson Creek Nature Trail
Near the bridge and spillway cascades, I split off to take the 0.5-mile Jackson Creek Nature Trail through the woods.
Marked by yellow blazes, this trail offers interpretive boards with information on local flora and wildlife.
Wildlife
As busy as the park was on the weekend I visited, there was still a lot of wildlife to see.
Canada geese played in the lake and along the shoreline. In the forest were American redstarts, Carolina chickadees, Carolina wrens, great crested flycatchers, northern cardinals, red-eyed vireos, and white-eyed vireos.
Eastern gray squirrels jumped from tree to tree and chattered amongst themselves.
I saw shrews for the first time! In the leaves next to the trail, I spotted two tiny critters chasing each other. At first, I thought they might be baby chipmunks or squirrels, but they turned out to be short-tailed shrews. They were quick to dive below the leaves when I stopped walking but one was kind enough to pop its head up long enough for me to take a few photos.
Another unexpected sight was multiple large broad-headed skinks. I found three along the Sandhills Hiking Trail, although I am sure there were more that I didn’t notice. The largest one looked almost a foot long! A shorter one by the lake thought he was hidden by leaves, so I was able to get shots before he dashed away.
Sesquicentennial State Park is great for a family getaway. Every picnic area was full during my visit in early May. Plus, the ability to rent boats, canoes, or kayaks gives visitors the chance to explore the lake.