Equestrian lovers looking to spend a summer vacation with their four legged friends would do well to consider booking a trip to South Carolina. There are several South Carolina State Parks that offer equestrian camping and trails. Just be sure to bring your horse’s last negative Coggins test results with you. Here’s a brief overview of the top five:
1. Lee State Park
The Lee State Park is located in Bishopville and it opens daily at 8 a.m. The abundance of horse facilities is what makes this an ideal park for equestrian lovers. There are stables, a show ring, miles of trails with varying terrain and plenty of campsites to choose from. There is even ample space to park your horse trailer. You may opt to rough it at a primitive camp site or go for a site that includes electric and water hook-ups. Admission is free and stall rentals are generally a mere $7.50 per night.
2. Kings Mountain State Park
The Kings Mountain State Park is located in Blacksburg. It opens daily at 8 a.m. and admission is a modest $2 per adult. Out of all the South Carolina State Parks it has some of the best trails. The trails connect to the nearby Kings Mountain National Military Park, which also has horse trails. Between the two parks there are over 15 miles of horse trails to choose from. Primitive, equestrian camping is also available on premise for an additional $12 per night.
3. Cheraw State Park
The Cheraw State Park is located in Cheraw and features five miles of woodland, horse trails as well as equestrian camping. Nightly campsite rates start at $10 per site. It opens daily with hours of operation varying by season. Perhaps best of all, admission to the park is free.
4. H. Cooper Black Jr. Memorial Field and Recreation Area
The H. Cooper Black Jr. Memorial Field and Recreation Area is also located in Cheraw. Unlike the Cheraw State Park, it is open 24 hours a day, year round. Admission is also gratis. Not only does the park have equestrian campsites and over 20 miles of sandy trails, there is an onsite stable and show ring as well. Advance reservations are needed for the campsites and prices tend to vary by season.
5. Croft State Park
The Croft State Park is located in Spartanburg and it is often the site of horse shows. That gives you an idea of how good the equestrian facilities are at this park. A show ring and stables are available on site. One of the nice things about the show ring is that it is equipped with lights for night riding. There are also a plethora of trails to choose from that vary in both terrain and intensity. Stable rental prices start at $9 a night and admission is $2 per adult. The park typically opens at 7 a.m. every day, year round.
Killeen Gonzalez enjoys riding horses with her family and has traveled extensively.
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