NC BACKCOUNTRY: HIKING AT ANNA SPRINGS CLOSE GREENWAY

The weather forecast for the weekend was partly cloudy on Saturday and rain on Sunday. Not wanting to pack out from a camping trip in the rain I went online to locate an alternative plan for this weekend and came across somewhere local and interesting. Anna Springs Close Greenway is a 2,100 acre nature preserve in Fort Mill, SC. Opened to the public in 1995 as a non-profit tribute to Anna Springs Close, this nature preserve has an enormous amount of amenities including a 1940's dairy barn, a 125 ft suspension bridge, two 200 yr old log cabins, nature center, a 28 acre lake, four fishing ponds, equestrian, camping, and over 40 miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. Only 20 minutes from Charlotte this was my best choice for a day trip. To get to ASC Greenway go down I-77 to exit 88/Gold Hill Rd, turn left and continue onto Springfield Parkway, pass two lights to Old Nation Rd and then turn right onto Dairy Barn Lane. At the parking lot is an informational kiosk with trail maps and an honor system fee box. Fees vary per activity but for a non-member hiker is only $3. After paying my fee, the trail combination I selected started off passing the Dairy Barn, the Faires-Colthrap Cabin, the Graham Cabin, two friendly donkeys, and a 125 ft swinging bridge within the first mile. Bailey was a little wary of the swinging bridge. After crossing Steele Creek the Blue Star Trail takes you up a service gravel road passing the nature center, the Rush Pavillion, and the primitive campsites straight to Lake Haigler. ASC Greenway offers kayak/canoe rentals on a first come bases or bring your own. I then hiked along the Haigler Loop Trail to Billy's Walk and connected onto Muscadine Trail. This horseback/hiking trail goes deep into an isolated hardwood forest. One would assume they can find great solitude in such an isolated place but the low-flying planes, the charging locomotive passing over the trail, and a nearby roadway reminds you that the sprawling suburbs are all too close. At one point the Muscadine Trail, following Steele Creek, sneaks under the scenic Southern Railroad Trestle to a replica of the Webb Grist Mill. If you block the background noise you'll enjoy over 100 species of wildflowers and a large variety of birds and other wildlife along the way. The trails are not easily marked for a first time visitor so I had to pull my map out several times throughout the day. After crossing over Steele Creek on another swing bridge the trail loops back around. At one point the trail parallels the creek on the left and a hidden open field on the other. The Steele Creek trail runs straight into the Nation Ford Trail. The Nation Ford Trail follows the footprint of the historic Nation Ford Road; part of the Great Philadelphia Wagon Road and a pathway that was used by Native Americans, European settlers, Revolutionary and Civil War soldiers, traders and trappers for hundreds of years. Anna Springs Close Greenway provides a lot of history. Nation Ford Trail took me right back to the Dairy Barn parking lot. Spending most of the day at ASC Greenway I only experienced a small portion of what this nature preserve offers. My next visit I will bring my fishing pole and try my luck at Steel Creek, Lake Haigler, Lake Frances, Lake Crandall, or Stumpy Pond. These lakes and ponds are stocked with bass and catfish. Bass smaller than 12" in length must be released but I can keep all the bream I catch. Fishing here is restricted to members only and a SC fishing license is required. Anna Springs Close Greenway is open year-round, seven days a week from 7am to sunset. I definitely plan on visiting ASC Greenway again and again until I've hiked all 40 miles of trails.

www.ascgreenway.org

Hike: 7 Miles