Spring is right around the corner. With the warmer weather, if you’re like me, you’ll be looking to get outside and enjoy the weather. A great way to do that is with a day trip. We had 2 great spots picked out to visit out in the countryside of Saluda County - Lake Greenwood State Park and Ninety Six National Historic Site.

This trip is perfect for the family on a warm spring day. We didn’t get so lucky with the whole “warm spring day” part.

My girlfriend, Chloe, and I set out towards Lake Greenwood State Park on a rainy and cold morning. It was an hour’s drive through steady rain but we made the most of it and enjoyed the scenic countryside along the way. We were determined to make the most of our day.

JUST AFTER 10:30 am, we made it to Lake Greenwood State Park. It was still raining but it looked like it would let up, so we drove to a spot where we could see the lake and waited.

The lake had been lowered for the winter. A barren mudflat separated the lake’s winter shoreline from the Pines lining the normal shore. Later on, we would underestimate this seemingly harmless mudflat.

After 15 minutes, the rain had stopped and we could even see a bit of blue sky peeking through. We drove to the campground where the Scenic Shoreline Trail starts.

The 4.5-mile trail has two loops that form a figure 8 and follows the lake’s shoreline around 2 big points and into 2 coves. It ends at the group camping area.

We started hiking on the East Shoreline Loop along the lake. The trail had plenty of puddles from the week of cold rain we had. With waterproof hiking boots on, they posed no problem.

After 0.4 miles of walking along the lake’s shoreline, we made it to a point where the lake surrounded us on 3 sides. Large pines provided shade while letting us enjoy panoramic views of the lake.

We sat on a bench and soaked up the view before continuing on. The trail continued by the shore and back into a cove. At the inside part of the cove, there was a turnoff to head back and cut the loop to 1.5 miles. We trekked on and planned to hike the West Loop as well.

THIS IS WHEN I saw an opportunity that would turn to near disaster. I looked across the drained lake and saw the trail on the other side. I said to Chloe, “how bout we take a bit of a shortcut” and out into the mudflat we went. The mud was a bit sticky, but it wasn’t too deep and we were fine almost all the way across. All of the sudden, Chloe sunk into the mud a bit, tripping her and firmly planting her other foot ankle-deep in the cold mud.

We both flailed around to get her out and in the process, the suction pulled off her shoe.

I went up to land and gathered some sticks to bridge my way into the mud to get her shoe. In the end, we were both okay and probably never really in danger. But, we ended up colder, wet, and caked in mud.

I learned an important lesson about staying on the trail. And Chloe learned to tell me when my ideas are stupid.

The hike around the West Loop was similar to the East Loop. We followed the shoreline around a big point and back into another cove.

Across the drained cove, we could see the group camping area where the trail ended.

WE TOOK A turnoff that cut through the woods and back to the main campground. There were some hills on the way back but it was still a pleasant walk and very pretty.

Back at the car, we cleaned up a bit and left the park.

If hiking isn’t your thing, there’s still plenty to do at Lake Greenwood. Enjoy a picnic at 1 of 4 shelters, fish for bass off the fishing pier, put a boat in the 11,000-acre lake at 1 of 2 ramps or camp at the parks 125 site campground right on the lake.

It was only a 15-minute drive to the small town of Ninety-Six, and just a mile outside of town was the Ninety-Six National Historic Site.

The Historic Site is one of 7 National Park Service sites in the state and was the location of a Revolutionary War battle.

When we arrived, we found the visitor center to be closed, so we grabbed a brochure and I stamped my National Park passport.

The main attraction of the site is a paved 1-mile trail that passes by the surviving earthworks and walls of Star Fort as well as an outline of the original settlement of Ninety Six. The original road connecting Charleston and the Cherokee lands in the upstate also passes through the park.

WE STARTED WALKING on the paved path into the woods towards the battlefield. The trail wanders through a nice hardwood valley before climbing to the top of the field.

There’s an observation tower that gives a better view of the field. The trail weaves around Earthworks dug by soldiers trying to overtake the Star Fort.

Interpretive signs describe the battle that took place here. Further down the trail, we could walk inside the earthen walls of the empty Star Fort.

In one corner, there’s a deep hole from where soldiers pinned in the base tried to dig a well to get water.

Further on down the trail, we crossed the Old Cherokee Path, which you can hike down to the 22-acre Star Fort Pond. We passed by the site of the original town of Ninety-Six. Markers outlined where everything once was. Further up the big field, there is a cool Stockade Fort you can walk into. The mile trail ends at the Logan Log House right by the parking lot.

IF YOU WANTED to do more hiking, the park does have several miles of primitive trails that you are sure to have to yourself, but we didn’t have time to get to them.

With that, we drove the hour back to Lexington. We both had a great day and once the rain cleared out, it was a pretty nice day.

If you have a free day, make the short drive out to see Lake Greenwood and Ninety Six. If you have any questions, please email me at cole.lexchron@gmail.com .