We are lucky to have so many great creeks in the Fort Mill region where kids can splash and play -- and you can feel good about social distancing.
Here are five of my family's favorite creeks in the Fort Mill area to visit. Don't see your family's favorite Fort Mill creek here? Drop me a note at rachaelw@macaronikid.com and I'll add it to our list!
Put on a swimsuit, bring shoes good for creek walking, and don't forget snacks and sunscreen before heading out to any of these Fort Mill area creeks! And remember, always watch your kids in water — no matter how shallow it is!
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Anne Springs Close Greenway
ASCG offers so much fun for the whole family - from trails to creeks and everything in between! The ASC Greenway offers 2,100 acres of natural preserve located in Fort Mill, South Carolina with offers countless activities from hiking, biking, horseback riding, picnics, & more.
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Forty Acre Rock Park
Forty Acre Rock Park offers some great exploring and a sweet little waterfall for the kids to play in alongside a creek. Located in Lancaster SC, Forty Acre Rock Heritage Preserve is a natural beauty. The main attraction of the preserve is a large granite flatrock (actually just fourteen acres) which provides habitat to endemic species such as elf orpine and the endangered pool sprite. Botanists, naturalists, and wildflower devotees come to the rock to observe and study this distinct wildflower community. In addition, hiking the trails for the woodland variety of wildflowers is also popular during the spring.
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McDowell Nature Preserve in Charlotte
McDowell Nature Preserve, located at 15222 South York Rd, Charlotte, has over 7 miles of trail offering hikers and nature enthusiasts the opportunity to explore a variety of terrain with scenic views of Lake Wylie, forests, streams, and a piedmont prairie restoration area. Dogs are welcome but must remain on a 6-foot or shorter leash at all times. Bicycles are restricted to paved roads within the preserve.
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Mineral Springs Greenway in Mineral Springs/Waxhaw
The Mineral Springs Greenway is my best friend's favorite with her three adventurous boys and dog! It offers 1.7 miles of hiking and biking trails complete with some really big rocks on which her boys love to climb. The creek is a must-stop and so much fun for the kids. You can find Mineral Springs Greenway along the Carolina Thread Trail at 6214 McNeely Road in Waxhaw.
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The Creek at Schiele Museum
All within a 0.7 mile trek, you'll experience a pine forest, mixed hardwood forest, and pond and stream communities typical of the North Carolina Piedmont. The creeks are fun to splash in and, if the weather turns, you can always hit up the indoor exhibits. The Schiele Museum is located at 1500 E. Garrison Blvd., Gastonia and you should check the website for hours. The nature trail is free of charge, indoor exhibits are not.
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Dutchman Creek
If you take the trail behind the Museum of York County, you can reach this slow-moving and fun creek for kids. The museum is located at 4621 Mount Gallant Road in Rock Hill.
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Landsford Canal
Landsford Canal State Park is a South Carolina state park in Chester County, 2 mi from US 21. The 448 acre park contains the ruins of the Landsford Canal built using slave labor to bypass rapids on the Catawba River between 1820 and 1825. The spider lilies are in bloom in June and it's a fun thing for the whole family.
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Ebenezer Park
While the water is muddy, and some parents aren't huge fans, we love being able to splash and play at this great park! York County’s Ebenezer Park is a 26-acre park located north of Rock Hill on the shores of Lake Wylie’s 13,443 acre lake that borders both North and South Carolina. Ebenezer Park offers a wide variety of day use recreational opportunities; as well as, overnight stays in one of our 67 campsites.
