Kershaw County: Water, History and Equestrian Sports

Lake Wateree is located within Kershaw County and covers 13,025 acres. Eight public boat access points are maintained by Duke Energy and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. The Department manages the lake for recreational fishing and maintains 17 fish attractors there. Boat access and recreational fishing thus represent two distinct interests you can take into account when planning your trip.

Water and Nature Trails

Pitcher plants and sundews are among the plants found at N.R. Goodale State Park, where you can observe them. Another way to experience the park’s natural setting is the N.R. Goodale Canoe/Kayak Trail. It is a three-mile out-and-back route with a moderate difficulty level. Its length, route format, and difficulty give you practical guidance if you’re considering adding a paddling trip to your plans.

The Camden Battlefield and Longleaf Pine Preserve focuses on a different kind of trail: its trail network covers three miles and features interpretive signs. Unlike the out-and-back route on the water, the focus here is on walking trails with accompanying information. The same distance therefore describes different kinds of routes. Camden Riverfront Environmental Park covers 26 acres and is an ecotourism destination. Together, a lake, walking trails, and a park focused on ecotourism offer a range of ways to experience nature.

History Through Tours and Exhibitions

At Historic Camden, self-guided and guided tours offer different experiences. The self-guided tours take visitors through seven historic houses. Guided tours share stories about free and enslaved people who lived and worked in colonial Camden; other guided tours explore the Camden battlefield. The offerings differ in focus: historic houses, personal histories, or the battlefield.

The Camden Archives & Museum features permanent and temporary exhibitions on the history of Kershaw County and Camden. If you’re planning a particular visit, checking the current temporary exhibition topics may help you decide what to see.

The Rev War Living History Park in Camden is a destination for exploring the Southern Campaign of the American Revolution. Historic Boykin is associated with another chapter of history: in particular, the Boykin Mill Pond community was the site of the last battle fought in South Carolina during the Civil War. The historical topics mentioned here therefore represent two distinct eras: the American Revolution and the Civil War.

Equestrian Sports in Camden

The South Carolina Equine Park is a 60-acre center in Camden designed for a wide range of activities, horse breeds, and user groups. Its offerings include hunter/jumper, Quarter Horses, Paint Horses, dressage, ranch horse shows, breed shows, and youth events. The range spans horse breeds and disciplines as well as shows and events for young people. The park invites visitors to attend an event. If you’d like to plan your trip around a visit, check the specific event date in advance.

Discover more destinations: Florence, Fairfield County, Richland, Marlboro County, Pickens County, Hampton County, Anderson, Allendale

For the statewide travel overview: South Carolina.