Croft State Park is a green retreat in the heart of fast-growing Spartanburg County. With its rich history, the park boasts many exciting and fun filled activities for the entire family. There are excellent resource based recreational opportunities such as camping, boating, fishing, geocaching, birding, hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. The park also has a playground facility, picnic areas, and three large picnic shelters. These activities and facilities give you the chance to become one with nature and observe its true beauty.

The surface is a mixture of rocky root systems with some boggy spots that may be closed during rainy weather. Once part of a World War II Army training camp, this 7,000-acre park includes forgotten military structures, an old gristmill and cemeteries from earlier settlers. But the park’s greatest asset is its land: Rolling terrain, hills, and creeks provide a fertile habitat for numerous deer, fox, wild turkeys, and raccoons. The park has excellent equestrian facilities including 54 horse stalls with fresh shavings available every night and a first-class show ring. Croft State Park is an excellent destination for serious equestrians.

Croft offers many loop trails, from moderate to strenuous. Please note, it is recommended your horses be shod, but it is not required. A Coggins test is required.

The Rocky Ridge Trail and the Foster Mill Loop are considered moderate to strenuous. The Lake Johnson Loop, Beech Tree Trail, Fairforest Creek Trail and Lake Johnson/Fairforest Creek Connector trails are considered moderate. The Craig Trail is considered an easy trail, so there is definitely something for everyone!

The Craig Trail, Croft Passage and Lake Johnson/Fairforest Creek Connector are multi-use trails, meaning mountain biking, hiking and horseback riding is allowed, so be considerate of others when on these trails. All other trails are for hiking and equestrian use.

Difficulty: Easy to Strenuous

Camping: Call 1-866-345-PARK (7275) or go online at www.SouthCarolinaParks.com to make your reservations today!

From I-85: Take exit 78. Get on Hwy. 221 and take Hwy. 176 to Country Club Road. Turn right on Country Club Road. Turn left at the light (Hwy. 56). Stay on Hwy. 56, turn left onto Dairy Ridge Road and follow signs.

From I-26 Eastbound: Take exit 22, go east on Hwy. 296 for approximately one mile, turn onto Hwy. 295 until it intersects with Hwy 56. Turn right onto Hwy. 56, then take a left at Dairy Ridge Road and follow signs.

From I-26 Westbound: Take exit 52 onto Hwy 56. Go north for 30 miles. Turn right onto Dairy Ridge Road. Follow signs.