HIGHLIGHTS: Cheraw State Park is South Carolina’s oldest state park with a wealth of outdoor activities including hiking and biking trails, boating, fishing, equestrian trails, and even a championship 18-hole golf course. The Cheraw Nature Trail is a short, two mile roundtrip loop hike in the park that shares part of the route with the longer Turkey Oak Trail. The Cheraw Nature Trail starts south of the main park road and is a nice relaxing day hike for the pooch as it winds through a mix of pine and oak wilderness. The loop is lightly traveled, so there will be very little congestion and lots of solitude for hikers and their pets.

From the park road, the trail departs the parking area and heads south through an area with shaded trees - a major bonus in the summer months. After a short distance, the Nature Trail intersects with the loop portion of this route where you can hike in either direction. This profile is shown heading counter-clockwise, so turn to the right and within the first mile notice a short spur trail. This spur leads to the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker Area - a natural habitat for these unique birds. The brief side-hike provides a nice break where you can read the interpretive signs and learn about the animals that are native to this area. The pooch may appreciate break as well and well deserved opportunity to rest the paws.
 

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