Warren Mary Ellen
Ranger
Continuing on our quest to visit all the state parks of South Carolina, we visited Baker Creek State Park near McCormick, SC and very close to 2 other parks we had already visited and reviewed, Hickory Knob and Hamilton Branch. Baker Creek is only opened for about 6 months, from March to October and was closed when we went to the other 2 in January. All 3 of these are located on Lake Strom Thurmond (sometimes called Lake Clarks Hill).
The campground has 50 sites that are gravel with what you would expect in a picnic table and fire ring. Many of them are on the lake and you probably want one of these. The inside of the loop usually backed up to someone on the other side of the loop. Sites are close together so you want have a lot of privacy. Not sure why they didn't spread them more, this park is 13oo acres and there is not a lot else here. Weekends are probably full and with mostly locals. I used to work closer to here and it was popular with a lot coworkers who camped, especially if they fished. When we give this a try, it will be a weekday trip when it will not be so crowded and I can get on the lake.
This would be great place to camp if you like being in a pretty remote area. A lot of the surrounding area is part of a National Forest. There are some hiking and mountain bike trails. Good place if you bring a kayak/canoe with you. It is on a side spur of Lake Thurmond instead of on the larger part of the lake. There is an outfitter nearby too. At the park office, they had maps available showing you the distances between various points of interest. There are 2 boat ramps here and others available in the National Forest and at the other two nearby state parks. The park has a really nice, big covered pavilion that hangs out over the lake down at the office. There is a massive grill there if you wanted to host a lot of people there with plenty of picnic tables. (see Pic) A lot of golf courses including some pretty close to this place. One is Hickory Knob State Park.
About 45 minutes or so from I-20. McCormick is a really small town, but other nearby towns or cities include Abbeville, SC, Greenwood, SC, Aiken, SC and North Augusta, SC plus Augusta, GA is on the other side of the state line. All of these are much bigger places but you might want to check you have all your supplies going in. Basic stuff you could find in McCormick, but if your mouth is set on grilling Sockeye Salmon you better get it on your way in. With the National Forests and state parks there are lots of outdoor activities in the area. Edgefield has the National Wild Turkey Federation Headquarters there as well.
Baker Creek | South Carolina Parks Official Site
The campground has 50 sites that are gravel with what you would expect in a picnic table and fire ring. Many of them are on the lake and you probably want one of these. The inside of the loop usually backed up to someone on the other side of the loop. Sites are close together so you want have a lot of privacy. Not sure why they didn't spread them more, this park is 13oo acres and there is not a lot else here. Weekends are probably full and with mostly locals. I used to work closer to here and it was popular with a lot coworkers who camped, especially if they fished. When we give this a try, it will be a weekday trip when it will not be so crowded and I can get on the lake.
This would be great place to camp if you like being in a pretty remote area. A lot of the surrounding area is part of a National Forest. There are some hiking and mountain bike trails. Good place if you bring a kayak/canoe with you. It is on a side spur of Lake Thurmond instead of on the larger part of the lake. There is an outfitter nearby too. At the park office, they had maps available showing you the distances between various points of interest. There are 2 boat ramps here and others available in the National Forest and at the other two nearby state parks. The park has a really nice, big covered pavilion that hangs out over the lake down at the office. There is a massive grill there if you wanted to host a lot of people there with plenty of picnic tables. (see Pic) A lot of golf courses including some pretty close to this place. One is Hickory Knob State Park.
About 45 minutes or so from I-20. McCormick is a really small town, but other nearby towns or cities include Abbeville, SC, Greenwood, SC, Aiken, SC and North Augusta, SC plus Augusta, GA is on the other side of the state line. All of these are much bigger places but you might want to check you have all your supplies going in. Basic stuff you could find in McCormick, but if your mouth is set on grilling Sockeye Salmon you better get it on your way in. With the National Forests and state parks there are lots of outdoor activities in the area. Edgefield has the National Wild Turkey Federation Headquarters there as well.
Baker Creek | South Carolina Parks Official Site
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