Croft State Park: The Perfect Park for an Outdoor Adventure Near Spartanburg, SC

Have you visited Croft State Park? With a wooden dock, a clear lake, tiny minnows sparkling in sunny shallow waters, tall trees, horses, hiking trails, and a playground, it sounds like the perfect place, right?  The next time you’re looking for a family adventure, check out Croft State Park!

Spend a Day at Croft State Park

This gorgeous 7,000-acre state park offers miles of hiking, biking, and even equestrian trails. On our visit, we walked the short Lake Craig connector trail and then enjoyed views of an absolutely beautiful Lake Craig. We enjoyed snacks on an adorable little dock and watched tiny minnows in the shallow water around us. Nearby fishermen were also quite entertaining for my crew.

We enjoyed a very peaceful morning in the park. My homeschoolers were able to practice making super sentences with quality adjectives about all the things they were noticing from the dock. “The sun sparkles on the backs of the wiggling minnows.” The next time we go, I’ll bring sketchbooks and writing paper so they can write down their sentences and illustrate. There were definitely plenty of places to sit near the lake, and lots of grass for blankets, if that’s your preference.

You will find bathrooms conveniently near the parking lot for Lake Craig. A short walk up the hill brings you to a nice playground with views of the park’s equestrian facilities. While there were only a handful of horses and riders when we visited, my children really enjoyed watching them as we walked past. The playground was great for my children (ages 4-8), but younger children need careful watching due to the height of some equipment.

Things to Do at Croft State Park

Hiking

There are several trails at Croft, including an easy Nature Trail that’s about one-and-a-half miles. A few of the major trails are Palmetto Trail (Croft Passage), Nature Trail, Foster Mill, Southside Loop, and Rocky Ridge/ Whitestone Springs. You’ll also find several additional mixed-use trails that are designated for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. This park has over 20 miles of mountain biking trails, which is spectacular if you love the sport.

We love taking a small portion of the Palmetto Trail to Fairforest Creek in the summer. It’s not too difficult, so our toddler and four-year-old can come along. It also leads out to the creek, which is a great place to splash in the creek on hot days.

Camping

Camping at Croft should be on your radar for places to go next time you’re ready to pack up and head to the Great Outdoors. The park offers both RV camping and tent camping sites, in addition to a primitive group camping site that can accommodate up to 100 people. Camping sites are on packed gravel and come with electrical and water hookups. There are even hot showers, which as a mom with messy kids, makes taking them camping a little easier.

Canoe, Kayak, and Paddleboard Rentals

One of the great places to do watersports in the area is at Croft. You can bring your own equipment, or you can rent canoes, small boats, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards from the park itself.

For Jon boat and canoe rentals, you pay $15 for four hours or $25 per day. For kayaks and paddleboards, the cost is $10-$15 per hour for the rental. They do not rent after 6 pm, so keep that in mind when planning your trip.

Want to go to Croft?

Admission for Croft State Park is $3/adults, $1.50/SC seniors, and $1/children 6- 15. Children under 6 are free.

Pets are allowed as long as they are leashed.

Park hours are 7 am – 6 pm daily (8 pm on Fridays), and 7 am – 9 pm daily during Daylight Savings Time.

Croft State Park Address: 450 Croft State Park Road, Spartanburg, SC

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