Lake Conestee Nature Park currently includes 2.1 miles of natural surface trails, 650 linear feet of boardwalks, and a 2/3-mile paved trail. The park also boasts a spectacular observation deck between two beaver dams in the wetland areas of LCNP.
This Phase I Trail System will soon be expanded to include an additional one-mile natural surface trail along the East Bay of the Reedy River on Forrester Farm and behind the former Municipal Stadium. A bridge across the river will connect this new trail with the existing trail network. An additional observation deck will be added on Forrester Farm with views of the East Bay of Lake Conestee. This new trail will allow for increased visibility and public access along Mauldin Road.
A Phase II Trail System will be added within the next two years. This system will include a 1/4-mile trail within Henderson Farm, and a 1 1/2-mile paved trail from the trailhead on Fork Shoals Road along the boundary of Lake Conestee to the Conestee Mill. This paved trail will be part of the main spine of the Swamp Rabbit Greenway System.
The Swamp Rabbit Greenway System will include a 17-mile paved trail from Travelers Rest down to Conestee. Lake Conestee Nature Park will include a significant portion of this Greenway Trail along the Reedy River from I-85 to the Conestee dam. The portion of the Greenway Spine within LCNP should be completed by 2010. LCNP will also act as the southern “hub” of the developing Greenway network.
BirdingStarting in January 2007 the Greenville County Bird Club (GCBC) has held an organized visit to LCNP on the 3rd Saturday of each month. Members and non-members are welcome to participate in these trips.
LCNP is featured on the Carolina Bird Club web site as a birding site in SC (see below) and on e-bird.org as a birding “Hot-spot” in SC. Lake Conestee Nature Park will also be included in a new Falcon birding guide to South Carolina.
After visiting Lake Conestee Nature Park, “2 Blind Squirrels” felt the wetlands, boardwalks, observation deck, red flagged trees, and bootlegger atmosphere just screamed for a Pirate story. Thus, L.E.G. #9 - Pirate's Quest was born. The wetlands are now a pirate's bog. You walk the planks, go to the crow's nest, and count bloodied mates (red trees). Each of the 5 trails is dedicated to a different pirate with a little history thrown in. The rules of the park are to stay on the trails, so all of the caches are on the edge of the trail. There are clues and codes to collect, puzzles to solve and best of all you get to travel all of the trails!
For more information, go to www.geocaching.com. To find the Pirate's Quest, click the title "hide and seek a cache" link. Under “Other Search Options,” enter the Waypoint GC1569P. To get the full listing you will need to register for a free membership.
This is Cache #9 in the League of Extraordinary Geocachers (L.E.G.) Challenge. This cache is located in Greenville County. You must sign provided log to get credit for this cache. "NO SIGNED = NO FIND". Parking lot coordinates: N34.46.690 W082.21.630
This cache is part of the L.E.G. Challenge sponsored by the Upstate South Carolina Geocachers Association (USCGA). The purpose of this series is to take you to a number of different caches located in the Upstate of South Carolina. These 10 caches can be completed in any order. Once you find this cache there will be a letter on the log that you will need to record. These letters spell a unique word. Once you have found all 10 letters, you may proceed to the “L.E.G. Bonus Cache”. In order to complete the L.E.G. Bonus Cache, you will need to decode the cache coordinates using these letters. You must complete all 10 L.E.G. caches and the Bonus cache to be in the League of Extraordinary Geocachers. Upon completion of all 10 L.E.G.s of the Series and have found the Bonus cache, your name will be posted on the USCGA website.
This is a multi-stage cache and in order to locate it you will need to find the clues to solve 4 separate Pirate Caches and the final Treasure cache. You will visit 5 different trails each dedicated to a different Pirate. You will be given GPS coordinates for the starting point of each trail and from there clues to locate the next clue or cache. Bring paper and pen, as you will need to record all clues, colors, etc. Read all directions carefully. Once you find a pirate’s cache you will find the clue for the start of the next pirate search and a code for Blackbeard’s Treasure Cache.
The final puzzle has only 1 right answer. If the pieces don't all fit, you are wrong and need to try again.
Please return all stages to their original positions.
This series is set in the Lake Conestee Nature Park. Please follow all of the rules of the Park. STAY ON THE TRAILS! All finds are on the edge of the trail. Only Blackbeard’s Treasure is slightly off trail but NO bushwacking is needed. Do not enter the wetlands, lake or streams. Pets are allowed on leashes but not in the water. The Park is open from sunup to sunset.
This is a wonderful nature area so please take your time, keep your eyes and ears open and you might find a treasure greater than Blackbeard’s and that is the treasure of Mother Nature.
If you decide to go on this quest, proceed to the posted coordinates, which is the starting point to find Calico Jack Rackham’s Cache. It is along the yellow trail and the first clue is: 93 paces along the trail from the yellow post.
It would be helpful to print out the Pirate’s Quest Map in the photo gallery.