Since the time Native Americans first visited Laurens County thousands of years ago, the great outdoors has been drawing people to our area. Little has changed in the past millennium or two as Laurens County abounds in recreational outlets.
Residents and visitors alike enjoy the pleasures of Lake Greenwood, the smaller Lake Rabon, and the many navigable rivers that dot our landscape. Boating, fishing, water skiing, canoeing and kayaking await the water enthusiast of any skill level.
Sumter National Forest offers a wide variety of activities such as hiking, backpacking, canoeing, horseback riding, mountain biking, motorcycle and ATV riding, target shooting, camping, hunting and fishing. White-tailed deer and wild turkeys are hunted in season, and hunters can hone their shooting skills at Philson Crossroads Rifle Range. The range has six firing lanes with left and right benches. One bench is handicap accessible. The range is open year round.
The national forest is also home to many species of songbirds.
The Sumter Passage is a thirty-six mile trail through Sumter National Forest linking Newberry, Union and Laurens Counties and is part of The Palmetto Trail, a 425 mile recreational trail that traverses the entire state of South Carolina from Oconee County in the northern mountains to coastal Charleston County. The Laurens County leg of the Sumter Passage offers hiking and mountain biking. Primitive camping is allowed with a free visitor use permit from the United State Forest Service (call 864-427-9858). The trail meanders through diverse habitats including a beaver pond, unusual hardwood drains, and the Enoree River corridor. An 80-foot bridge spanning the Enoree provides a superb view of the river. For those looking for less remote walking trails, the Little River Trail in downtown Laurens, the Joanna Walking Path and the Nature Trail at the Laurens County Park on Calvin Bridges Road in Laurens offer pleasant venues for exercise and exploration.
A long stretch of the 61-mile Enoree River Canoe Trail is located in Laurens County. The upper Enoree includes some Class III whitewater, but there is none below Laurens County Road S-98 and the Jones Bridge access point. The remainder of the canoe trail is moderate and ideal for flatwater paddlers. Enoree meant “river of muscadines” in the Cherokee Indian language and the wild, green grape still grows along the river’s banks. Ash, sycamore and hickory trees form a dense and scenic canopy over the water and paddlers will often catch sight of red-shoulder hawks, blue heron, barred owls, mink, muskrat and otters. While most of the land along the river is private, a permit to camp on forestry land can be obtained from the USFS (864-427-9858). Total float time for the Laurens County section of the trail (36 miles) is approximately 15 hours.
For the adventurous trail rider, Laurens County offers the Enoree Motorcycle/ATV Trail and Gulches Off Road Vehicle Park. The Enoree Motorcycle/ATV Trail is easily accessed from Exits 54 and 60 off Interstate 26. Twenty-three miles of interconnecting loops form this trail through the rolling forest hills. Fees range from $5 per day to $50 per year (United State Forest Service: 864-427-9858). Trails are closed seasonally January through March. Riders should wear bright orange during big game hunting season. Insect repellent is recommended during the summer months. If you’re up for a real challenge, Gulches Off Road Vehicle Park is the place for you. Located on Indian Mound Road between Highway 221 and Highway 252, the park is open weekly Thursday-Sunday. There are 17 miles of trails ranging from simple climbs to those needing a lot of horsepower. Fees are $20 for a full day. Guests and 4x4 riders pay $5 each. The park also offers riverside camping. For more information, call the park at 864-449-5698.
A number of parks are located in Laurens County offering picnic areas, sports fields and tennis courts. Rolling S Golf Course is open to the public while members-only courses are located at Lakeside Country Club and Musgrove Mill Golf Club.
Laurens County is home to the Clinton YMCA and the Laurens YMCA, the Laurens City Recreation Department, Dixie Youth Baseball and the Newberry-Clinton-Laurens Tennis Association. These organizations sponsor tournaments and special event throughout the year that attract visitors from a wide area. Competitive cycling has become popular in recent years and a local cycling group has sprung up from within that interest group.
Horse lovers will not be disappointed in a visit to the area. The 32-mile Buncombe Equestrian/Foot Trail is located on the border of Laurens and Newberry Counties on Highway 66 between Joanna and Whitmire. The trailhead is located at the Brick House Campground, easily accessed from Exit 60 off Interstate 26. The Sunset Guest Ranch and Trinity Equestrian Center will delight any visitor to Laurens County and special events centered around the equestrian hobby are held throughout the year.