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Lynch’s Woods Park, located off Hwy. 76 just east of Newberry, South Carolina is a local gem. Although the park has been around for a number of years, it has only recently begun to attract visitors from outside the Newberry area. A three mile section of the park has been designated as part of South Carolina’s Palmetto Trail, and that has led to its discovery by a wider group of users.
The 286 acres that today make up Lynch’s Park was once part of a larger tract of land that was owned by Elijah Lynch in the 1840s. The land was eventually acquired by Newberry County. In the 1930s the Civilian Conservation Corps began to develop the park, and a road, stone walls, and a camp were built. The park was used through the 1940s and 1950s, and then began to fall into disrepair. Since the 1990s many improvements have been made to the road and the facilities.
Lynch’s Woods is a lovely upland forest containing loblolly pine, tulip poplar, hickory, and white oak trees. Several small creeks run through the park. Access into the park is by a four mile gravel road. There are designated loop trails for hikers and bikers, including a 7.5 mile mountain bike trail of moderate difficulty. Some trails are also designated for horseback riding. In addition, there are picnic shelters, rest rooms, and primitive campsites.
Three miles of trail within the park are part of the Palmetto Trail, a 425 mile recreational trail that will eventually connect the mountains with the sea. When finished, the trail will begin at Oconee State Park in the Upstate and end on the coast north of Charleston. The Palmetto Trail will be a multipurpose trail designed for hikers, bikers, and equestrians. A network of other trails will branch off of it. Approximately 2/3 of the trail is complete and open to the public, including the three mile section incorporated within Lynch’s Woods. This section is known as the “Gateway to the Upstate”.
After a day of recreation in Lynch’s Woods Park, visitors should save time for a stop in historic Newberry. This city has a charming downtown with many buildings that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors will enjoy Newberry’s many antique and specialty shops, and its fine restaurants. The city is also home to picturesque Newberry College, a liberal arts college founded in 1856.
