About: The Forty Acre Rock in Lancaster County, where the Sandhills meet the Piedmont, seems larger than its actual 14 acres. The entire Forty Acre Rock Heritage Preserve encompasses of the most diverse protected area in the Piedmont region, including granitic flatrocks, waterslides, waterfalls, beaver ponds, caves, hardwood and pine forests, and a variety of wildflowers and wildlife. The Forty Acre Rock Heritage Preserve & Wildlife Management Area is designated as a National Natural Landmark.
Birds such as tanagers, warblers, vireos, and woodpeckers are present. The best area for birding is the trail around the beaver pond, covered with a blanket of lily pads, near the lower parking lot.
In the spring, the bright purple compass plant and wild azalea bloom and in summer months, butterflies flock to the yellow false foxglove and other wildflowers. Autumn's colors of wildflowers and turning leaves fades into the winter months, but before winter's end, bloodroots, trout lilies and other plants are popping up. Nearly a dozen rare, threatened, or endangered plant and wildlife species are protected here, including nodding trillium and the green violet or hybanthus. Blue cohash, usually found only in the mountains, grows in the preserve. Longleaf pine and turkey oak, trees typical of the Sandhills, are here, too.
Motorized vehicles, bicycles and horses are not allowed. Fires, camping, littering and alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
Location: From the intersection of Highway 903 and US 601, follow US 601 north toward Pageland. After 1.6 miles turn left on Nature Reserve Road. Follow Nature Reserve Road for 2.0 miles and turn left on Conservancy Road for 0.8 miles to the parking lot.
Hours: The preserve is open during daylight hours.
Links: https://public-lands-scdnr.hub.arcgis.com/pages/forty-acre-rock-hp-wma https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/south-carolina/forty-acre-rock-loop https://discoversouthcarolina.com/articles/hike-to-the-top-of-forty-acre-rock https://www.dwhike.com/Hikes-in-the-South/South-Carolina-Hikes/Forty-Acre-Rock
