722 King Street, Columbia, SC 29205
Phone: (803) 771-0870 Fax: 771-0590
Contact: Mary Roe Interim Director
January 14, 2020—FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Public Meeting about Palmetto Trail
Set for Jan. 21 at Table Rock State Park Lodge
COLUMBIA, SC — Palmetto Conservation Foundation will host a public meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 21, to share information and seek comments about a new outdoor recreation trail in the Jocassee Gorge.
The trail is a new section, or passage, that will contribute additional miles toward finishing the cross-state Palmetto Trail. The passage will connect strategic places in the Upstate from Cleo Chapman Road to the Blue Wall Passage. The meeting is scheduled for 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Table Rock State Park Lodge, 233 Table Rock State Park Road, in Pickens. The planned Passage will accommodate hiking.
When completed, the Palmetto Trail will offer continuous mountains-to-sea hiking from Walhalla to Awendaw. The Trail is a free, public resource available to state residents and visitors of all ages and abilities for active, nonmotorized outdoor recreation, which includes hiking on all passages and backpacking, camping, mountain biking, street cycling and horseback riding on designated passages. At present, about 360 miles of the 500-mile Palmetto Trail are open. Visit www.palmettoconservation.org to learn about the Trail, download free maps, and become a member of Palmetto Conservation and supporter of the Trail.
Palmetto Conservation Foundation is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving South Carolina’s natural and cultural resources, preserving historic landmarks, and promoting active outdoor recreation on the Palmetto Trail and other greenways. PCF’s largest and best- known project is the Palmetto Trail. For more information, visit www.palmettoconservation.org or Facebook/palmettoconservation.org.
About the Palmetto Trail
The scenic Palmetto Trail is one of 16 cross-state trails in the United States and is recognized regionally and nationally as a visitor-friendly attraction. The Trail inspires active, healthy living and showcases the state’s diverse natural beauty, fascinating history, and rich rural and urban culture. From mountains to sea, the Palmetto Trail connects Oconee County to Pickens, Greenville, Spartanburg, Union, Laurens, Newberry, Fairfield, Richland, Sumter, Clarendon, Orangeburg, Berkeley and Charleston counties. When finished, the Trail will extend about 500 miles from Walhalla to Awendaw. With 28 completed passages and multiple trailheads, the Palmetto Trail’s 360 miles are accessible from anywhere in the state for day trips, weekend jaunts and longer treks. Passages are typically fewer than 15 miles in length, but range from 1.1 to 47 miles and feature wilderness and backcountry paths, urban bikeways, greenways, rails-to- trail conversions, city sidewalks, and even the steps of the State Capitol. The Trail connects private and public lands, state parks, national and state forests, Revolutionary and Civil War sites, and numerous cities, towns and communities. For information and downloadable maps of Palmetto Trail passages, and to become a member of Palmetto Conservation and supporter of the Palmetto Trail, visit www.palmettoconservation.org.
About Palmetto Conservation
The mission of Palmetto Conservation Foundation (PCF) is to conserve South Carolina’s natural and cultural resources, preserve historic landmarks, and promote outdoor recreation through trails and greenways. Founded in 1989, PCF is a statewide nonprofit organization with headquarters in Columbia. PCF’s largest and best-known project is building and maintaining the mountains-to-sea Palmetto Trail. In 2016, PCF inaugurated the Palmetto Conservation Corps to help interested young adults in South Carolina learn skills in trail maintenance and construction, assist with disaster recovery, and develop as the next generation of conservation stewards and leaders. The Palmetto Conservation Corps is South Carolina’s only trail-based AmeriCorps service program for young adults. To learn more about Palmetto Conservation, the Palmetto Trail and the Palmetto Conservation Corps, visit www.palmettoconservation.org and Facebook/palmettoconservation, or call 803-771-0870.
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