Steven's Creek Heritage Preserve
Contact Information
SC Department of Natural Resources
311 Natural Resources Drive
Clemson, SC 29631
Mary Bunch, Preserve Manager
(864) 654-6738 ext. 15
Tom Swayngham, Region 1 Coordinator
(864) 654-1671 ext. 21
Hours of Operation
The preserve is open year-round.
Contributions to the Endangered Wildlife Fund on the South Carolina Income Tax Form help to make the identification and management of these preserves possible.
Important Information for Visitors
Description
Hiking Trail Map (Adobe PDF)
Adobe® Reader® is required to open the above files and is available as a free download from the Adobe® Web site.
Covering 434 acres in McCormick and Edgefield Counties, Steven's Creek Heritage Preserve includes a north facing (and therefore moist) bluff that harbors 15 rare plant species. It is an important protected site for the state endangered Webster's salamander. A loop trail guides the visitor through a mature hardwood forest typical of the Appalachian Mountains, as well as more typical pine and mixed hardwood-pine piedmont forest.
The ridge tops at the Preserve are typical of other piedmont sites. The narrow floodplain is exceptional because it has older growth trees typical of the piedmont interspersed with coastal plain species such as bald cypress and dwarf palmetto are present. In South Carolina, Florida gooseberry (Ribes echinellum) occurs only in the Stevens Creek drainage. This federally endangered plant is of worldwide significance since it is found only at one other place, near Lake Miccosukee, Florida. Florida Gooseberry is a perennial shrub with narrow arching stems about a yard long.
Stevens Creek is home to the state endangered Webster’s salamander. This small, secretive salamander is found only in this part of the state. It is dark brown with a jagged, orange stripe on its back.
The forest community found at the beginning of the trail is dominated by shortleaf and loblolly pine. Scattered along the trail, individual and small clusters of southern pine beetle-killed pines are apparent. Beetle outbreaks are a natural phenomenon, and except in severe cases, outbreaks are allowed to run their course on the preserve. By creating small openings and providing dead snags, beetle damaged areas increase the diversity of the forest community and benefit many wildlife species.
At the base of the bluff, spring wildflowers such as false-rue anemone, spring beauty, lance-leaved trillium, faded trillium, nodding trillium, Dutchman's breeches and green violet provide spectacular floral displays.
Control of invasive plants including Japanese honeysuckle and privet are underway at the preserve.
The preserve is included in the Western Piedmont Hunt Unit of Game Zone 2, and hunting is allowed in accordance with Wildlife Management Area regulations.