Lawson's Fork Creek: Edwin M. Griffin Nature Preserve to Glendale Dam

Skill Level: Difficult

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Rapids: Class II , III

Length: 4.80 miles

Duration: 2.5 - 3 hours

Portaging: No

What to Expect

This exciting intermediate stretch of Lawson's Fork Creek includes Class II and III rapids. Because this creek is narrow, paddlers should use caution and expect to encounter strainers or woody debris along the way. Skilled paddlers will enjoy this short stretch of the creek and should expect to encounter a variety of exciting rapids, especially at higher water flows.

Access

Put in:

Edwin M. Griffin Nature Preserve

220 Sydnor Road, Spartanburg, SC 29302

Access Details

Protecting a 1.5-mile stretch of Lawson's Fork Creek, the Edwin M. Griffin Nature Preserve, is a 115 acre urban preserve and trail system owned by SPACE. Located just minutes from downtown Spartanburg, the preserve offers over 5 miles of trails, numerous plant and wildlife species, green space and wetlands. Parking areas are available on Beechwood and Sydnor Drive.

Take out:

Take Out above Glendale Dam

103 Emma Cudd Road, Spartanburg, SC 29307

Access Details

Avoid the dam entirely. Portage is available river right, with river accesses above and below the dam.

Trip Details

Waterway:

Lawson's Fork Creek

Downstream Trip (1)

Lawson's Fork Creek: Glendale Shoals Preserve to Goldmine Road

Comments (2)

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Peter Crumb

Jun 13, 2023 11:16 am EDT

Ran this run yesterday two spots I had to hand pull through river blockages three unrecorded Portages first not so bad as trail right next to river the second a bush whack. All these stoppages are correctable with some trail Maint. last blockage i have never seen that much garbage build up on a river. I looked before heading out you said run able. Gopaddlesc get your river reports right. If you are having trouble maintaining reach out and ask for help.clearing crews can help. SC has some potentially beautiful waterways . N, S, middle tigers Lawsons creek and many others. What can I do to help make these water ways the destinations they need to be

Hannah Barney

Apr 07, 2021 8:06 am EDT

Tried this on April 4th. There was so many fallen trees and complete blockages of the river. We had to drag our Kayaks over trees or get out and go around the larger blockages. As soon as we got back in our kayaks, we would have to get out again because of another blockage.