40 Acre Rock

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40-Acre Rock.
Tucked away in Lancaster South Carolina is a trail well known to the locals but off the beaten path for day hikers. 40 Acre rock is a gem of hiking path, it is not hard, and is a fun day trip. If you are not from Lancaster it’s a fun drive through South Carolina backwoods to reach these out of the way paths. 40-Acre Rock is a part of the Flat Creek Heritage Preserve. ON the trails to top you will see waterfalls, caves and a beaver dam. The main attraction, however, is at the top of the trail when you emerge from the forest to a flat rock that allows the hiker to see for miles.
Named 40 Acre rock, the rock is not 40 acres, but measures 14.7 acres, and rather looks more like the surface of the moon that like most rock formations. The depressed areas in the rock are home to 16 rare plant species. Twelve of the plants are endangered species. A tiny plant, amphiantus or "pool sprite," is the rarest. It is known to exist in only 5 other places in the world. All of the plants have adapted to their environment so well that, even though the pools dry up in the summer, the seeds survive and the plants bloom the following spring.

There is a unique history behind the rock. It is believed that the Indians ground their corn in hollowed pits on the rock's surface. The early settlers knew one particularly large pit as "King Hagler's Punchbowl," in reference to the popular Catawba king who was slain by Shawnee Indians in 1763.

This poem was written about 40 Acre Rock.

Eternal rock, oh, where's that race,
Of those who roamed your base around?
Time echoes back that scare a trace
Of all that race can now be found.

T.R. Magill - 1850


So pack a lunch and walk around enjoy the unique landform. But my suggestion is bring water. It is hot with no trees and the sun pounding down. There are caves. I am not a spelunker myself and afraid of dark closed in spaces so I did not explore this area. If you are into plants and want to explore closer to home this is a fun place.

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Comments

[Pat Foster]

THE rock
Trisha, one of the best you,ve ever done. DO MORE. gRANDMAMA