Garden of the Waxhaws

Andrew Jackson State Park is located near Rock Hill, S.C. and the Garden of the Waxhaws Trail is a one-mile hike that begins at the fishing dock. It is a roundtrip loop hike which winds around a lake in the northern section of the park. The trail is straightforward, well marked, and great for older or smaller dogs that prefer an easy day on the trail. Hikers that appreciate a leisurely afternoon on the trail will also enjoy the gentle terrain of this trail.

Start by hiking counter-clockwise past the boat dock headed northbound along the lake. In a few minutes, the sights and sounds of the park campground may be heard to the right since it is a short distance away. Keep the pooch on a leash (which is required by the park) and so they don’t wander off to sniff down a camper’s grill. The trail continues in a northern direction to the 0.5 mile mark where it makes a hairpin turn around the upper edge of the lake and turns back southbound toward the dam. You might chose to let the dog wade briefly in the shallow end of the lake before turning southbound – especially on a hot summer day.