Stretched along the Catawba River on the South Carolina fall line, the Landsford Canal State Park is home to the well-preserved remains of the canal system that made the river commercially navigable from 1820 to 1835.
Landsford Canal State Park is home to the world’s largest population of Rocky Shoals Spider Lilies. These beautiful flowers bloom each year along the Catawba River and can be viewed from the park from May through mid-June. A 1.5-mile, round trip hike down the Canal Trail takes you to an overlook where the spider lilies can be best viewed. For an even better view of the spider lilies, you can even kayak or canoe through the canal.
Every year in mid-May, Landsford Canal State Park holds a 1 day Lily Fest, when the spider lilies are in peak bloom. Though the 2014 date has not been released yet, the event runs from 12-5 and the park is filled with bands, vendors and visitors coming to see the beauty of the spider lilies. You can learn more about Lily Fest in this video.
Landsford Canal State Park is located at 2051 Park Drive, Catawba, SC. The park is open daily from 9 am – 6 pm and admission is $2 for adults, $1.25 for seniors, and children 15 & under are free. If you’ve not taken the time to see this natural beauty before, make plans to do it this year.
