Cheraw State Recreation Area

Cheraw State Park is situated near Cheraw, a town on the Pee Dee River in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. The park is one of sixteen South Carolina state parks that was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s. The park is located four miles southwest of Cheraw. The park's 7361 acres of parkland is predominantly covered in tall pines and also hosts a 360-acre reservoir (Lake Juniper) that offers several water-based activities including fishing, canoeing, kayaking, and stand-up paddling. 

One of the key features of this park is that it is the natural habitat of the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker, which is an endangered species. Other unique features of the park include the Hudsonia Flats Heritage Trust Site which protects rare plant species such as the Pixie Moss and the Golden Heather among other plant species. The park is also home to several species of wildflowers including Hunter's Cups and Sweet Pitcher Plants which can be found on the shorelines of the lake.

Besides the water-based activities that can be enjoyed at the lake, Cheraw State Park is also popular for hiking, biking, horseback riding, camping, and boating (10 hp limit). Amenities within the park to facilitate these activities include 17 campsites, two group camps, horsemen's camp, nine cabins, showers, two picnic shelters, hiking trail, bike trails, bridle trails, boat ramp, boat rentals, meeting building, 18-hole golf course, and a playground.

If you have a dog, you are welcome to bring them into the park. You, however, have to follow state park rules including the following rules. Dogs must be under the immediate attention of the dog owner when outdoors and should never be allowed to stray into lodging areas. Dogs must be kept securely confined or leashed. The leash must not be longer than six feet long. That said, dogs are allowed in most outdoor areas of the park although it is important to ensure that the dog is well-behaved. More specifically, the dog should not harass to threaten wildlife in the park nor make too much noise or act in a manner that is deemed to be dangerous.