Bunched Arrowhead Heritage Preserve
Contact Information
SC Department of Natural Resources311 Natural Resources Drive
Clemson, SC 29631
Mary Bunch, Preserve Manager
(864) 654-6738 ext. 15
Tom Swayngham, Region 1 Coordinator
(864) 654-1671 ext. 21
Hours of Operation
The area is open only during daylight hours.
Contributions to the Endangered Wildlife Fund on the South Carolina Income Tax Form help to make the identification and management of these preserves possible.
Photographs
Description
This 178.7 acre preserve offers a 1.25 mile hiking trail that traverses a diversity of habitats. The habitats range from grassy fields to brushy fields to upland pine-hardwoods to bottomland hardwoods. Visitors can see grasshopper sparrows, blue grosbeaks, indigo buntings, bluebirds, cardinals and quail (to name just a few species). The trail forms a large loop starting and ending at opposite sides of the parking area. Be advised that poison ivy and dog ticks are abundant.
This property was purchased to protect the federally endangered bunched arrowhead plant Sagittaria fasciculata, which occurs in wetland seeps within rare Piedmont seepage forest. Other rare plants found there include climbing fern Lygodium palmatum, and dwarf-flowered heartleaf Hexastylis naniflora.
A portion of this property was purchased with the assistance of The Nature Conservancy and a 19.6-acre tract was acquired via mitigation by the SC Department of Transportation.
No hunting is allowed. The property is frequently used for research projects by nearby Furman University faculty and students. All research requires a permit by the preserve manager.
This Heritage Preserve is sometimes closed for public safety when we are conducting controlled burns.