Chester
HOURS
9 a.m. - 6 p.m., daily (extended to 9 p.m. during Daylight Saving Time)
OFFICE
11 a.m. - noon, daily
ADMISSION
$3 adults; $1.50 SC seniors; $1 children age 6-15; age 5 & younger free
PETS
Pets are allowed in most outdoor areas provided they are kept under physical restraint or on a leash not longer than six feet. Owners will be asked to remove noisy or dangerous pets or pets that threaten or harass wildlife.
No Wifi Available
- Introduction
- Photo Gallery
- Camping
- Things To Do
- Trails
- Picnic Shelters
- Programs & Events
- History & Interpretation
- Groups
- Lakeview Hall
- Area Info
- Unique Features
- Visitor Survey
GET SOME GEAR!
Chester State Park
Midlands
Travis Sellers
Park Manager
I am Travis Sellers, manager of Chester State Park. Growing up in Conway, SC, my family and I visited Myrtle Beach State Park regularly, and many of my childhood memories took place there. We would have picnics, swim in the pool, play on the playground and enjoy each other’s company. While visiting the park, my passion for the outdoors and wildlife grew. Once I got older, I realized that being a park ranger was something that I wanted to pursue as a career.
My favorite thing about Chester State Park is going out on the lake to fish and enjoy the sunset. Fishing is one of my favorite pastimes and the lake it is the perfect place to relax. I would suggest a first-time visitor rent a boat, whether it be a kayak, canoe, pedal boat or stand-up paddleboard, and explore the lake. You can also borrow a fishing rod from the park as a part of the SCDNR Tackle Loaner Program, and fish or get a close-up of the CCC spillway from the lake.
**Our Ultimate Outsider stamp can be found at the park kiosk near the Ranger Station.
Since opening in the 1930s, Chester State Park near Chester, South Carolina has been a haven for hiking, picnicking, boating and fishing for the surrounding communities in the Piedmont Region of South Carolina.
Located midway between Columbia and Charlotte, in Chester, South Carolina, the park centers on a 160-acre lake surrounded by a two-mile nature trail through the pine forest.
A community building, camping, jon boat rentals and an unusually serene, placid setting in the Piedmont Region of South Carolina are among this traditional state park’s attractions.
All of our state parks offer something unique! Have a picnic or try geocaching at Barnwell State Park or explore the South Carolina mountain bike trails at Baker Creek State Park.
BY THE NUMBERS
1
of 16 SC State Parks built by the Civilian Conservation Corps
1
really cool boathouse that sits over the lake where you can fish from and rent boats
160
acre park lake for boating and fishing for the big one
1
community building that accommodates up to 75 people, perfect for meetings or family reunions
3
picnic shelters that are available for rent and are located near the lake
1.3
mile Caney Fork Creek Nature Trail that follows along the shore of the park lake
523
acres in rural Chester County, located smack dab between Columbia, SC and Charlotte, NC
25
campsites with 50 amp service for RVs or tent camping
18
hole and 9-hole disc golf course
472
foot bridge over the park lake for fishing or observing the wildlife
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