Hikers and cyclists hoping to cross Lake Marion on the Palmetto Trail can now use the recently refurbished 301 Bridge. It is the most recent link in the Trail that joins the coast to the Blue Ridge Mountains.
The bridge offers stunning views up to 40 miles on a clear day. It is a safe and ideal spot for long-distance hikers and locals alike to enjoy the view and get some healthy exercise. No motorized vehicles are allowed on the bridge due to weight restrictions.
If you want to walk on the bridge, you can park either behind the I-95 Welcome Center on the Orangeburg side of the lake or at the trailhead at the end of St. Paul Road on the Clarendon County side. The distance of the walk across and back is about 4 miles.
The SC Department of Transportation completed the work on the bridge with funds provided by the SC General Assembly. The refurbishing was strongly supported by the Palmetto Trail and local groups such as Friends of the 301 Bridge.
A formal celebration of the bridge’s reopening will take place later this year.
