Poinsett State Park
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Poinsett State Park is a 1,000-acre park located in the state of South Carolina.
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Summary
There are many reasons to visit this park, including hiking, mountain biking, fishing, and camping. The park is home to many species of wildlife, including deer and wild turkeys, making it an ideal spot for nature lovers. Visitors can also explore the park's historic Civilian Conservation Corps structures, built in the 1930s.
One of the main points of interest in Poinsett State Park is the 10-acre lake, which is popular for fishing and canoeing. There are also several hiking trails throughout the park, ranging from easy to challenging, that offer stunning views of the surrounding forest. The High Hills of Santee Passage of the Palmetto Trail also runs through the park.
Interesting facts about the park include that it was named after Joel R. Poinsett, who was a U.S. Secretary of War and a South Carolina native. The park is also home to the state champion cherrybark oak tree, which is over 100 feet tall.
The best time of year to visit Poinsett State Park is in the fall or spring, when the weather is mild and the park's foliage is at its most beautiful. Visitors should also be aware that the park can get crowded during peak season, so it is best to plan ahead and arrive early.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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