Rocky Shoals Spider Lilies at

Landsford Canal State Park

It’s that time of the year again when beautiful flowers make their short appearance along the Catawba River. And Landsford Canal State Park is the ideal place to see them in full bloom.

The Rocky Shoals Spider Lilies

The Chester County state park is home to the world’s largest population of rocky shoals spider lilies. These fascinating flowers are a rare species that can be found in Alabama, Georgia and—of course—South Carolina. Unlike other flowers in the state, these lilies can only grow in fast-flowing, rocky shoals of rivers and streams.

The lilies typically bloom from May through mid-June. This year, it is predicted that the lilies will be at peak bloom around the last two weeks of May through the first two weeks of June.

How To See Them

Landsford Canal State Park is stretched along the Catawba River on the South Carolina fall line and is home to the well-preserved remains of the canal system that made the river commercially navigable from 1820 to 1835. Because of its prime location along the river, the state park makes for a great spot to view the lilies during peak bloom.

Take a 1.5-mile, round-trip hike down the Canal Trail to an overlook where the spider lilies can be best viewed. The more adventurous can opt for a canoe or kayak trail that runs through the park.

For the most updated information about this state park, please visit South Carolina State Park’s official website here.