Lake Wateree & State Park: As the largest lake in Fairfield County, this is one of South Carolina’s premier fishing destinations due to its large population of crappie, bream, largemouth bass, catfish, and striped bass. The Lake Wateree State Recreation Area provides ideal access to the 21-mile long, 13,700-acre reservoir. The 238-acre park features a tackle shop/park store with a refueling dock and public boat ramp. The area also has a wooded, lakeside campground with 72 sites, many that can accommodate large RVs and all with water and electrical services. Day visitors and campers also can enjoy the numerous picnic tables, playground, and the mile-long nature trail through the woods.
Lake Monticello: This 7,000-acre lake offers picnic shelters, fishing, a boat ramp, and a variety of other water recreational activities. The Fairfield Recreation Commission also operates a park at the lake, in addition to a smaller area called the Monticello Recreation Lake, which is located north of the large body of water and is about 300 acres in size. This park offers fishing two days a week, swimming, and picnic facilities, as well as the V.C. Summer Nuclear Station Nature Trail. Enjoy plentiful benches, wood duck boxes, bluebird boxes, and plant identification markers on the 1.5-mile trail.
Sumter National Forest: If you’re an outdoor enthusiast, Sumter National Forest will be a highlight of your experience in Fairfield. Located in the Northwestern corner of the county is 11,080 acres of forest, which, in total, stretches over 253,381 acres of the state and connects with trails and forests in both Georgia and North Carolina.
Palmetto Trail: This statewide hiking and biking trail truly has it all, connecting state and county parks, national forests, nature preserves, wildlife management areas, Revolutionary War battlefields, Native American paths, and much more. It goes directly through the heart of the Midlands, and what’s known as the Peak to Prosperity Passage proceeds west from the Alston trailhead in Fairfield County before crossing the Broad River trestle.
Little Cedar Creek Campground: Enjoy camping on 40 acres of quiet, scenic country land complete with swimming, fishing, walking trails, and more.
Fortune Springs Park: This scenic park in downtown Winnsboro offers several walking paths, picnic shelters, benches, a pond, and a fountain.
Sports & Recreation
Carolina Adventure World: Enjoy this 2,600-acre outdoor enthusiast destination park, the southeast’s largest ATV, UTV, and dirt bike riding park, located in Winnsboro. The park offers 100 miles of professionally designed ATV trails, a championship motocross course, Go Kart course, mud bog, ATV rentals, and ATV and motorbike storage facilities. For those interested in enjoying nature in a more relaxed fashion, the park also offers biking and golf cart trails. Visitors are encouraged to spend more than one day enjoying the park and to stay overnight at the on-site campground.
Collegiate Sports: You’re just a short drive away from some of the best college athletics in the country courtesy of The University of South Carolina, which competes on the national level in all major sports. Enjoy Gamecocks football at the 80,000-seat Williams Brice Stadium, basketball at Colonial Life Arena, or any variety of baseball, softball, tennis, volleyball, and more.
Professional Sports: Travel up to Charlotte to catch a Carolina Panthers football game or see the Charlotte Hornets take on the competition in basketball. Charlotte is also home to professional soccer, field hockey, minor league baseball, and more.
