Buffalo Creek Preserve — Attraction in Mount Pleasant

The Buffalo Creek Preserve Trail is a great out and back trail with 3 distinct natural environments to please the eye, the feet and feeling of big open land. (regards to South Dakota)

Mt Pleasant has a beautiful natural hidden gem just a few blocks from the main downtown crossroads. With just over 2 miles of trail wandering thru mature pines, winding next to deep creek ravines and reaching over a rocky, sandy & wide open oak-savana.

A bold challenge here, to restore an oak-savana, but long term will benefit the area with oak trees growing into giants, unhindered by other trees and surrounded by grassland and scrub.

Our walk was a great morning hike, seeing the sun thru the tall skinny pines, the creek water with a shining reflection of the blue sky and the suprizingly deep green coolness of the woods after the walk over the open land trail. Two bridges of very different proportions assist you on your way. - no spoilers - but one is very groovy.

Since my first hike here several seasons ago, the parking lot has tripled in size accommodating 20 cars, a new shelter and quality maps & signage. Well done.

This trail is a bit of a challenge - with its length, ups and downs - though not difficult at any part of the trail.

One of the Eastern-most of the Carolina Thread Trail collection, it highligts the Mt Pleasant & the piedmont's natural terrains.

Enjoy the dry fields, the green fields and the deep green woods. Monty

"When the green woods laugh with the voice of joy, And the dimpling stream runs laughing by; When the air does laugh with our merry wit, And the green hill laughs with the noise of...

I've been enjoying this trail every week for a few months now and loved every moment. I invited my friend to join me and we had a lovely time. When we got back to the parking lot we found her driver window was broken in and her purse was gone. Another vehicle in the lot also had a broken window. While waiting for the Sheriff to arrive, we spoke with one of the neighborhood residents who came by for her evening walk and learned this happens regularly. The gentleman who lives directly across the street from the lot pulled into his driveway and got out to grab his mail, saw the sheriff's vehicle and called out to his neighbor, "again?!" They clearly need to set up cameras here if people's property is being damaged and stolen so frequently. I will not be going there again at least until the theif is caught or they put up some sort of surveillance. Clearly my vehicle is not considered a target, but I won't be able to relax and unwind on the trail while fearing for the safety of my...

2.1 miles one way, 4.2 miles TOTAL trail Must turn around back when you get to the end!

Mild Shade (40%) to Plenty tree shade (60%), Trail Detail: visually clear path(ya should not get lost), quite a bit of tree roots scattered throughout(some have a sharp edge!), can take a heavy duty narrow single seat stroller or wagon(I took a wagon for my child), had to lift for the bridge steps and perhaps some rough/sharp tree roots but overall very nice hike, some high altitude areas (with steep fall) within the shaded area for toddlers so keep them close, ant nests and bees are also found after the bridge, dogs are allowed but PLEASE keep the area as clean as it already is, you'll hear a neighborhood dog nearby towards the beginning, and there are like 1 or 2 benches throughout the trail to rest upon. Trail is good for bikes ONLY if it's dry (if the tires pick up mud PLEASE do not enter)

Level of Difficulty: 2 out of 5 (5 being...