Dolly Cooper Park — Attraction in Powdersville

Currently being renovated (Summer 2022), Dolly Cooper Park has much to offer. Key features include a soccer field, baseball diamond, disc golf course, and access point to the Saluda River.

Up on the hill past the soccer pitch you'll find a great view. This plot may eventually turn into another set of soccer pitches, but is currently fallow field. Just beyond the field is a walking trail / disc golf course with more great views and periodic benches.

Arguably the best feature of the park is the water access to the Saluda River. I wouldn't recommending swimming at this point, but it's an excellent spot for kayaking and tubing. Don't be misled by construction, the access road to the water is open. See aerial shots for details.

Just around the corner from the park entrance, there is walking access to the historic Saluda Bridge (access from both sides, see photos). Access is gated, but I have not been able to determine when the gates are locked, if ever.

This park has been a work in progress for almost 20 years, and is the first park in Powdersville to my knowledge. A very ambitious project, but slowly nearing completion. Many parts of the park feel unfinished. The entrance feels a bit strange, prompting myself among others to think they had made a wrong turn! The recycling center is part of the reason for...

We went tubing off the kayak sluices. Two trips. Would have been a couple more, but despite being labeled "handicapped friendly", for tubers they are not. It is very difficult to get out of the water at the other end if you have mobility issues, and getting in can be difficult too. It would be great if you could add a walk in/walk out ramp at each end to offer more options to the handicapped. The trip itself is beautiful. We saw a wide variety of wildlife, the trip is slow and peaceful, and with the exception of a couple of snags under the water, very easy. Bring your own tubes or floaties, there is no place to rent them. This is a natural environment, not an apartment lazy river, so be prepared. The trails are also great. We wandered around a good bit. The tube trip is short, but so is the walk back, on a concrete sidewalk. I would even take little kids...

As for the park itself, it's kind of odd. It looks like they maintain one of the ball fields and the river dock, but not much else. My son and I canoed from the unofficial put-in spot off Saluda Dam Road and got out here this past weekend. It was a good time! Not the prettiest river (lots of tires, etc in the water). Took us about 5 hours with a snack break. There are 2 rapids in the first stretch (before you get to Saluda River Yacht Club) that could flip an inexperienced paddler, but it would be easy enough to get back in the boat in the water after. There were a couple places with fallen trees across the entire river where we had to get out (sat on the logs) while I hauled the canoe over the trees. The dock at Dolly Cooper park made takeout easy. Just watch out for...