Past Events

Freeman Preserve Aiken Land Conservancy September 23, 2023

We had a great turn out for this 3-mile hike. Hike leader Jim Parker and his wife Wendy did a great job of organizing the hike. We even had name tags so we could get to know each other better. The trail provided a nice view of the lake and surrounding area. Jim showed us the connection between the Freeman Reserve trails and Woodside's Hollow Creek Trail.

Dogs were welcome

Hikers pose for picture before the hike

Columbia Canal and Riverfront Park

We had 15 people turn out for this hike on the tow path between the Broad River and the Columbia canal. Easy walking and beautiful scenery. Afterward many of us took in Soda City craft market and had lunch downtown. Columbia.

Talking about a picture of the Broad?

View of Marion Pierce and the Broad River

A Broader Broad River View

Kalmia Trail Hitchcock Woods April 24, 2023

On a beautiful Monday afternoon about 40 hikers turned up to see the spectacular Kalmia blooming on the Kalmia trail in Hitchcock Woods. The valley just below the trail was covered in the white and sometimes pink blooms of the many shrubs growing there. Later on the return circle, we saw the result of the Hitchcock Woods Association’s attempts to control possible fires in the woods using controlled burns. At one intersection of three trails we were able to see a very recent burn, a burn that occurred a couple of years ago, and one that was several years old. It was interesting to see the progression of new growth in the three burn areas.

-- -- Many turned out for this very beautiful hike through the Kalmia Blooms -- --

-- -- Photos contributed by Susan Potter, John Alhaney, Sylvia Velez, and Jim Lefebvre -- --

Big Rock Trail Sumpter National Forest April 15, 2023

We had 13 people turn up for this hike. It was a great day and we all enjoyed our walk around this 4-mile loop. We took several stops for pictures and conversations. This area is very unlike the trails nearer Aiken; as suggested by the name there are several rocky areas, something that does not occur on our local trails. The only disappointment was that several areas were recently
burned to control vegetation and there were a lot of downed trees. However, the good thing was that the trail had been cleared so our hike was not impeded. Thanks to our hike leader Jim Lefebvre for doing such a good job in organizing this outing and helping us find a great new place to hike.

Our Big Rock Group Fronting the "Big Rock" on the Big Rock Trail

Mill Road, Azalea and Oakman trails March 18, 2023

A group of 25 people attended this hike. Our hike leader Ken introduced us to the recently constructed extension of the Mill Road trail which now joins the Azalea trail. This extension allowed us to combine the Mill Road trail and the two loops of the azalea trail for a 2.75-mile hike. We looked for blooms of the native azaleas along the azalea trail but we were too early to see them. Everyone enjoyed the new combination of trails.
When we got back to the parking area, 12 people decided to continue on to hike the 2.5-mile Oakman trail. And guess what we found blooming there? A beautiful native azalea! It must have been in a sunnier location than those on the Azalea trail. Everyone enjoyed the outing. Thanks to Ken for leading the hike and to Susan Potter for submitting pictures.

We hiked both the first and second loops of the Azalea Trail

The new extension of the Mill Road Trail follows a wooded stream

A lone native azalea seen along the Oakman Trail

Blanchard Woods Loop Evans Georgia

February 18,2023: Twenty hikers made their way to Evans Georgia for this hike. Hike leader, Debby, lead us around all the loops for a total of 3.5 miles. It had rained the night before so some areas were rather sloppy but we all made it through. On the way home, several of us stopped for lunch at “Salad Chicken Salad Chick” which served us quickly with delicious chicken salad sandwiches. We never knew there could be so many ways to prepare a chicken salad sandwich!

Hitchcock Woods from Clark Road - January 21

We had 35 people attend this hike. At the beginning of the hike our leader, Louise, provided bottled water and a little snack pack for each participant. She then led us flawlessly up and down the hills of Hitchcock Woods. She also provided a nice long break at the “nursery field” where we chatted and got to know one another.
Thanks, Louise, for a great outing

Rest stop at “Nursery Field” in Hitchcock Woods

New Year’s Day 2023 hike – Oakman Trail

WOW – What a turnout we had for the New Year’s Day 2023 Clear the Cobwebs hike. With all the football games going on previous to the hike, maybe everyone had TV overload and just had to get outside? Maybe the New Year’s Eve celebrations caused a lot of cobwebs that needed to be cleared or maybe the very warm weather was a factor. Whatever the reason, we had a record turnout of 64 people! We all enjoyed the 2-mile hike on the Oakman trail and the cookies and libations afterwards. Thanks, Cheryl, for the pictures.

Come and get it.

Toasting in the New Year!

Our happy group of 64 New Year's Resolution hikers.

And now for next season, we will have . . .

Inaugural Hike Woodside’s Azalea Trail September 11, 2021

A cold front came through Aiken a couple of days before the hike and what a beautiful fall day it was for the 30 hikers who attended the official opening of Woodside’s Azalea Trail. The Development Company sent a video photographer to accompany us on the hike and you can see the video at https://www.dropbox.com/s/jw7ypfaehiwqwjk/Woodside%20Trail%20Ceremony%20Revision.mp4?dl=0
Everyone was impressed with the new trail