Winding its way through stunning natural habitat and meandering along the banks of Lawson's Fork Creek, the Cottonwood Trail is located on the City's Eastside.
The Spartanburg Area Conservancy's (SPACE) first project was the Cottonwood Trail Preserve, currently a 115-acre urban preserve and trail system. This property protects a 1.5-mile stretch of Lawson's Fork Creek and several feeder streams. More than 5 miles of trails offer runners and naturalists a break from city traffic. It provides a place for citizens to run, walk, kayak, canoe, and enjoy other recreational outings. This urban greenspace has many unique and outstanding features including several wetlands, open spaces, and geological formations, and offers habitat for deer, wild turkey, fox, beaver, raccoon, numerous birds and reptiles, wildflowers, and trees.
Signs name the trails and identify over 50 species of trees. A 550-foot boardwalk and observation deck allow users to access this part of the preserve and learn about the different flora and fauna of wetlands.