The Upper Chinquapin Greenway

Purchased in 2006 with money from the South Carolina Conservation Bank, the Upper Chinquapin Greenway is 107-acres located on the headwaters of the Chinquapin Creek across from the Milliken Research Center. The Chinquapin Creek is a tributary stream of the Lawson’s Fork and was the source of the city of Spartanburg’s first municipal water system in the late 1890’s.

Adjacent to the Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System’s Hospice home, the Upper Chinquapin Greenway is a complex of properties owned by SPACE, SRHS, and Milliken & Co., and includes 1.6 miles of natural surface walking trails. It is the home of a rare and federally endangered plant, the dwarf-flowered heartleaf, and boasts a diverse stand of ferns and hardwoods, including longleaf pines.

In 2023, SPACE partnered with USC Upstate to embark on a large-scale invasive species removal project on the site to improve the forest health for the benefit of local wildlife and make the trail safer and more inviting for trail users.  Over 300 USC Upstate students have donated 1200+ hours of service time to transforming this space.  Additional groups from Spartanburg Community College, Converse College, and several local businesses have also become involved donating time and equipment to help with the revitalization project.  

Preserve Rules:

• Preserve is open from dawn to dusk Saturday and Sunday.
• Place litter in trash cans or pack it out.
• No motorized vehicles.
• No hunting.
• No camping.
• No climbing on bridges.
• No cutting of flowers, trees, plants.
• No campfires.
• No firearms.
• No paintball.
• Pets must remain on a leash under owner’s control.