Pacolet River Heritage Preserve, owned and managed by the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, covers 278 acres in Spartanburg County, SC. Come to bird-watch, take photographs, fish or simply enjoy the woods and river. Leave with a sense of awe sparked by visiting a site important to people thousands of years ago. As you sit watching the river, imagine the lives of the Native Americans who stopped here on their seasonal migrations between the coast and the uplands of the state. What to look for: The preserve protects two Native American soapstone quarries. Early residents of the state came here between 3000 and 1100 B.C. to obtain material from which they made bowls, pipes and other necessities. The soapstone outcrops are fragile and should not be touched. Two uncommon plant species, a moss and a leafy liverwort, are also protected within the preserve. Less rare, but no less interesting, are the pine/hardwoods along the Pacolet River. In summer, the forest shelters wood thrushes, red-eyed vireos, Eastern wood pewees and yellow-billed cuckoos, along with more commonly-seen songbirds. Reptiles and amphibians love the woods, too. Look for harmless black rat snakes and Eastern kingsnakes, as well as gray treefrogs, toads and other amphibians. Allow about 20 minutes to walk the short trail from the parking area to the river. When to go: The preserve is open from daylight to dusk. Spring and fall are the best times to see migrating songbirds, and the hardwoods should produce good fall color. Want to volunteer? If you'd like to volunteer on this preserve, call 803-609-7057 for information on joining the volunteer stewardship committee.