Spend a leisurely day on the lake in Greenwood

Looking for a change of pace? Located a little over an hour from Greenville or Spartanburg, Lake Greenwood is the perfect place to boat, fish, and explore with the family.

Lake Greenwood is a magnet for beating the summer heat whether you want to explore the lake by boat, kayak, or paddleboard. Multiple marinas along the lake offer a variety of boat rentals ranging from kayaks to pontoon boats. Taking a pontoon is a popular choice, and you can stop off at restaurants, fishing spots, or join the locals on sandbars and islands around the lake. We recommend water shoes if you plan to try a sandbar!

Before you hit the water, make sure you stock up on the many flavors of boiled peanuts offered by seasonal stands. No boat ride is complete without the classic Southern delicacy of boiled goobers. Try Cajun, original, salt and vinegar and more! Grab your bait while you’re at it and try your hand at fishing for a variety of bass, catfish, and crappie.

Staff tips & recommendations

While the lake is one of Greenwood’s main attractions, there are many fun and family-friendly activities on the way and in Greenwood’s Uptown area. Here are a few!

• If you're taking 385 south to Greenwood, then take a slight detour on Metric Road to catch a glimpse of monadnock known as Little Knob. This isolated, rock hill forms rocky ridge habitat on the UF protected property Warrior Mountain.
• Or, take 25 from Greenville, and stop at Happy Cow Creamery, which is right on the way without any real detour. Take a tour of the farm or visit their fully stocked store to stock up on their delicious offerings.
• Don’t forget to check out the Festival of Flowers in the heart of Uptown in early June, and take in all 57 signature topiary sculptures on display all June in the outdoor gallery. See what else the Festival offers at scfestivalofflowers.org

Taking a nature tour of the lake is highly recommended. Spot the turtles sunning on the shore and logs, look for osprey and bald eagle nests in the trees, watch waterfowl hunting for freshwater snails and clams, or get up close to the docks to find dragonfly larvae. If you’re up early to fish with the sunrise, you’ll catch a glimpse of resident bats returning to their roosts.

If you're really in the mood for a scavenger hunt, see if you can find the fascinating bryozoans attached to submerged docks, rocks, and branches. These brain-like colonies are made of thousands of small, individual animals known as zooids, and they are great indicators of clean water.

The presence of bryozoans shows just how far Lake Greenwood has come since an algal bloom appeared in 1999, caused by pollutants in the Saluda-Reedy watershed. The blooms, reportedly thick enough for turtles and ducks to walk across, threatened aquatic life and water quality.

One of Upstate Forever's earliest projects was forming a coalition to learn about the health of the watershed and ways to address threats to Lake Greenwood. These efforts led to a significant improvement in water quality — good news for today's wildlife, local residents, and visitors seeking a day on the lake.

Stay informed about Clean Water topics

Upstate Forever's Clean Water team advocates for smart policies, safeguards critical watersheds, and empowers communities to take action, so we can continue protecting and restoring the Upstate's rivers, lakes, and streams. Stay informed through our quarterly Clean Water newsletter: The Water Log. Sign up at upstateforever.org/the-water-log

This article is a feature from the Spring/Summer 2026 issue of the Upstate Advocate. To read more from this and previous issues, visit upstateforever.org/newsletter. Lake Greenwood sunset photo by jon holloway.