Rock Hill’s New Riverwalk Trail Is Now Open To All Visitors. The 2.25 mile Riverwalk Trail along the Catawba River started allowing walkers, cyclist and even skaters on July 1st 2010. Sorry but skateboarders are unwelcome.

To access the trail from Hwy 21/Cherry Road headed toward Fort Mill, turn right onto Dunkin’s Ferry Road, shortly before the Hwy. 21 bridge.
Turn left onto Terrace Park and continue to the trail’s parking lot by the trailhead. The Riverwalk Trail is part of the City of Rock Hill’s Trails and Green-ways System as well as the Carolina Thread Trail, a regional network of trails and greenways spanning 15 counties and connecting over two million people.

With a kayaking and canoe -launch, the RIVER DISTRICT will be a place for families, novices and clubs to enjoy fun and adventure on the cool river waters. The scenery is spectacular and nature abounds.

RiverWalk Trail Along The Catawba River

The Riverwalk is the planned 1,000 acre residential, commercial and retail community to be developed along the Catawba River, bordered by Cherry Rd/ Hwy 21 and Cel-River Road. Approximately 250 acres will be devoted to public recreation amenities including river access, additional trails, athletic fields, parks, gardens, a climbing wall, and a variety of cycling venues.

The trail is open 8 am to 8 pm April through September and 8 am to 6 pm October through March. The trail is handicapped accessible although the first part of the train is gravel.

Here are 10 good reasons to bring at least one bandana along on your next hike.

1. Wet the bandana and tie it around your neck to help keep you cool.

2. Role one up and tie it around your forehead to keep the sweat out of your eyes.

3. Tuck one under the back of your hat to keep the sun off your neck.

4. Spread one out like a small table cloth for a picnic lunch.

5. Use one as a washcloth for clean up.

6. Make an arm sling in case of an injury.

7. They can be used as bags for separating small items.

8. Good to blow your nose on.

9. Tie one around your head to cover your face from cold winds.

10. For those who hike with dogs tie a brightly colored bandana to them so they are easy to spot.

There are many other good reasons to bring a few bandanas along on your next outdoors trip. Just get out and give a few a try. The will always be useful.

Carrying matches or a lighter with you makes starting a fire a breeze. Just pile up some kindling and maybe a little dry grass then just toss in a match. You now have fire so get cooking.

But what if its very windy and you lighter keeps blowing out. Maybe it raining and your matches are soaking wet. Its always smart to have a backup. There are a few backup options available but one stands out above the rest. A magnesium fire-starting tool can really throw out some intensely hot sparks to start your fire up no mater how windy or rainy it might be.

These small and portable magnesium rods with a metal striker can last for up to 12,000 strikes. That will last most weekend campers a life time. Its well worth the small price they cost to have a possible life saver with you on your next trip.

When you drag the metal striker along the magnesium rod it throws out sparks that can be up to 5500 degrees Fahrenheit. This will easily ignite dried grass, paper or many other kindling. It can also be used to start stoves or even gas-barbecues.

A magnesium fire-starting tool can even be used as a emergency signaling tool. Don’t let yourself get caught out in the cold without a fire. Please take one along on your next trip and you won’t be sorry.

These lighting tools come as a simple 2 piece set or in a knife combo like the Light My Fire SL3 Knife

Bag liners are made in all shapes and it is no problem to find one to fit your sleeping bag. Liners can be found in many different materials but mostly in silk for light weight and moisture wicking properties or cotton which is inexpensive and durable.

Cocoon Cotton Bag Liner/Travel Sheet

Often in the warmer months a liner can be used as a sleeping bag just by itself. A hot night in the south can sometime not get below 75 degrees and its tough to sleep in a standard bag. A liner will make you fill wrapped and protected without over heating you.

Most bag liners add 5 to 8 degees of warmth to a sleeping bag. Sometimes this can keep you from having to bring your winter bag and cut down on your backpack bulk.

REI Lightweight Fleece Bag Liner – Mummy

The sleeping bag liner’s greatest asset is coming home and just throwing it in the wash with those stinky clothes we talked about earlier and not having to worry about what crud you left hiding in your sleeping bag. This alone should have you getting one before your next camping trip.

It is best to carry an extra shoelace with you on an epic hike. Since most day hikes are a Go-lite type trip and you won’t have a lace with you here are a few tips.

If your lace snaps you can pull it out and just lace up the top portion of your boot around the ankle and cuff to give you better support. That will get you home on most day hikes but can be a bit painful on a long trip.

A second option can be used if you break your shoelace off near the top which is most common. Just recenter the lace in your boot and tie a Reef Knot. It is basically a standard shoe knot but without the bow. This tying method takes far less shoelace length to get a tight boot.

One of these lacing tips should get you home.

Heres how the tie a Reef Knot.