Lake Murray Dam
Robin Carter
Directions
From I-26: From Exit 102 of I-26 go west 4 miles on SC 60, Lake Murray Boulevard, to the intersection with SC 6. Proceed straight through the intersection, then immediately make a right into the parking area before you cross the dam.
From I-20: Leave I-20 at Exit 55 and go north on SC 6, towards Lexington. In about 8 miles you will cross the dam of Lake Murray. The park is on your left (west), just before the intersection with SC 60.
Birds to look for
Canada Goose, Mallard, Lesser Scaup (w), Bufflehead (w), Common Goldeneye (w), Red-breasted Merganser (w), Common Loon (w), Pied-billed Grebe (w), Horned Grebe (w), Double-crested Cormorant, Osprey (s), Bald Eagle, American Coot (w), Spotted Sandpiper (spring, fall), Laughing Gull (s), Bonaparte's Gull (w), Ring-billed Gull (w), Herring Gull (w), Caspian Tern (spring, fall), Forster's Tern, Purple Martin, Northern Rough-winged Swallow (s), Chipping Sparrow
Description
There are parks at either end of the Lake Murray dam, one open year round, the other open mostly in the summer, and there is now a 1.7 mile walking path across the dam, open year round. From either park you can scan the deepest part of the lake for loons, grebes, waterfowl, gulls, and terns. Rarities seen here include American White Pelican and a variety of hurricane-blown strays. Lake Murray dam is only a few miles from Saluda Shoals Park and is a good companion site for that park.