Conestee Nature Preserve

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Conestee Nature Preserve CNP is a 640+ acre state-designated Wildlife Sanctuary located just five miles south of Greenville. Conestee Nature Preserve is remarkable in its versatility.
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Our property’s combination of environmental, educational, recreational, and historical value is unmatched in the area. Indeed, the Preserve has the incredibly rare distinction of having been recognized both as an Important Bird Area of Global Significance and as a listed property on the National Register of Historic Places. More than 100,000 visitors come through our gates each year in order to utilize the Preserve for a myriad of purposes, including birding, biking, hiking, learning, wildlife watching, and photography. We encourage you to explore and discover what makes Conestee a special place for you!

UPDATE: we have thankfully received help and the kitty is on its way to getting the care it needs. Thank you all very mu...
11/02/2026

UPDATE: we have thankfully received help and the kitty is on its way to getting the care it needs. Thank you all very much for sharing! 💚

Help us please!

An exceptionally sweet, exceptionally fluffy stray cat followed us into our office this afternoon. This is a sad one. This little cat is skin and bones, has some serious dandruff, and, let’s be frank, is quite stinky from the di*********es stuck in its perfectly fluffy tail. Despite all that, he/she has never met a stranger and would love to curl up in your lap all day. This sweetie clearly loves people and just needs someone to love him/her back.

We URGENTLY need your help getting this kitty the medical attention it needs. We cannot keep him/her at our office and none of our staff is able to foster at this time. If anyone is able to take this little boy/girl to the vet and handle his/her care, we would be incredibly grateful.

Please note that all of the local animal shelters are at capacity. What this sweetie needs is someone who can personally handle the veterinary care and foster him/her until he/she is healthy. If you are able to help, please message us on social media or comment on this post so that we can get in touch with you.

Mushroom lovers, tap in! Chanterelle or jack-o’-lantern? What’s your guess?These two mushrooms are often mistaken for on...
11/02/2026

Mushroom lovers, tap in! Chanterelle or jack-o’-lantern? What’s your guess?

These two mushrooms are often mistaken for one another, but there are some important differences!

🍄‍🟫 Chanterelles typically grow individually or in small groups and have blunt, forked ridges underneath their caps rather than true gills. Chanterelles are edible.

🎃 Jack-o’-lantern mushrooms tend to grow in dense clusters and have thin, sharp-edged gills. Their gills can also produce a faint green bioluminescence in complete darkness! Jack-o’-lantern mushrooms are poisonous.

Take a look at the photo. Which one do you think we have here?

20 years, countless memories, and a pretty sweet anniversary tee! Take a peek at our exclusive 20th Anniversary design b...
10/30/2026

20 years, countless memories, and a pretty sweet anniversary tee! Take a peek at our exclusive 20th Anniversary design by Douglas Piper, inspired by the beauty of Conestee’s wetlands.

Want to snag one? Grab your 🎟️ and join us in celebrating 20 years of connecting people with nature! Conesteepreserve.org/20-years-celebration

*t-shirts available on-site at event*

Reason  #237 to stay ON trail. 🕸️
10/26/2026

Reason #237 to stay ON trail. 🕸️

Whooo’s ready for a nighttime adventure? 🦉Join us for a Night Hike THIS Saturday and discover the wild side of the Prese...
10/21/2026

Whooo’s ready for a nighttime adventure? 🦉

Join us for a Night Hike THIS Saturday and discover the wild side of the Preserve after dark! From bats and owls to zombie fungus and other spooky surprises, you’ll explore the fascinating world of nocturnal nature on this fun, educational adventure. Very few 🎟️ remain, so get yours now!

📅 Saturday, October 24
⏰ 6:30-8:30 PM

Come experience the magic (and mystery!) of the Preserve after dark. https://www.conesteepreserve.org/event-details/night-hike-bats-owls-and-more

Check out this gorgeous Eastern box turtle we noticed hanging around outside the Nature Playscape!Here are some box turt...
10/20/2026

Check out this gorgeous Eastern box turtle we noticed hanging around outside the Nature Playscape!

Here are some box turtle fun facts!

🐢They can “box” themselves in: Their lower shell has a special hinge that lets them pull their head, legs, and tail completely inside and snap the shell shut tight like a box.
🐢Temperature decides their gender: The temperature of the soil where the eggs incubate determines if the babies will be male or females. Warm soils (above 81°F) usually produce females, while cooler soils (72°F–81°F) produce males.
🐢Most Eastern box turtles have permanent home ranges: If moved to a new area, they will aggressively try to get back to their home range.

Since 2023, all of our field trips for public schools have been free, and we’re proud of how much we’ve grown!Student pa...
10/19/2026

Since 2023, all of our field trips for public schools have been free, and we’re proud of how much we’ve grown!

Student participation has more than doubled, from 2,700 to nearly 6,000 students last year. We’re now welcoming classes from seven Upstate counties, expanding our reach beyond Greenville. We’re also proud that 23% of the students we serve are Title I schools, helping make these experiences in nature accessible to even more children.

Keeping these trips free comes with added costs, and community support helps make it all possible.

A big thank-you to Milliken & Company for sponsoring our September field trips and helping us kick off the 2026-27 school year. We’re grateful for partners who help more students experience and connect with nature!!

YOU’RE INVITED! On November 7, We’re celebrating two decades of trails, wildlife, community, and conservation at Coneste...
10/15/2026

YOU’RE INVITED! On November 7, We’re celebrating two decades of trails, wildlife, community, and conservation at Conestee Nature Preserve! 💚

📅 SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7
⏰ 11AM–2PM
📍 Forrester Picnic Area | Conestee Nature Preserve

THERE ARE TWO WAYS TO CELEBRATE!

1. Join the GooseChase! The competition is BACK! Gather your team, explore the Preserve, complete fun challenges, and compete for prizes awarded to the top three teams! Your GooseChase ticket also gets you into the anniversary celebration!

2. Just enjoy the celebration! Skip the GoodeChase and join us for live music, food trucks, and a trip down memory lane!

Learn more and grab your 🎟️ ---> conesteepreserve.org/20-years-celebration

Address

840 Mauldin Road
Greenville, SC
29607

Opening Hours

Monday 7am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 7am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 7am - 5:30pm
Thursday 7am - 5:30pm
Friday 7am - 5:30pm
Saturday 7am - 5:30pm
Sunday 7am - 5:30pm

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