Trails at Ninety Six National Historic Site are temporarily closed due to continued use after heavy rainfall./NPS

Horseback riding during and after historic rainfall over the past few months has left trails at Ninety Six National Historic Site underwater and in unstable condition, leading to temporary closures and spurring the development of a trail use management plan.

Park officials are reaching out to equestrian users by hosting a meeting at 5 p.m. April 13 at the Arts Center at the Federal Building in nearby Greenwood, South Carolina. The National Park Service will present management and resource issues, desired outcomes, and provide an opportunity for the equestrian community to share their opinions, values and shared stewardship possibilities.

Although the upcoming meeting will focus on horseback riders, there will be gatherings in the future for all users of Ninety Six, as well as a public comment period. The park is seeking input on finding a sustainable way to manage the repair, maintenance, improvement, and carrying capacity of the trail system through cooperative agreements, volunteerism, and development of a trail management plan.

Ninety Six National Historic Site was established to preserve and protect the features associated with the settlement and development of the colonial town and the Revolutionary War battles that occurred there. For more than two decades, horseback riding occurred without a comprehensive trail use management plan in place. Over time, usage has increased, putting resources at risk. The park estimates that 1.5 percent of its 67,000 annual visitors are horseback riders.

During the first five days of October 2015, the area surrounding Ninety Six received 8-12 inches of rain that produced flash flooding, particularly in low-lying areas. Since the statewide historic rainfall, the park has received significant precipitation and flash flooding in nearly every month. Continued rains and damage caused by horseback riding use during and directly after rains have left many of the trails in an unstable condition, including damage to historical resources. Existing trail damage has also resulted in development of non-designated trails and damage to primary historical resources such as the Gouedy Trail, Charleston Road, and the Stockade Fort.

All trails are closed to equestrian and bike use until an interim management plan can be developed in conjunction with affected user groups. The park is hopeful that with the help of the equestrian user community, some sections of trail may be open for use by the end of spring. Limited resources prevent staff from being able to dedicate adequate time to patrol, assess, repair, maintain, and monitor equestrian trails. Before any trail rehabilitation or realignment can begin, an NPS interdisciplinary team will need to conduct condition assessments, evaluate cultural and natural resource damages and potential impacts to any areas being considered for trail alignment, and gather necessary data associated with any unknown cultural and archeological sites.