Aiken

Kristi Floyd

Park Manager

Hello!  My name is Kristi Floyd, and I am the manager at Aiken State Park. I never knew I wanted to be a park ranger until I took a job as an assistant ranger at Paris Mountain State Park and quickly realized this was my calling. I love protecting special places and helping others enjoy them. Parks offer lasting memories, adventure, and learning—and I get to help make those experiences meaningful.

My favorite spot at Aiken State Park is Cabin Lake. You can fish, birdwatch and hear the calming spillway. About 50 yards down the dam, just before the spillway, there’s a quiet overlook where the Edisto River eddies. It’s a peaceful, tucked-away place I often visit. 

First-time visitors should experience Aiken State Park on the water—swim in the spring-fed swimming area or rent a boat to explore the Edisto River or Cabin Lake. If short on time, visit the artesian well near the canoe/kayak launch, just 1.5 miles from the entrance. It’s a unique, refreshing spot.

**The park's Ultimate Outsider stamp is located at the park office to the right of the front door in a wooden box.

Set along the South Edisto River, Aiken State Park is a haven for fishing, canoeing and kayaking. 

A scenic 1.7-mile canoe and kayak trail winds its way down the south fork of the Edisto River, attracting paddlers from across the region. 

Aiken State Park has a history as notable as its natural beauty. During the Great Depression, the park was built by two Civilian Conservation Corps companies, one of which was an African-American detachment of the C.C.C. Their work has withstood the test of time and can still be seen in some of the remaining structures and interpretive signage.