The Best Hiking in South Carolina

Jones Gap State Park in the Upstate of South Carolina is one of the most beautiful parks in the state offering a good range of moderate and challenging hiking and backpacking trails through the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area. Jones Gap also provides superb primitive camping sites along the rocky...

While the Piedmont Foothills may sound deceptive, this is no easy trail. The first two miles of the Table Rock Trail take you soaring through the trees at a rapid pace. The trail is extremely well kept, but harsh and tough. A little before the two mile marker is a wooden shelter which is a great ...

These waterfalls are absolutely beautiful during the summer greenery and fall foliage, but open to access year around.Driving Directions: From Westminister, follow US 76 West for 11.8 miles and turn left onto Brasstown Road. Follow this road 4.1 miles to FS 751. (The pavement ends in 2.6 miles.) ...

There are a few different access trails throughout the park and all are equally impressive with scenery and ease of hike but starting from the Hunting Island Campground take the beach access near the campground store and you have miles of boneyard beaches, dunes and groves of palmetto trees litte...

Pinnacle Trail begins by the Nature Center in Table Rock State Park. Keep left at the first three splits in the trail. You will make some creek crossings, gain elevation through the forest, and pass by Mills Creek Falls (25 ft). At Bald Rock Overlook, you can catch some nice views of Table Rock M...

Located approximately 45 miles south of historic Charleston, SC, this 4,600-acre Plantation Heritage Preserve is on Edisto Island. Already when approaching the Botany Bay Plantation, you are astonished by the magnificent avenue of oaks which prompts many visitors to pull over and take a photo. Co...

The Palmetto Trail is a mountains-to-sea trail in South Carolina that will stretch 425 miles across the state when completed. Currently there are sections of the the trail that are complete and can be hiked or biked on. One of these sections is in the Midlands of SC and is called the Peak to Pros...

Bulls Island is located just 20 miles away from America's #1 small city - Charleston, South Carolina. However, Bulls Island isn't just for anyone, but those who want the chance to get away to an uninhabited island and a Class 1 Wilderness Area. The rewards include numerous kinds of wildlife, a lo...

Swamp Rabbit Trail is a 21 mile-long paved walkway that closely follows the Reedy River in Downtown Greenville. Over a half-a-million people visit the trail each year, but few ever walk the whole thing. What most people don’t know, is that it begins on a different river: the Enoree river and wind...

The Foothills Trail runs a total of 76 miles across the Blue Ridge Escarpment. Highlights of the route include Sassafras Mountain (3,500 ft), the Chattooga River, and Whitewater Falls, the tallest waterfall in the eastern US. The trail is well maintained, and not often crowded. Sightings of black...

Once you have turned into the picnic area off of Highway SC 28, you will see the open and easy parking area. The trail begins at 2 points on the southern end of the parking area. These 2 points form a small loop about 0.2 miles long, with a spur in the middle of the loop onto the main yellow bran...

The Hike: Head out through the middle of the first of three fields, crossing creeks two times as you come to them. At the end of the last field, the trail enters the woods. Hike through the woods for 0.3 mile and take the left fork, crossing a creek , and head toward the larger branch of Tamassee...

Start on the Jones Gap Trail (blue), which will lead you alongside the Saluda River. After 2.5 miles, take the Old Springs Branch Trail (orange) to loop back to the lot.For a challenging, more strenuous hike, with great views of the Gap, check out Rim of the Gap Trail. It is not advised to take c...

From Picnic Area 6, follow the white-blazed trail in either direction. Take in the scenic forest, wildflowers, and streams. The trail will also take you along the shore of Mountain Lake. A trail map of the area can be found here.

Enjoy a relaxing adventure by paddling to Capers Island for a day trip or overnight. Located across the Copahee Sound just North of Charleston, South Carolina, Capers Island is located on the Atlantic Ocean next to Dewees Island. If you don't have your own kayak, you can rent one from Nature Ad...

The Drive: Head North on SC Highway 11 "Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway" towards Table Rock State Park. Follow SC 11 past Table Rock approximately 8 miles where it will merge with SC 8 at Pumpkin Town. Follow SC 8 for another 3-4 miles until you see the intersection for SC Highway 276 on the le...