Get outdoors with this guide to some of the best trails for hikers of all ages and skill levels.
Family Hikes
Raven Rock Loop
108 Residence Drive at Keowee Toxaway State Park, Sunset SouthCarolinaParks.com/Keowee-Toxaway
This moderately challenging 4.2-mile looping trail leads you across Poe Creek on the Natural Bridge and around McKinney Mountain to an apex that offers beautiful views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Brissy Ridge
2401 State Park Road at Paris Mountain, Greenville SouthCarolinaParks.com/Paris-Mountain
This is a moderately strenuous 2.4-mile trail that begins with a steep ascent as you pass through oak and pine trees along the ridges. Other trails like Kanuga and Pipsissewa adjoin Brissy Ridge if you want to extend your trek.
Oconee Station
500 Oconee Station Road at Oconee Station State Historic Site, Walhalla SouthCarolinaParks.com/Paris-Mountain
This 1.5-mile trail is a favorite of naturalists for the array of wildflowers that bloom each spring. The hike begins downhill, circles a pond and takes you into the Sumter National Forest and to the magnificent 60-foot-tall Station Cove waterfall.
Mountain Creek
2401 State Park Road at Paris Mountain, Greenville SouthCarolinaParks.com/Paris-Mountain
You can choose your own path on this moderately challenging 1.3-mile trail by either circling Lake Placid or taking a portion of the Sulphur Springs Trail. Be aware, the trail is pretty narrow at times.
Sassafrass Loop
2401 State Park Road at Paris Mountain, Greenville SouthCarolinaParks.com/Paris-Mountain
This beautiful, 2.3-mile loop trail takes you through the woods and across creek beds. Mountain bikers are allowed on the trail, but most go in a counterclockwise direction from hikers.
Big Rock Mountain Trail
East Preston McDaniel Road at Nine Times Preserve, Pickens NaturalandTrust.org/Nine-Times
Experience the natural beauty of the 560-acre Nine Times Preserve as you hike along the 2.2-mile trail. There are some steep, rocky portions of the trail. Enjoy the picturesque views from atop Big Rock Mountain.
Hikes with Younger Kids
Lake Conestee Nature Park Loop
840 Mauldin Road, Greenville ConesteePreserve.org
This 2.2-mile hike is a perfect way for families with small children to experience nature. You’ll cross over swampy marshes, spotting many species of birds and other wildlife along the way. The loop is part of the 640-acre, nonprofit wildlife sanctuary that has 13 miles of trails and 11 wildlife observation decks.
Mountain Lake via Sulphur Springs
2401 State Park Road at Paris Mountain State Park, Greenville SouthCarolinaParks.com/Paris-Mountain
A 1.2-mile round-trip hike leads along a creek to Mountain Lake. This dog-friendly trail is quite popular, so an earlier start will help keep the crowding to a minimum.
Cedar Falls Park
201 Cedar Falls Road, Fountain Inn GreenvilleRec.com
Located within Cedar Falls Park, this 2.1-mile trail will lead to where the Reedy River widens to more than 200 feet and cascades over rocks and boulders. The pet-friendly park has a playground and picnic benches, too.
Lake Placid Loop
2401 State Park Road at Paris Mountain State Park, Greenville SouthCarolinaParks.com/Paris-Mountain
The family will enjoy this 20-minute walk leading around Paris Mountain’s Lake Placid. Grab a brochure that will give information about each of the numbered stops along the way. Enjoy views of the waterfall.
Challenging Hikes
Blue Ridge Electric Co-Op Passage of the Palmetto
620 Table Rock State Road, Campground Loop A, Pickens SouthCarolinaParks.com/Table-Rock/Trails
Walk 2 miles from the barn at Table Rock State Park to enter the Jocassee Gorges area. The next 10 miles are rugged and remote, but along the way, you’ll see mountaintop vistas, waterfalls and the area’s stunning wildlife.
Pinnacle Mountain Trail, Table Rock State Park
620 Table Rock State Road, Pickens SouthCarolinaParks.com/Table-Rock/Trails
Another of Table Rock’s many trails, this 4.2-mile challenging trek will have you hiking steep ascensions and crossing several small creeks. The payoff is the incredible view from Bald Knob overlook.
Pinnacle Pass
303 Jones Gap Road, Marietta SouthCarolinaParks.com/Jones-Gap
Get ready for the steepest elevation gain of any trail in the Upstate. You’ll climb 2,000 feet in half a mile. This 10-mile hike will take you over rocks, across small creeks and over mountains to reach a panoramic view of Jones Gap and the Middle Saluda River.
Table Rock
620 Table Rock State Road, Pickens SouthCarolinaParks.com/Table-Rock/Trails
Start at the Table Rock Nature Center and begin a strenuous, 3.6-mile uphill hike through an open forest strewn with boulders. At 2,000 feet, you’ll reach the spectacular granite dome, Table Rock Mountain (elevation 3,124 feet), and take in views of Pinnacle Lake and Caesars Head.
