Hike
Some of the best trails in the state, and even the country, are right here in our South Carolina
State Parks. South Carolina packs some amazingly diverse terrain into a relatively small region, from a sliver of the Appalachian Mountains to the sandy, sub-tropical coastal plain. If you are looking for an adventurous overnight or a leisurely stroll, you can find trails to suit your tastes throughout the state.
The South Carolina State Park Service offers everything from short, level trails to long, multi-day backpacking treks, where you can explore the hidden nooks and crannies of South Carolina’s wild places.
Below you can search the South Carolina State Parks’ trails by city or region. You can also find information on the newest trail opportunities available, the featured trail for this season, and more. Please visit the state trails website for additional search options for all trails in South Carolina.
New Trails
If you think you have seen it all, here are some things you may not have discovered yet.
Kanuga Trail – If you are look for a new adventure on your mountain bike then Paris Mountain State Park is where you want to be. This 2 mile moderate to strenuous trail connects the Brissy Ridge, Fire Tower and North Lake Loop Trails, and allows for a variety of routes.
The 1 mile section from Brissy Ridge to Fire Tower is moderate in difficulty as it follows the contour of the ridgeline, where you can catch glimpses of the serene reservoir below. The section connecting the Fire Tower Trail to the North Lake Loop Trail is strenuous, at least on the way back up, but is well worth it.
If you are mountain biking, this trail is fairly smooth with few roots and rocks to navigate and flows nicely along and down the mountainside. Enjoy the newest of the over 14 miles of trails at Paris Mountain State Park as it takes you through beautiful mixed pine/hardwood forests, past mountain streams and with plenty of opportunity for viewing wildlife.
Nature Trail – Visit or rediscover Landsford Canal State Park. Explore the 0.75-mile Nature Trail or the 1.25-mile Canal Trail and learn about the natural and cultural resources of Landsford Canal SP.
Improvements have been made along both trails, including a new overlook on the Nature Trail for viewing the Rocky Shoal Spider Lilies that bloom in late April or early May.
Featured Trails of the Season: Fall
Pinnacle Mountain Trail
Before you begin this 4.2 mile climb, stop at the Nature Center and fill out a registration form. Drop the white copy in the locked box and keep the pink copy to put in the box when you return.
You will begin an adventurous, scenic trek on this well-trodden trail by turning left when you reach the Pinnacle Mountain Trail sign. Follow the yellow blazes (green blazes eventually turn to the right where the Carrick Creek Trail branches off) and you will cross several small footbridges as you gradually gain elevation amid the hardwoods and rhododendron that line the steep mountain slopes.
You will encounter a small waterfall to the right and pass beneath a giant rock ledge, before you reach the junction where a spur trail leads .4 mile to Mill Creek Falls. The spur trail ends at a wooden bridge where the falls can be viewed. To continue to Bald Knob Overlook, you will need to take a sharp right that ascends steeply back at the junction. The trail eventually levels off and joins Mill Creek Pass Trail. Take a left and soon you will cross Mill Creek. Continue hiking uphill to the huge sloping Bald Knob.
Your reward is the view as you look out over the distant mountains to see Greenville and beyond. To continue to Pinnacle Mountain, walk uphill to the top of the outcrop before taking a right back into the forest. The Foothills Trail will branch off to the left before you ascend steeply on the last section to reach the tree-enclosed apex of Pinnacle Mountain.
You can return the way you came, or follow the less strenuous, orange-blazed, wooded Ridge Trail to the Table Rock Trail and back to the Nature Center. Watch for black bear, lizards, snakes, a variety of birds, and other wildlife. Remember to wear sturdy footwear and functional clothing, carry adequate water and first aid supplies. Include insect repellent in warm weather. Pets are permitted on leashes. Restrooms and water are available at the trail head.
Fall Quote:
“That time of year thou mayst in me behold
When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang
Upon those boughs which shake against the cold
Bare ruined choirs where late the sweet birds sang…”
-- William Shakespeare, Sonnet LXXIII
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