Government Help on Hiking in South Carolina

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Pinnacle Mountain

There are so many wonderful hiking trails in the State of South that it is impossible to cover them all here.  All recreation areas have either a nature trail or short hiking trail. Only trails of 4 miles or longer are listed here. 

Applachian Trail America's most famous hiking trail stretches 2159 miles from Georgia to Canada and crosses South Carolina. This is a wonderful trail for a day hike, a week, or however long a hike is desired. This actually captures the imagination!

Maps can be downloaded at this site.  The National Park Cartographic Service provides maps that can be used for hiking in National Parks.

Parkway Signs Do you know your parkway signs? See them all and take a quick test at this site.

                                    Enjoy your hike through these sites!   hikbutn.gif (1338 bytes)

   scmap2.gif (2593 bytes)   FRANCIS MARION-SUMTER NATIONAL FORESTS

Chattooga Trail This scenic trial runs along the Chattooga Wild and Scenic River connects with the trail systems of the Chattahoochee National Forest in Georgia, the Nantahala National Forest in North Carolina and lands owned by Crescent Land Co. The trails are primitive,varying from moderately to extremely difficult. 

Foothills National Recreation Trail This trail covers about 100 miles, including spur and loop trails linking Oconee State Park with Table Rock State Park via Whitewater Falls, the highest waterfall in the East.

Horn Creek Trail Located in Sumter National Forest, this scenic trail is a 5.7 mile loop. The trail has five access points enabling hikers to determine the length and duration of their visit. The trail travels along hardwood bottoms, across streams and along pine ridges offering views of a wide variety of wildflife habitat and distinctive piedmont vegetation.

Turkey/Stevens Creek Hiking Trail This 20 mile linear trail follows parts of Wine, Turkey and Stevens Creeks.With occasional departures to climb ridges to view the creek bottom, the trail generally follows the first flat area above the river.

          scmap2.gif (2593 bytes)               NATIONAL PARKS

Cowpens National Battlefield is the site of a brilliant victory over the British on January 17,1781.  The 1856 Washington Light Infantry Monument is located along the battlefield trail. Trail begins behind park visitor center and brings you back to the same point. Historic Green River Road was the centerline of battle for both patriot and British units, is part of the walking trail today. Overmountain Victory Trail is also part of the story of the trail system in the park along the trace of the historic Green River Road. There are over 17 miles of hiking trails.                                    

Congaree Swamp National Monument preserves the largest expanse of old-growth floodplain forest in America. Some of the tallest trees east of the Mississippi are here plus a storehouse of natural diversity.  This area has been designated an International Biosphere Reserve. There are 25 miles of hiking trails.                              

King's Mountain Park The self-guiding loop trail around battlefield is the site of Ferguson's Cairn, the burial site of British Major Patrick Ferguson; the U.S. Monument and other markers; and wayside exhibits. In addition to the short trail there are 16 miles of hiking trails.

  scmap2.gif (2593 bytes)               STATE PARKS

Caesars Head 50 miles of easy to strenuous hiking trails. At 3266 feet above sea level, Caesars Head provides a panoramic view of narby valleys, Table Rock and Pinnacle mountians, and other distant peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains.                                                    

Charles Towne Landing One of historic Charleston's many unique points of interest. There are 7 miles of easy hiking that inclueds a natural habitat zoo, 80 acres of English Park Gardens, and the site of the first settlement. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Edisto Beach This beach-front park, rich in Native American history has a 4 mile easy loop for walking. There is a dense live oak forest and some of the tallest palmetto trees in the state.

Jones Gap There are 52 miles of easy to strenuous trail in this 3,346 acre Park.  The park is an access point to the Foothills Hiking trail.                                                                           Keowee-Toxaway The hiking trail is only a 4 mile loop but the park museum depicts the history of the Cherokee Indians. Threr are some outstanding rock outcroppings and views of the foothills and the blue Ridge Mountains.                                                           

Kings Mountain There is a 16 mile moderately strenuous loop for hiking. The park is adjacent to Kings Mountain National Military Park, a prominent Revolutionary War battle site.                                 

Oconee Several short hiking trails are available within the park. There is access to the Foothills Trail.                                                                                                      Paris Mountain There are several strenuous short trails up to 6 miles in length. The 1275 acre park is well known for its stands of large trees, lake swimming, hikinig and numerous picnic areas.          

Sesquicentennial There are 6.1 miles of moderate trails. This 1,419 acre park is situated in the middle of the sandhills region. There are picnic areas and a nature trail.                                          

Table Rock  The most challenging hiking trails in the state park system are located here. There is access to the Foothills Trail, trails to the top of Table Rock and Pinnacle Mountain.         

   

hiking.gif (1338 bytes) Comments or Questions? Email: Sylvia Skipper