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.
Lee Boardwalk – Visit Lee State Natural Area and stroll down the new 800-foot boardwalk that takes you through a scenic and watery floodplain forest. Keep your eyes open for the many types of wildlife that have been spotted there.
Spanish Mount Trail - Rediscover Edisto Beach State Park. Explore the 1.7mile trail to the salt marshes along Scott’s Creek and visit the new platform over looking the second oldest known Native American pottery site in South Carolina. Spanish Mount is a large shell mound dated to around 2,000 BC and is approximately 15-20 feet high covering half an acre.
Featured Trails of the Season: Spring
Station Cove Falls
Visit Oconee Station State Historic Site and hike this easy, 30-minute trail through a
gorgeous Appalachian cove forest to Station Cove Falls. It’s a stepped 60-foot waterfall that forms from headwaters atop Station Mountain. In the spring and summer, countless wildflowers bloom along the trail and you may see trillium, mayapple, pink lady’s slipper orchids, bloodroot, and redbud. Note: Please do not pick the wildflowers, leave them for others to enjoy.
Summer Quotes:
“How sweet I roamed from field to field,
And tasted all the summer’s pride.”
-- William Blake, “Song”
“Late in August the lure of the mountains becomes irresistible”
-- Edward Abbey, Desert Solitaire
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