Trail access is currently limited. The highlighted green areas in this trail map are OPEN. CLICK HERE to view the map. All trails are restricted to hiking ONLY at this time.
The swimming area and boat rentals are closed for the season.
We're happy to announce that our water bottle filling station donated by Duke Energy Carolinas is installed and operational! Come get a cool drink on us! More info, here on this new park amenity.
8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., daily
9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Fri-Mon and 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Tue-Thu.
$6 adults; $3.75 SC seniors (age 65 & older);
$3.50/ child age 6-15; Free for children 5 and younger. This admission includes access to our designated swimming area when it is open.
Pets are not allowed in or around cabins, cabin areas or other lodging facilities. Pets are allowed in most outdoor areas provided they are kept under physical restraint or on a leash not longer than six feet. Owners will be asked to remove noisy or dangerous pets or pets that threaten or harass wildlife.
Please note that not all trails are open at this time, due to damage from Hurricane Helene. Trails highlighted in green on this map are open, as of 11/9/24, and are limited to hiking only.
Length: 2.9 mile loop
Time: Approximately 2 hours
Type: Hiking and Mountain Biking Trail
Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous
Description: From the kiosk near the parking area, begin this steep, strenuous, rocky, rooted, mostly-easy-to-follow, yellow-blazed, foot-traffic-only, loop trail that winds along beautiful hills in the South Carolina upstate. At the top of the first steep slope, branch right at the fork with the Sulphur Springs trail. You will pass through oak and pine woods on the ridges, and Mountain Laurel along the creek areas. After you cross the paved park road, you will climb another steep slope back toward the parking area. You may see deer, squirrels, birds, snakes, and a variety of other wildlife.
Length: 2.0 miles
Time: Approximately 1.5 hours
Type: Hiking and Mountain Biking Trail
Difficulty: Strenuous
Description: To reach this trail you will need to walk or ride a section of the Sulphur Springs-Fire Tower or Brissy Ridge trails. Connections to the Fire Tower, Brissy Ridge, and North Lake trails provide opportunities to vary the length of your walk or ride. You may see deer, squirrels, birds, snakes, and a variety of other wildlife.
Length: 0.75 mile loop
Time: Approximately 30 minutes
Type: Hiking Trail
Difficulty: Easy
Description: From the picnic shelter, begin this easy-walking, mostly-level, nature-trail loop along the shores of Lake Placid. At the far end of the lake, you will descend and ascend the steep slopes below the dam. You may see squirrels, birds, turtles, snakes and a variety of other wildlife as you walk amid tall trees in the natural habitat. You will circle the lake, cross a boardwalk footbridge, and pass the swimming area before you return to the picnic shelter where you began.
Length: 1.3 miles
Time: Approximately 45 minutes
Type: Hiking and Mountain Biking Trail
Difficulty: Moderate
Description: From Picnic Shelter 4, you can go either direction on this moderately difficult dirt trail. If you go to the right you will connect to the Lake Placid Trail, which encircles Lake Placid. You can ride to the lake, but not all the way around it. If you go left you will pass the amphitheatre and continue to a junction with the Sulphur Springs Trail. You can follow a section of the Sulphur Springs trail, but only to Mountain Lake.
Length: 1.2 mile loop
Time: Approximately 45 minutes
Type: Hiking and Mountain Biking Trail
Difficulty: Moderate
Description: You will need to walk or ride on the Kanuga or Pipsissewa trails to get to North Lake. Once you are there you can enjoy the view as you circle the lake and then return the way you came, or vary your walk or ride by returning on the other trail. You may see deer, squirrels, birds, snakes, and a variety of other wildlife.
Length: 0.4 miles
Time: Approximately 15 minutes
Type: Hiking and Mountain Biking Trail
Difficulty: Easy
Description: From the kiosk near the parking area, begin your hike or ride on the Sulphur Springs Trail. Once you reach the junction, this steep, easy-to-follow, mostly-straight, old roadbed, treats you to some great scenic views of the surrounding mountains. You will climb 400 feet in elevation as you pass through poplar, maple, oak, and pine woods intermingled with open areas grown up with wild berries and tall grasses. At the top, bikers must return the way they came. You may see deer, squirrels, birds, snakes, and a variety of other wildlife.
Length: 1.0 miles
Time: Approximately 45 minutes
Type: Hiking and Mountain Biking Trail
Difficulty: Strenuous
Description: From the parking area at the Buckhorn Gate, you will need to walk or ride approximately 0.9 mile on the Brissy Ridge Trail to the junction of the out and back Pipsissewa. Once you reach the junction of the North Lake Trail, you can return or circle the lake. You may see deer, squirrels, birds, snakes, and a variety of other wildlife.
Length: 3.8 mile loop
Time: Approximately 2.5 hours
Type: Hiking Trail
Difficulty: Strenuous
Description: From Picnic Area 6, you can start in either direction on this narrow, steep, strenuous, rocky, rugged, white-blazed loop trail. If you cross the park road and begin at the trail sign, you will climb up and down wooded slopes until you reach the parking area at Buckhorn Gate. At the trail kiosk keep right, continue up another steep slope, and bear left at the fork with the Brissey Ridge trail. You will walk through mixed pine and hardwood forest atop a mountain ridge and pass the Old Firetower Trail on the left, before you begin to climb up and down along deep ravines and running streams lined with mountain laurel and rhododendron. As you pass through these diverse habitats, you may see a variety of birds, snakes, deer, and other wildlife. The trail levels out near the shores of Mountain Lake where you will pass a large dam and follow one of several trail branches that return to the parking area where you began.
Length: 0.4 miles
Time: Approximately 15 minutes
Type: Hiking and Mountain Biking Trail
Difficulty: Easy
Description: This short out and back trail connects the campsite to Lake Placid and the Lake Placid Trail. As you follow the banks of the creek, you may see deer, squirrels, birds, snakes, and a variety of other wildlife.
Length: 2.3 mile loop
Time: Approximately 1.5 hours
Type: Hiking and Mountain Biking Trail
Difficulty: Moderate
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