From the towering pines and hardwoods that populate the mountainous region of the Upstate to the canopies of live oaks in the Lowcountry’s maritime forests, there is a hiking trail to suit the needs of every type hiker in South Carolina State Parks.

Coastal and midlands parks won’t offer the same strenuous, lengthy climbs of the Upstate, but the scenery these trails offer parallels their hilly counterparts. Along the coast, hikers can catch glimpses of maritime forests, marshy creeks and some of the state’s most unique bird sightings. The popular Spanish Mount Trail at Edisto Beach State Park takes hikers past the second oldest Native American pottery site in South Carolina.

Hikers looking for a challenge will enjoy Table Rock’s long hikes to the top of Pinnacle and Table Rock Mountains. The park also serves as a trailhead for the popular Foothills Trail, as do Jones Gap and Oconee state parks. Not every mountainous trail is a difficult one. A network of trails, ranging from easy to demanding, connects Jones Gap and Caesars Head in what is known as the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area, providing some of the best views in South Carolina.

If deciding between the Upstate and Lowcountry is difficult for you, Poinsett State Park is home to an extensive system of trails surrounded by hardwood forests and steep hills similar to those in the Foothills region, and also includes swamps and Spanish moss found near the coast. Other popular hikes are found at Croft, Hickory Knob, Paris Mountain and Kings Mountain.

For hiking trails across the state visit the South Carolina Trails website or our Park Finder map.