Hiking in South Carolina’s Upstate

We’ve learned to take plenty of water and a spirit of adventure when we set out to discover more of what our beautiful world has to offer.

When my partner and I bought a house on the shores of Lake Keowee, we were thinking of lake living. But a surprising and unexpected bonus has been the excellent hiking within miles of our house.

From mountain views to waterfalls, from popular destinations to sparsely traveled wilderness, the South Carolina Upstate offers hiking opportunities for every age and skill level.

We’ve hiked a lot more trails than the ones I mention here, but I decided to write about popular destinations characterized by breathtaking views, amazing waterfalls, and a bit of local history.

So get out your walking sticks, pack a lunch, and prepare to be awed by the natural beauty of the Smoky Mountain foothills.

No Upstate hiking guide would be complete without including Table Rock State Park, which is the starting point for hiking the Table Rock, Pinnacle Mountain, and Carrick Creek Trails.

The first time I hiked Table Rock, I didn’t think I would make it to the top. It begins easily enough, and there’s plenty to see without tackling the more rigorous parts of the trail.

If you’re hiking with young children, you might want to stick to the lower portion near the Nature Center, where small waterfalls tumbling over boulders form natural pools for children to wade and swim.

But if you’re out for some real hiking, Table Rock Trail is a strenuous, rugged, and scenic climb ascending 2,000 feet to the summit of the granite dome, 3,124 up.

I’ve hiked Table Rock five times, and only once stopped at a shelter about three-quarters of the way up without going the rest of the way. The hike to the shelter is rigorous and provides wonderful views if you don’t want to complete the trek to the dome. But most of the time, I figure if I’ve gotten this far, I might as well go all the way.

If you decide to proceed past the shelter, you need to know that the last stretch to the top is the most challenging part of the hike. You scramble up paths that are narrow, steep, and slippery, with sheer rock faces and barely discernable footholds. Still, I always feel it’s worth it when I get to the top and take in the panoramic view.

The upper reaches of Table Rock were scorched in the drought fires of 2016, and ultimately about 10,263 acres burned. But according to researchers, opening the tree canopy has resulted in more mountain laurels and rhododendrons being pushed further up the mountain; nature’s restorative work!

I was amazed at how capriciously the fire burned some trees while leaving others untouched when I saw charred remains next to trees that were fine. One of the rangers at the Nature Center explained that this resulted from flying sparks catching some trees and jumping over others.

If you’re with kids or less vigorous hikers, the Carrick Creek Falls loop is an easy hike that veers off in another direction before you hit the Table Rock trail. There is an observation deck less than 100 yards up the trail, and the two-mile loop only takes you about an hour to complete. It’s clearly marked, with numerous views of cascading waterfalls and a forest of oak, hickory, pines, hemlock, and the ever-present mountain laurel.

My Favorite Trail

One of my favorite trails is at Keowee-Toxaway State Park. Two hiking trails in the park take visitors over a natural bridge through the foothills.

The Natural Bridge Trail is a short, relatively easy hike and terrific for families and pets. The trail crosses Poe Creek across a natural granite bridge and much of the walking is beside the creek, with the 1.3-mile loop taking you to a double waterfall.

When my partner and I don’t have kids along, we continue past Natural Bridge Trail, which connects with The Raven Rock trail, a 4-mile loop. This hike takes us just under three hours to complete.

It isn’t as difficult as Table Rock, but it’s strenuous enough to give you a good workout. The trail takes you uphill through a boulder field along a fairly steep grade, with several stunning views of Lake Keowee and the beautiful foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

If you’re looking for a good exercise hike without being extremely difficult, this is the trail to take. Our favorite picnic spot is the boulder overlooking Lake Keowee, which precedes our descent to the parking lot.

A Great Place for Families

If you’re entertaining family or guests, nothing beats a trip to Issaqueena Falls and the Stumphouse Tunnel.

A short, easy walking trail leads from Stumphouse Mountain Park to Issaqueena Falls, a beautiful waterfall that plunges 200 feet to the boulders below. A shallow stream is a great draw for kids, and a viewing platform provides a good view of the waterfall.

But if you’re a little more daring and adventurous, you can make it down a steep, slippery incline to the base of the falls. It’s a narrow path strewn with boulders and flanked by trees, so be prepared to slip and slide, grasping tree limbs and roots for purchase. But be sure to avoid the poison ivy.

We managed the descent with our grandkids, who enjoyed scrambling over rocks and hiding in the nook behind the waterfall which allowed them to peer through a screen of cascading water.

Stumphouse Mountain Tunnel is a short, easy hike from the same parking lot, so one trip allows you to visit both the falls and the tunnel.

The tunnel is what remains of an 1850s attempt to link the port of Charleston to the cities of the Midwest by rail. Irish workers were brought into the area for the project, and by 1859 the State of South Carolina had spent over a million dollars on it.

When the state refused to spend anymore, the work was abandoned after the tunnel had been excavated to a length of 1,617 feet. For younger kids, it’s scary and thrilling to walk to the end, but the tunnel stays around 50 degrees all year and is dark as a cave, so take a jacket and a flashlight.

Close to Stumphouse Park is Yellow Branch Falls, another easy-to-moderate hike. It’s about 45 minutes one way to the 50-foot waterfall.

This is a good trail for families, but it can get crowded. The path to the falls takes you along meandering creeks and some fairly steep terrain through groves of hardwoods. Although the trail isn’t difficult, it skirts some deep ravines, so be careful about letting children run ahead.

It’s a beautiful hike if you don’t have a lot of time and aren’t looking for anything especially difficult, but I suggest avoiding holidays and weekends if you’re like me and prefer an uncrowded trail.

Another great family hike is at Chau Ram Park in Oconee County. Located where Ramsey Creek and the Chauga River converge, this area has been described as one of Oconee County’s “best-kept secrets.”

Over three miles of trails includes access to a 40-foot waterfall rushing over boulders where Ramsey Creek flows into the Chauga River. A 160-foot suspension bridge spans the river, providing some excitement and novelty for kids. The park has a playground area, but one of the favorite draws for our grandkids was the sandy beach flanking the creek.

We watched teenagers tubing, which looked to be an exciting ride, although none of my group tried it. My grandkids enjoyed clambering over the boulders and exploring the area around the waterfalls.

These trails are just a few of the foothills trails we’ve hiked. We’ve learned to take plenty of water, a picnic, our walking sticks, and a spirit of adventure when we set out to see more of what our beautiful world has to offer.