A Beginner’s Guide to Hiking in Upstate, SC

How to Start Hiking

I see posts on social media all the time asking about trails for kids, best hikes in the area, or how to start hiking alone. It’s pretty simple: just go. I mean, do your research first, but just go. It’s walking, just in a way cooler setting than you would normally find in a parking lot or your neighborhood. 

To find trails that you may enjoy, I highly recommend the free AllTrails app. I love it (for the most part). You can search for trails by mileage, difficulty, distance from you, if they include a waterfall, etc. I’ve found some pretty amazing trails through the app. But be aware that AllTrails sometimes reports trail lengths incorrectly. I usually try to double-check through Google and local hiking groups I’ve joined (more on that below).

SCTrails.net is another great resource. I browse that site more on my laptop than my phone, and it doesn’t have as many trail reviews as AllTrails. But it does have some hidden gems.

Joining local Facebook groups is another great way to find lesser-traveled trails or discover new ones. I love Girls Who Hike SC, Girls Who Hike NC, North Carolina Waterfalls, South Carolina Hiking & Adventures, and Hiking the Smokies. All of these groups offer really fantastic advice on trails to hit, including length and difficulty. And if you have questions, just ask.

Trail Etiquette and Tips

It’s very important to know basic trail etiquette tips and regional laws when you go hiking. Most are common sense, but people don’t always use that gift. Follow the tips listed below to ensure you have a great time and others around you also have fun!

Wear proper clothing and bring enough water and snacks. Flip flops and slides aren’t a good hiking shoe of choice. And the summer is hot. Bring water.

Be prepared and take the 10 essentials. Take the following on every hike: water, food, a flashlight, navigation, insulation, a first aid kit, sun protection, matches or a fire starter, a basic repair kit, and emergency shelter like a space blanket. I also carry pepper spray. Day hikers are the most vulnerable hiking population to get in trouble and possibly not survive if something goes wrong because they aren’t prepared. 

Leave no trace (LNT). The LNT principle is simple: whatever you bring into the forest goes out with you. Leave no trash and no sign you were ever there except for footprints. You also shouldn’t disturb the environment, go off trail, pick flowers, or trample on brush. Here’s how to follow all seven LNT principles.

Keep your kids in sight at all times. Sure, it’s fun for them to run all over the place, but there are many, many unforeseen things on trails that a cute little person may not see as harmful. Hazards might include a well-hidden snake, an unleashed dog, or a fallen tree. Keep them in sight at all times.

Leash your dog. Leash laws apply everywhere, and there are signs at every trail I’ve visited that tell owners to leash dogs. It doesn’t matter if your dog is friendly. Many people have a fear of dogs, are allergic, etc. By not leashing your dog, you’re infringing on everyone else’s right to enjoy the outdoors. Plus, the liability of a possible, even accidental, attack on a child, adult, or other dog/wildlife just isn’t worth it. Unleashed dogs are behind the majority of severe conflicts between dogs, humans, and bears.

Stay on the trail. Going off trail can not only be dangerous due to unforeseen slips or hidden snakes, but there are wildflowers, micro ecosystems, and animals that depend on the environment. It’s also really easy to get lost if you go off trail.

Lock your car and keep electronics out of sight. There have been several cases of car break-ins at trailheads all over Western NC and Upstate SC. Leave your valuables at home, take them with you hiking, or stash them out of sight in your car.

Stay off waterfalls. I cannot emphasize this enough. Read the news. One week over the summer, three people, including a teenager and a rescue worker, fell to their deaths at waterfalls. And watch your kids because they don’t know the dangers of these beauties. All it takes is one slip, that’s it. And the rocks at waterfalls are often very, very slippery even if they don’t look like it.

Know your fitness level and your kids’ attention span. Choose a trail that you know you can do and that won’t be too long for your kids. And bring snacks because they’re perfect for bribery.

Do your research. There are many hugely popular trails here in the Upstate and within a reasonable driving distance. If you get to a trail too late, you may be turned away at the gate or you won’t be able to find parking at the trailhead. Have a backup plan if that happens or go really early in the day.

Get a map or use one on your phone. I can’t tell you how many times my AllTrails map, or even better, the free Gaia app, saved me from getting lost. Better yet, carry a paper map as cell signals fail and batteries die. When I didn’t have a map on my phone or a paper map, I’ve accidentally added several miles to a hike with my kids. They somehow don’t hate me for that hot, very long day.

Tell someone where you’re going. I do this when I’m hiking alone or with my kids. I mention where I’m going and what time I expect to return. It’s a basic safety precaution. 

Great Hiking Trails for Beginners and Families

Now for the fun part! Our huge Hiking Guide includes trails that are great for kids, trails that have a big waterfall reward, and other favorite local hikes. 

Here are my favorite trails in the area.

Carrick Creek at Table Rock: This is a two-mile loop that is fairly easy. It does have some inclines, so you’ll get a workout. It’s a good one for kids, but be sure to watch them since it crosses bridges without rails and runs next to a fast-moving creek. It’s a fun trail that begins and ends at Carrick Creek Falls. You can wade here, which feels amazing on a hot day. If you don’t have a Park Passport, the park entry fee is $6 for adults, $3.75 for SC seniors (age 65 & older), and $3.50 for children ages 6-15. Children five and under are free.

Rainbow Falls at Gorges State Park: This trail is an hour and twenty minutes from Greenville and across the border in North Carolina. It’s around four miles round trip, and reaching the falls, which are enormous and gorgeous, isn’t difficult. But going back, you’ll be huffing and puffing. My kids first did it when they were six and three and made it with a lot of breaks. We’ve done it again since, but always pack enough water, especially in the summer heat. 

Moore Cove Falls: This waterfall is in North Carolina’s Pisgah Forest. It’s such a fantastic trail because it’s easy, about 1.4 miles round trip, and ends at a spectacular waterfall you can walk behind. The trailhead is just past Looking Glass Falls, which is a stunning roadside waterfall. Plan to drive about an hour and twenty minutes to get there. Go early as parking for both falls gets very crowded very quickly in warm months.

Wildcat Wayside: This trail is perfect for kids because it’s an easy mile loop and starts and ends at a waterfall with a shallow wading pool. The parking lot is a roadside pull-off on Hwy 11. There’s usually someone selling boiled peanuts or hats there. It’s about 50 minutes or less from Greenville. Remember not to climb or play at the top of the small waterfall or the larger waterfall upstream. Several people have been injured or killed here because they slipped and fell.

Conestee Nature Preserve: Located in Mauldin, Conestee is a great introduction to hiking for young kids. With a combination of paved trails, unpaved trails, wooden walkways, and a wildlife habitat, this is a fun place to see turtles or even a snake or two. There’s no entrance fee, and there’s a playground and shelter. 

Twin Ponds at the Blue Wall Preserve: This is an easy, 3.5-mile roundtrip hike that combines two loops around two ponds. I especially like this one in the fall because the colors are fantastic. There’s a small parking area so get there early to find parking. It’s near Landrum and really close to Greenville.

Raven Cliff Falls: This waterfall tumbles more than 400 feet over a sheer cliff and is so pretty. This trail is about four miles and will take you to an observation overlook. You’re not going to get close to the falls, but you can see them, especially in the winter. I like this trail for its beauty and the fact that it’s not very hard. The trailhead parking lot is really small so you need to go early. It’s a little over an hour from Greenville.

Frying Pan Lookout Tower: If you’d like a wow factor hike without having to go to a waterfall, this is it. The Frying Pan Lookout Tower is an old fire tower in Pisgah Forest off the Blue Ridge Parkway. If you have no fear of heights, you can climb the rickety metal stairs to get a 360-degree view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It’s a short 1.5-mile trail, but the first half is almost all uphill. It’s not terribly hard though (when I went, we had kids ranging from ages two to eight, and they did fine). The drive is around 90 minutes from Greenville.

Bearwallow Mountain: I love this trail because the views from the top are gorgeous and 360 degrees. And you can get there via a trail or a gravel road (walking, not driving). It’s a two-mile roundtrip hike, and I’ve done it many times with kids as young as toddlers. There’s also plenty of space for children, or anyone, to run around at the top. You may even see the resident cows grazing. The photo opps are fantastic, and it’s a little over an hour drive from Greenville.

Our readers really love Dupont State Forest, just an hour from Greenville, as well as Jones Gap State Park. Both are hugely popular and are almost always crowded. If you choose to go, arrive early. There are several easy trails there, but make sure you have a paper map or a map on your phone.

If you go to Jones Gap on the weekend, you need to reserve a parking spot ahead of time. It’s $5, even if you have a Park Passport. If you don’t have a Passport, you’ll also need to pay the entry fee. South Carolina State Parks also limit the number of cars in the park and will close once they hit capacity.

Now that you know the basics and have a few trails to try, head out on your hike!

If you’re looking for more hikes that aren’t as crowded, email me and I’ll give you some suggestions. You can reach me at kristina@kiddingaroundgreenville.com.

For more trails, see our huge hiking guide.