South Carolina Trip Reports
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Table Rock & The Mountain Bridge Wilderness Some of South Carolina's finest hiking is located in Table Rock State Park, Caesar's Head State Park, and Jones Gap State Park. Caesar's Head and Jones Gap comprise the Mountain Bridge Wilderness. One fork of the Foothills Trail starts at Table Rock, while the other begins in Jones Gap. The two branches meet near Sassafrass Mountain, the highest peak in South Carolina. From there, the Foothills Trail continues west to Lake Jocassee and wanders through the Jocassee Gorges in North Carolina. It returns to South Carolina along the wild waters of the Chattooga River before ending at Oconee State Park. Some hikes we've done in these areas include: My April, 2013 camping trip with Darrin in Jones Gap State Park, with dayhikes in and near the Mountain Bridge Wilderness. (Photos). My April, 2013 dayhike in the Nature Conservancy's Nine Times Preserve. (Photos). My March, 2013 dayhike with Darrin and Mitch on the Palmetto Trail from Table Rock State Park to some obscure waterfalls on Rachael Creek. (Photos). My March, 2013 exploratory hike with Jack and Brenda to a series of previously undocumented waterfalls along Little Fall Creek. (Photos). My February, 2013 hike with Christy in Paris Mountain State Park . (Photos). My January, 2013 hike with Jack to Mashbox Falls, Misty Falls, Boone's Falls, and Chute Falls in Caesar's Head and Jones Gap State Parks. (Photos). My January, 2013 hike with Brenda, Darrin, and the dogs on the Hospital Rock and Fall Creek Falls Trails in Jones Gap State Park. We narrowly avoided a tragedy on this hike, as my dog Boone fell over a 70' waterfall. Incredibly, he wasn't injured. (Photos). My June, 2012 visit with Jack and Darrin to Sweet Thing on Slickum Creek, after a day of hiking at Connestee Falls near Brevard, NC. (Photos). My May, 2012 dayhike with Jack on the Pinnacle Pass Trail in the Mountain Bridge Wilderness. We hiked to an unusual mountain cascade bog where we found Pitcher Plants, Sundew, Orchids, Indian Paintbrush, and other rare plants and flowers. (Photos). My March, 2012 dayhike with Jack and Brenda to previously undocumented waterfalls on Tankersley Branch near the Mountain Bridge Wilderness. (Photos). Brenda's report on our March, 2012 dayhike with Christy, Jack, and Johnny to the Chestnut Ridge Heritage Preserve (Photos). My February, 2012 dayhike with Jack to rarely visited waterfalls on Head Foremost Creek in the Mountain Bridge Wilderness. (Photos). My January, 2012 dayhike with Jack, Bob S, Johnny, and Brenda on the Palmetto Trail west of Table Rock State Park. We visited 7 or 8 waterfalls on the hike, all but one of which are on Rachael Creek or its tributaries. Most of the waterfalls we visited, including Yucca Falls, are off-trail and require serious bushwhacking to reach. (Photos). My April, 2011 dayhike with Jack and Brenda on the Palmetto Trail from Table Rock State Park to highway 178 (Photos). My March, 2011 dayhike with Jack and Johnny to two obscure waterfalls in the Chestnut Ridge Heritage Preserve (Photos). My May, 2010 dayhike with Jack from Jones Gap SP to Rainbow Falls, Headforemost Falls, and Fall Creek Falls (Photos). My solo, March, 2010 car camping trip to Brasstown Falls featuring dayhikes to Long Creek Falls and Raven Cliff Falls (Photos). My January, 2009 dayhike with Dave in Jones Gap State Park to Rainbow Falls. (Photos) My solo, April 2008 backpacking trip to Table Rock (Photos). My solo, January, 2008 dayhike to Sassafras Mountain, as I hiked the Foothills Trail from Laurel Valley. I also visited Twin Falls, Eastatoe Gorge, and Eastatoe Falls (in NC) that day. (Photos) My November, 2005 dayhike with Jack to Moonshine Falls and Raven Cliff Falls in the Mountain Bridge Wilderness. Our November, 2004 dayhike to Hospital Rock in Jones Gap State Park. Our November, 2002 dayhike to Hospital Rock and Symes Chapel. Our April, 2000 car camping trip to Table Rock State Park with dayhikes to Table Rock and Raven Cliff Falls. Our first dayhike in the Mountain Bridge Wilderness, on the Rim of the Gap Trail, In October, 1999. |
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Lake Jocassee & The Chattooga River Farther west, the wild rivers of the Jocassee gorges spill into Lake Jocassee. Beyond the lake, the wild and scenic Chattooga River of "Deliverance" fame tumbles from the mountains of North Carolina, forming the border of South Carolina and Georgia. Both areas feature fantastic hiking. Some of the hikes we've done in these areas include: My February, 2013 car camping trip with a bunch of friends, including hikes to Yellow Branch Falls, Bee Cove, and two waterfalls in North Carolina. (Yellow Branch Falls Photos). (Crevice Falls Photos). (Scotsman Creek Photos). (Bee Cove Photos). My August, 2012 car camping trip with Jack to Cherry Hill Campground, with a dayhike to some obscure waterfalls on Crane Creek. (Photos). My December, 2011 solo dayhikes to Brasstown Falls and Opossum Creek Falls. (Photos). My solo, February, 2010 backpacking trip along the Chattooga River from Russell Bridge (highway 28) to Kings Creek Falls. (Photos). My January, 2010 visit to Twin Falls. (Photos). My August, 2009 trip on Lake Jocassee with Jack and Johnny on Johnny's sailboat. That trip included camping at Rock Creek, in NC, & hikes to Wright Creek Falls, Moondance Falls, & Sky Falls. - (Photos) My short solo, February, 2009 dayhike to Riley Moore Falls. (Photos). My solo, January, 2009 dayhikes to several waterfalls in Oconee County. (Photos) A March, 2007 dayhike led by Jack in Devils Fork State Park. We actually did three short hikes that day, to view rare Oconee Bells, and to visit Station Cove Falls and Lee Falls. My January, 2005 backpacking trip with Dave to the Ellicott Rock Wilderness from the Sloan Bridge picnic area. Our January, 2000 backpacking trip along the Chattooga River to Ellicott Rock, where North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia all meet. More trips in the Lake Jocassee area can be found on North Carolina's Jocassee Gorges page. More trips upstream along the Chattooga River can be found on North Carolina's Nantahala National Forest page (Highlands section). More trips downstream along the Chattooga River can be found on the Georgia page. |
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Central & Eastern South Carolina South Carolina has plenty to offer outside of the mountains, including black water swamps, large trees, and fine beaches. Some trips we've taken in the central and eastern parts of South Carolina include: My solo, November, 2011 dayhike in Congaree National Park. (Photos) Our April, 2011 visit to Charleston for the Cooper River Bridge Run. Our February, 2011 dayhike on the Enoree River Passage of the Palmetto Trail. (Photos) My solo, October, 2010 dayhike in Congaree National Park. (Photos) My solo, February, 2008 solo hikes to Kalmia Gardens, near Hartsville, and Forty Acre Rock, in the Sandhills east of Lancaster. (Photos) Our November, 2006 dayhike in Kings Mountain National Military Park and Kings Mountain State Park. Our January, 2005 dayhike in Congaree National Park. Our September, 2001 car camping trip toHunting Island State Park, featuring the most vicious mosquitoes we've ever experienced. Our December, 2000 backpacking trip in Congaree National Park. |
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Please remember to Leave No Trace!
