South Carolina Upstate A great place to be outside

by Ron J

Whether you like to hike, fish, ride your bike, or just like being outside, the SC upstate is a great place to be.  With its beautiful lakes and mountains, there is something to offer for any outdoor enthusiast.

For the fisherman and boaters, the upstate of SC offers three beautiful lakes for all sorts of water activities.  Lake Jocassee (http://www.lakejocassee.com/) is located in a beautiful mountain setting with clear, cool, deep water and several spectacular waterfalls spilling in.  Trout and small mouth bass are just two of the many species of fish.  There are primitive campsites right on the water that are a great place to take your family.  Lake Keowee (http://www.sciway.net/city/lake-keowee.html) also has beautiful mountain setting with great fishing and family fun.  Lake Hartwell (http://www.lake-hartwell.com/) is the largest of the three lakes with 56000 acres of water.  Lake Hartwell has several campsites scattered around the lake with both primitive and RV campsites available.  The Bassmaster Classic was held on Hartwell in 2008 so you know the fishing is good here.  There are monster striper and hybrid bass as well as many other species of fish.

If being on land is more your speed, there are numerous state parks with great hiking and camping opportunities (http://www.southcarolinaparks.com/). Tablerock, Jonesgap, Ceasars Head and Paris Mountain are a few of my favorite.  They all offer trails for families and serious hikers.  Take a stroll through the woods along a beautiful river or do a serious hike to the top a mountain for spectacular views.  You can camp along the trail, stay in a cabin or pitch your tent in a designated spot in the campgrounds.

Cycling, whether mountain or road biking, is very popular in the upstate.  If you enjoy mountain biking, Croft State Natural area (http://www.southcarolinaparks.com/park-finder/state-park/1443/things-to-do.aspx) offers 16 miles of trails that are easy to moderate.  You will most likely see a deer or turkey sharing the woods with you.  Dupont State Forest, which is just over the border in NC (http://www.dupontforest.com/) has over 80 miles of trails to bike on that range from easy to very difficult.  There are several waterfalls and sites to visit on your journey through the woods.  Be prepared to carry your bike over some river crossings.  Paris Mountain State Park (http://www.southcarolinaparks.com/park-finder/state-park/722.aspx) has several trails that are closed to cyclist on Saturday but open every other day.  The trails range from easy to moderate and are shared with hikers.   If you prefer the road to ride on, the opportunities are almost endless.  Greenville, the heart of the upstate, has been recognized as a Biketown USA and because of our average winter temperatures in the 50’s, you can bike year round.  The upstate is notorious for great hills to climb so if you are looking for a challenge, there are hills that will make even the pros suffer. There are not many flat areas in the upstate but you can find areas with easy rollers or the Swamp Rabbit trail that is geared more for families and recreational riders.  You can find routes of various distances on www.mapmyride.com, search Greenville and you will find a ride or you can visit any of the five bike shops in Greenville alone for advice and routes.

I have only touched on a few of the outdoor activities available in the upstate of South Carolina.  Camping, rafting, kayaking, bird watching and hunting are others that are available to you most of the year.  If you ever have the opportunity to visit the upstate of South Carolina, jump on it and I hope we cross paths during your visit.