Posted in South Carolina Hiking, Nature February 19, 2022 by

12 Incredible Hikes In South Carolina That Anyone Can Do

How about getting outdoors and taking in some fresh air on one of the best hikes in South Carolina?

The hardcore hiking community aside, hiking can be an uncertain prospect for some people who don’t do it very often or are less experienced. Still — others may simply prefer a flatter terrain.

We’ve put together a hodgepodge list of beautiful hikes that anyone can manage. They range from a half mile to five miles in length and some are even ADA accessible. Unless you’re a hardcore hiker, you’re sure to find a trail or two on this list that meet your hiking needs. Here are 12 easy hikes in South Carolina that anyone can take.

1. Hike the trail to Spoonauger Falls.
Flickr/Brenda Wiley
This short and easy trail offers great rewards for the little effort and time it takes. In about 30 minutes you can get from your car to the falls. Bring a lunch and enjoy the serenity.

DIFFICULTY: Easy
GETTING THERE: The falls and the trail are in Oconee County. Visit the USDA website for more information.
Spoonauger Falls, South Carolina 29664, USA
2. Make a day of it at Francis Beidler Forest in Four Holes Swamp.
Yelp/AJ O.
Facebook/Francis Beidler Forest/D Moberg
A name like "Four Holes Swamp" can sound mistakenly menacing to some people. But for boardwalk lovers this trail winds nearly two miles through an Audubon wildlife sanctuary that delivers many sensory rewards.

DIFFICULTY: Easy
GETTING THERE: 336 Sanctuary Rd, Harleyville, SC 29448. Visit the Francis Beidler Forest website for more information.
336 Sanctuary Rd, Harleyville, SC 29448, USA
3. Hike out to Twin Falls.
Flickr/David Ellis
Flickr/David Ellis
The hike out to Twin Falls is a gorgeous, relatively easy effort with much to see along the way.

DIFFICULTY: Relatively Easy
GETTING THERE: US 178N, Past Hwy 11, Left on Cleo Chapman Rd Sunset, SC 29685. Check out the AllTrails page for more information.
Waterfalls Road, Waterfalls Rd, Sunset, SC 29685, USA
4. Take a walk through the South Carolina Botanical Garden in Clemson.
Facebook/South Carolina Botanical Garden
Flickr/George Little
This wonderful resource in Clemson offers 295 acres of eye candy that is an incredible explosion of colors.

DIFFICULTY: Easy
GETTING THERE: 150 Discovery Ln, Clemson, SC 29631. Visit South Carolina Botanical Garden's website to learn more.
Botanical Garden Trail Spur, Columbia, SC 29205, USA
5. Head down to the River on Rock Hill's Riverwalk trail.
Facebook/S. Godfrey
Facebook/D. Carlock
The Riverwalk Greenway Trail in Rock Hill is 3.4 miles of well marked, mostly paved trail winding along the beautiful Catawba River. Bring the whole family, even the dog. This is a very popular spot so be prepared to share the road, er...trail.

DIFFICULTY: Easy
GETTING THERE: 2850 Cherry Rd, Rock Hill, SC 29730
2850 Cherry Rd, Rock Hill, SC 29730, USA
6. Make your way to the Big O and meander through Edisto Memorial Gardens.
Flickr/Jimmy Emerson, DVM
This 1.5 mile loop is wheelchair-accessible and a perfect place to experience South Carolina's beauty.

DIFFICULTY: Easy
GETTING THERE: 200 Riverside Dr SW, Orangeburg, SC 29115. Visit the website Edisto Memorial Gardens to learn more.
200 Riverside Dr SW, Orangeburg, SC 29115, USA
7. Head over to Hartsville and explore the trails and beauty in Kalmia Gardens at Coker College.
Flickr/Martin LaBar
The Kalmia Gardens and Segars-McKinnon Heritage Preserve offers 30 acres of garden and wooded trails with a combination of surfaces, including boardwalk.

DIFFICULTY: Easy
GETTING THERE: 1624 W Carolina Ave, Hartsville, SC 29550
1624 W Carolina Ave, Hartsville, SC 29550, USA
8. Take a hike in Aiken at Hitchcock Woods.
Facebook/Hitchcock Woods Foundation
Facebook/Hitchcock Woods Foundation
Aiken's Hitchcock Woods offers urban hiking at its best. With 20 miles of easy foot trails it might be the best exercise available in the town.

DIFFICULTY: Easy
GETTING THERE: Hitchcock Woods has seven formal entrances. Visit their website for more information.
Hitchcock Woods, South Carolina, USA
9. Get back to nature at Caw Caw Interpretive Center in Ravenel.
Flickr/mogollon_1
Flickr/Tom Austin
The Caw Caw Interpretive Center dishes up 5 miles of interconnecting trails (some ADA approved) through some gorgeous lowcountry terrain. You never know what you'll find along this trail...

DIFFICUTLY: Easy
GETTING THERE: 5200 Savannah Hwy, Ravenel, SC 29470
Caw Caw Interpretive Center, 5200 Savannah Hwy, Ravenel, SC 29470, USA
10. Spend the day on an adventure at Lake Conestee Nature Preserve in Greenville.
Facebook/Lake Conestee Nature Park
Facebook/Lake Conestee Nature Park
Located only a short six-mile drive from downtown Greenville, the trails at Lake Conestee Nature Preserve wind along the famous Reedy River and are perfect for a family outing.

DIFFICULTY: Easy
GETTING THERE: There are several trailheads (points of entry). Visit the website for trail maps and more information!
Conestee Nature Preserve, 840 Mauldin Rd, Greenville, SC 29607, USA
11. Put on your walking shoes and check out Woods Bay State Park.
Facebook/W M McConnell
Facebook/Woods Bay State Park
At Woods Bay State Park in Olanta you'll trek around a real Carolina Bay on a .75 mile loop or you can take an easy hike into the swamp and back on their 500-foot boardwalk.

DIFFICULTY: Easy
GETTING THERE: 11020 Woods Bay Rd, Olanta, SC 29080
Woods Bay State Park, 11020 Woods Bay Rd, Olanta, SC 29114, USA
12. Take a break from water activities on Lake Murray at Dreher Island State Park and go take a hike.
Facebook/Dreher Island/Macedonia Lutheran Church
Facebook/Dreher Island State Park/K Moerke
Little Gap Trail is an easy 2 mile trek through a tall forest. Look! You might even spot this huge nest way up in the tree!

DIFFICULTY: Easy
GETTING THERE: 3677 State Park Road, Prosperity, SC
3677 State Park Rd, Prosperity, SC 29127, USA

Hiking – and just plain walking – is great exercise and it’s good for the soul too. Have you explored any of the best hikes in South Carolina? Which one is your favorite? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

And for more outdoor fun, check out these waterfall swimming holes in South Carolina.

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The OIYS Visitor Center

best hikes in South Carolina

February 24, 2022
Elisa Regulski

Which hikes in South Carolina are short and sweet?

You don’t have to work up a sweat in order to experience nature. We rounded up some of the best easy hikes in South Carolina! For starters, check out the Issaqueena Falls Trail in Walhalla. This kid-friendly hike is only .3 miles long. After a brief stroll, you’ll reach a 100-foot waterfall. Listen as the waters rush down the rocks. This gorgeous place will make you feel one with nature. If you loved this journey, embark on the Sullivans Island Nature Trail. This relaxing hike is only .6 miles long, but it’s packed with incredible views. At the end of this short and sweet adventure, you’ll reach a lovely beach! Need more ideas? Check out our list of the best short, kid-friendly hikes in South Carolina.

What are the most beautiful hikes in South Carolina?

Table Rock Trail, located in Pickens, is one of the most scenic hikes in South Carolina. This 6.5-mile trail weaves through verdant scenery and around shady trees. You’ll definitely want to wear good hiking shoes and bring plenty of water on this adventure! You’ll also find some stunning trails inside Paris Mountain State Park in Greenville. This 15-mile loop never stops being gorgeous. Whether you hike the entire length or just a small portion, you’re in for a treat. And of course, the Rainbow Falls Trail never ceases to amaze. Head over to the town of Cleveland and see it first-hand! For more great ideas, take a look at our list of the most beautiful hikes in South Carolina.