Posted in South Carolina
March 25, 2017
These 7 Trails In South Carolina Will Lead You To Extraordinary Ancient Ruins
Naturally, South Carolina is a hotbed of history. With these seven hikes you can combine your love of history with your love of the outdoors. Explore the remains of the old fire tower residence on Paris Mountain, or follow a trail along a river to discover the ruins of an old mill. Prefer old railroads? This list has you covered too. If you love adventure, then check out these seven trails that lead to extraordinary ruins in the Palmetto State.
We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life as we all practice social and physical distancing. While we’re continuing to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, we don’t expect or encourage you to go check them out immediately. We believe that supporting local attractions is important now more than ever and we hope our articles inspire your future adventures! And on that note, please nominate your favorite local business that could use some love right now: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/nominate/
After last fall's massive fire it seems perfectly fitting to trek up to the ruins of the old residence of the fire tower at Paris Mountain. The trailhead spurs off from another trail. The above map should help you figure out your best route of getting to the trailhead to see the ruins. The trail to the fire tower is only four-tenths of a mile long once you reach the trailhead, but you'll hike another trail just to get to the trailhead. More information about the state park, including hours and admission fees, can be found at this link.
Explore the ruins of a defunct canal once used to bypass the rapids on the Catawba River. The canal was no longer needed once the railroad arrived. Explore the remnants of this canal which are still embedded in the ground -- and then walk around the remains of the lockkeepers house. The trail to the canal site is 1.25 miles one-way and is flat terrain. Head out on this one in May or June and you won't be able to miss the largest stand of spider lillies in the nation. They practically cover the river here. More information, including park hours and admission fees, can be found at this link.
Follow along a trail bed of an old railroad on this passage of the Palmetto Trail. You won't need to walk the entire 10.8 miles to discover ruins. From the trailhead in Alston you'll cross an 1,100 foot former rail trestle and enjoy incredible views of the Broad River. From there, the next 10 miles includes 13 more wooden trestles. More information about this hike is available here and here.
A short trail through the woods leads to this now earthen-covered bridge that used to be the only way to cross Hard Labor Creek at this point on US 378. Enjoy the creek bed below and the general shadiness and protected cove this spot offers. You can access the bridge from either side of the trail. One of the trail entrances is marked with a red arrow in the above photo. Find the entrance here.
Tucked away inside the zoo in Columbia is a trail that leads to the extraordinary ruins of Saluda Mill. You'll see the mill’s granite foundations, picking house and millrace -- as well as this amazing keystone arch that's survived since this mill was built in the early 1800s and burned in 1884. There used to be a tavern, grist mill and several boarding houses at this site as well. Access to this trail requires admission to Riverbanks Zoo. Once you're in, head over to the Gardens River Trail to start your hike. Zoo hours and admission fees are listed at this link.
Access the Whitestone Springs Spur (approximately 3/4 mile long) from the 3.4 mile Rocky Ridge Trail at Croft State Park in Spartanburg. At just over 4 miles each way, it's no short hike. But the payoff is, you get to visit the ruins of a once-famous hotel that sat on the ridge next to White Springs.
Built in 1901, the huge hotel could host 350 guests at a time. Visitors would arrive by train and then ride via carriage to the resort. Sadly, it burned a long time ago. Croft State Park has more than 50 miles of trails. We've marked the above map with the location of the ruins of this grand old resort. More information is available at this link.
Built in 1901, the huge hotel could host 350 guests at a time. Visitors would arrive by train and then ride via carriage to the resort. Sadly, it burned a long time ago. Croft State Park has more than 50 miles of trails. We've marked the above map with the location of the ruins of this grand old resort. More information is available at this link.
Drive all the way into this state historic site, park in the lot at the end and then hike all over this ghost town. Colonial Dorchester originally was divided into 114 quarter-acre lots and had a town square. You'll find many notable ruins here, including the old bell tower from the church and an old cemetery. More information can be found at this link.
BONUS HIKE: Want to hike to the most haunted ruins in the Palmetto State? Here’s The Haunted Hike In South Carolina That Will Send You Running For The Hills.
