10 Upstate Hikes that Are Perfect for Teens

Are you on the lookout for a hike around Greenville for young people or grownups? Here’s our checklist of fantastic hikes for teens in or close to the Upstate, SC! Some are demanding and some a little bit a lot more peaceful best for a working day with mates or family members. For even additional climbing concepts see our list of our favourite nearby hiking trails.

There are so numerous great mountaineering trails in the Upstate or nearby, it’s really difficult to pick where to go. Thankfully, the weather conditions in this article can lend alone to climbing all year-round for the most section, which indicates heaps of weekends to acquire the teens out on adventures.

Suggestions for hiking with teenagers

Though young people can often be recognised for lapses in judgement, it’s crucial to be thorough on trails at all occasions, specially all around waterfalls and drop off points. Though it can make for a stunning Instagram picture having out on a ledge or traversing slippery rocks, it’s not really worth a major injuries or worse. Use popular feeling and obey posted symptoms.

Bringing sufficient foods, treats, and drinking water during a hike is also sensible, regardless of whether a lunch is supposed or not, specially all through the hotter months. Some of the trails are demanding and hikers have to have to have more than enough drinking water for the journey.

And finally, bringing some type of defense with you is wise. There are bears in the Upstate and Western North Carolina and carrying bear spray alongside on the hike just in situation is a excellent concept. You can get some at most outside stores or on Amazon.

Also, most South Carolina point out parks have entrance fees of all over $5-$8/grownup but nearly all North Carolina state parks do not. For important suggestions on recreating responsibly, make sure you see this story on the seven Go away No Trace ideas.

Here are a couple of of our favorite hikes in or around the Upstate for teenagers, which are a minor extended and far more hard than kinds we’d select for younger young ones.

Hikes for Teens Near Greenville, SC

Table Rock

Desk Rock is a good area to commence for an simple to reasonable two-mile hike with the Carrick Creek Trail. It has elevation adjustments, creek crossings, and waterfalls.

For a problem that will give any teen bragging rights, the 7+ mile spherical trip Desk Rock Path is really tough but absolutely really worth it. The view is amazing at the top rated, but the trek up is no joke. Proposed for the a lot more conditioned teenager.

Table Rock Condition Park
158 Ellison Lane
Pickens, SC 29671

Raven Cliff Falls

Nestled in the Caesars Head State Park and Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area, this trail is moderately challenging with a attractive forget about of the 420-foot drop Raven Cliff Falls, which is the tallest waterfall in the condition. It’s about a five-mile round excursion hike from the parking large amount, which isn’t massive by the way. Get there early if you strategy to go.

There are other trails in the exact same place, such as the aptly named Dismal Trail (this is arduous and teens who decide on this path have to have to be really careful). The Mountain Bridge Wilderness Place connects to Jones Gap State Park, which is the site of the subsequent ideal path on our record.

Raven Cliff Falls
8155 Geer Highway
Cleveland, SC

Rainbow Falls at Jones Gap

Navigating boulders, leaping creeks, and mountaineering steep inclines are capabilities of the trail at Jones Hole State Park to make it to the attractive Rainbow Falls. It is underneath five miles and is not quick but again, the payoff of observing the amazing waterfall is certainly value it. You are going to have to reserve a spot on weekends for $5 as well as the price of entry. No reservations are essential on weekdays.

Jones Gap State Park
303 Jones Hole Street, Marietta, SC

Seeking Glass Rock in Pisgah Forest

Get your coronary heart pumping with the 6+ mile trek to the leading of Seeking Glass Rock in Pisgah Forest for wonderful views. Use caution at the top rated and really do not go near the edge.

Seeking Glass Rock Trailhead
Brevard, NC 28712

Paris Mountain Point out Park

If you want to stay shut to residence but however get in a great working day of hiking, head to Paris Mountain Point out Park below in Greenville. There are heaps of trails to decide on from, such as actually uncomplicated ones all-around Lake Placid to the more difficult Sulphur Springs Trail, a 3.6-mile trek. Brissy Ridge Trail is also entertaining as it is not too very long, about two miles, and hugs the ridge of the mountain.

Paris Mountain State Park
2401 State Park Road, Greenville

Raven Rock Path

This is a single of my favourite hikes in the Upstate due to the fact it is a bit demanding at a tiny about 4 miles round vacation and it involves a little waterfall the place you can amazing off, a gorgeous ignore of Lake Keowee, and the prospect to swim in the lake at the halfway issue. The Raven Rock Trail is accessed through the Keowee-Toxaway Point out Park and there is no charge for parking.

Keowee-Toxaway State Park
108 Residence Travel, Sunset, SC

Rainbow Falls and Turtleback Falls at Gorges State Park

I may have a thing for waterfalls. I really feel that if you’re going to go hiking, be confident there’s a waterfall. Sort of fast gratification, or at least a superior reason to retain heading. Rainbow Falls at Gorges Point out Park is the farthest locale from Greenville on this list but it’s just so wonderful. The waterfall is tremendous, and you can get a actually excellent watch from the forget about on the trail or you can get a lesser trail down to the base of the falls (just be watchful). But if you retain likely a further quarter-mile from people falls, you will appear to far more waterfalls! Turtleback Falls is not as spectacular but still value the excess 50 percent mile.

The path is about 4 miles spherical excursion and of average issue. The hike again is more durable and far more uphill than the hike to the waterfalls.

Gorges Point out Park
976 Grassy Ridge Highway, Sapphire, NC

Daniel Ridge Loop

This is in North Carolina as properly in Pisgah Forest past the trailhead for Hunting Glass Rock. It is a loop (go still left at the fork except you want to have a actually tough climb) and is above 4 miles. It is a pretty path with loads of very little waterfalls and different scenery. It is about an hour and 20 minutes from Greenville. This is another favorite of mountain bikers so be geared up to bounce off the trail if they fly by.

Countrywide Forest 475 Highway, Brevard, NC

Foothills Trail

For a multi-working day challenge, take the 77-mile Foothills Trail from Oconee Condition Park to Desk Rock Condition Park. The path is attractive with intricate bridges, flowers, waterfalls, and sights. Numerous people today will break up up the trail and just hike segments. It’s fantastic for backpacking as properly.

Midnight Hole

This hike the farthest from the Upstate at about a two-hour travel but oh-so-lovely. It is only 3 miles round vacation but the location of a crystal obvious, cold swimming gap in the Smokies is value it. It is quite common in the summer months. If you retain heading earlier Midnight Hole, you’ll arrive to Mouse Creek Falls not considerably up the path. Barely anyone goes past the major attraction of Midnight Gap but the waterfall is really worth it. Google “midnight hole” to get the GPS directions.

Exactly where would you propose to hike with teens in the Upstate?