greenville.com
outdoors
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The Great Outdoors
Whether you're here for the weekend or for
the duration... a list of places to go and things to do to
enjoy the mountains and rivers of the Upstate South Carolina/Western
North Carolina area. If you know of a swimming hole or a trail
we've missed, send a note to info@greenville.com.
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Featured
Destination
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Day-tripping at Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area. Caesars
Head, Jones Gap State Park, and other wildernesspreserves
make up the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area. Located in Upper
Greenville County, the Area offers 50+ miles of hiking (easy
- strenuous) and trailside camping spots. Take Hwy. 276 W.
for about 30 mi. Park is located at the top of the mountain
right off the Hwy. The North Carolina border is 3 mi. away.
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Featured Destination
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Day-tripping
at the Carl Sandburg Home and farm in Historic Flat Rock. Just south of Hendersonville off of N. C. Highway 25. A visit that will stay with you for years to come.
For details... |
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Featured Destination
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Day-tripping
at Chimney Rock Park . Just south of Hendersonville off of N. C. Highway 74. If you're looking for a nice, "outdoors-y" spot to spend the better part of a day away from your own particular hustle and bustle, Chimney Rock Park might just be the place.
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Keeping it simple.
If you're seeking
an outdoor adventure, look no further. The Upstate/WNC area is surrounded
by natural beauty and numerous opportunities for enjoying the outdoors.
Hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains... more
details at hikinginthesmokys.com, the most comprehensive site on the web for information on Great Smoky Mountains Trails.
Here are some safe places to start your outdoor adventures.
Chattooga
National Wild and Scenic River
Born high in the Carolina mountains and dropping an average
of 49.3 feet per mile in its race past the stately woods
of Sumter National Forest, for 40 miles this tumultuous
(and sometimes disarmingly placid) mountain river separates
South Carolina and Georgia. The Chattooga became a sort
of national quest after its starring role in the movie "Deliverance."
For guided raft tours, contact Wildwater Ltd. at 800-451-9972
or 864-647-9587.
Jones
Gap State Park
Picnicking and trailside camping in one of South Carolina's
most pristine wilderness areas in the Upcountry can be enjoyed
at this 3,346-acre park in Greenville County. Located in
the 10,000-acre Mountain Bridge Wilderness and Recreation
Area, this park encompasses the Middle Saluda River, designated
the state's first scenic river. In addition, the park is
an access point to the Foothills Hiking Trail.
Palmetto
Trail
Not yet completed, this trail will eventually link the Blue
Ridge Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean. Several passages
are currently open in Santee Cooper Country. For more information,
contact the Palmetto Conservation Foundation at 803-771-0870.
Sumter
National Forest
This woodland covers over 118,000 acres and provides hiking
and biking trails, recreation areas, and a peaceful environment
to enjoy wildlife and green spaces. For more information about
this area, call the National Forest Service at 803-561-4000.
If none of these destinations is quite what you're looking for, try the South Carolina State Trails Program. They have a great directory of the green spaces throughout South Carolina.
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Bicycling: Road and Mountain
- Bent Creek Recreational Area
If you're looking for a fun ride in the forest not too far from home, the Bent Creek area just south of Asheville, NC offers a number of rides on gravel roads and single tracks.
- Blue Wall Passage of the Palmetto Trail
From either the Blue Wall Preserve or the Foothills Equestrian Nature Center (FENCE), you will find this scenic section of the Palmetto Trail offers a lot of diversity. You will pass from old forest to the city streets of downtown Landrum in Spartanburg County. As you wander over rolling hills, you will be treated to some beautiful views of mountains, clear ponds, and some of South Carolina's finest horse farms. Although this trail is listed as hiking and mountain biking, it has sections that are not for the mountain bike enthusiast, because they are on streets or sidewalks.
- Croft State Natural Area
Starting from the parking area, this somewhat challenging trail in Spartanburg County has something for just about everyone. There is enough climbing, fast down hills, and hard packed sections, which allow fairly high speeds to satisfy the intermediates and experts, but may be too much for beginners. Several connector trails provide variation and new challenges, especially the Idaho pass, which is more technical.
- Tsali Recreation Area by Asheville local Tom Livingston.
World famous single-track trails along Lake Fontana's shores. (Advanced.)
- Upstate Mountain Bikers Association
The mission of the UMBA is to provide an organization to work with local land managers to build and maintain a network of trails to improve the mountain biking experience of its membership. Maps, trail status reports, and event calendars are available on the website.
Lakes & Rivers
- Fish Tales Guide Service
A guide service for striper and hybrid on Lake Hartwell. Group packages and lodging available.
- Lake Bowen
Lake Bowen is located near the city of New Prospect in Spartanburg County and impounds the South Pacolet River. There is a boat ramp located on SC 9. Lake Bowen also has a public fishing pier. (Because Lake Bowen is a water system lake certain rules apply.)
- Lake Hartwell
Located at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Anderson County, SC, this lake covers 56,000 acres and offers fishing and water sports.
- Lake Lure
Lake Lure, NC is located in Rutherford County and tucked among the Blue Ridge Mountains. A very short trip from Chimney Rock Park, the lake is on Highway 64/74A, approximately an hour's drive from Spartanburg. Directions are available on the website.
- Lake Lyman and Lake Cooley
These two Spartanburg County lakes provide a variety of lodging and boating resources.
- Lawson's Fork Creek
Spartanburg's Lawson's Fork is now accessible to paddlers who want to put in at Whitney and float to the Cottonwood Trail, a distance of 4.5 river miles. Work has been completed on the "put-in" just below the dam, along U.S. Highway 221.
Rock Climbing and Mountaineering
Upstate South Carolina and WNC has long been a destination
for climbers and mountaineers of all abilities. Located near
the southern terminus of the Appalachians, this area features
some of the most impressive mountains on the Eastern seaboard,
including Mt. Mitchell, with the highest summit this side
of the Rockies. From rugged winter ascents of 6000-foot snow-capped
mountains to the water-marked faces of the famous granite
domes, the Upstate offers a multitude of options for the climber
to explore and consider.
- Mountain Adventure Guides - Guided backpacking and rock climbing adventures in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina. No experience necessary - we supply the gear. See you in the mountains!
- Chimney Rock Park
Fox Mountain Guides and Climbing School
Fox Mountain Guides and Climbing School is the south’s only AMGA Accredited Guide Service. They offer rock climbing, ice climbing guiding and rock climbing courses across North Carolina. A great and exciting way to see the Mountains! FMG also offers a teen adventure summer camps June through August. We only use American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) trained and certified Instructors and Guides. No other guide service in the Southeastern USA upholds this incredibly high standard. Excellence in Rock Guiding and Instruction since 1994.
- The South’s only AMGA Accredited Guide Service
- AMGA Certified Instructors or Guides on every trip
- No experience necessary
- We cater to all ability levels and ages
- Toll Free: 1-888-28-GUIDE (48433)
Have you ever wanted to go rock climbing or rappelling but have been hesitant to try? Why not sign up for a 2-hour climbing clinic or a half or full-day training session with a certified instructor and take on the cliffs overlooking Hickory Nut Gorge. We’ve partnered with the Southeast’s only AMGA accredited guide service, Fox Mountain Guides, to offer you a climbing experience you won’t soon forget. Guided climbing opportunities are available for the beginners to advanced climbers. No experience is necessary, though, and we provide all the equipment. Reservations are required. The Park, located 60 miles NE of Greenville, is open all year. Live it up!  800-277-9611
- Toads-R-Us.
5.9+ FA Chris Little, Clarence Hickman & Mark Pell
Dinkus
Dog. 5.10 First Ascent by Jeep Gaskin & Jeff Burton,
1979.
- Cornflake
Crack. Ee-Gads! 5.11 FA Art Williams & Mike Holloway,
1972; FFA Henry Barber & Ric Hatch, 1976
other
popular activities:
biking
. family fun . fishing
. golf . hiking/backpacking
.shopping . water
sports .
Information on other outdoor organizations and activities
:
- Adventure
Carolinas works to promote the growth and development
of adventure sports in the Carolinas. The website is a hub
for all adventurers to share information, tales of adventure,
photos, training plans and events.
- Appalachian
Trail Conference
- Appalachian
Trailplace
- The
Blue Ridge Parkway
- Blue
Ridge Bicycle Club
- Electric
City Cycling Club, based in Anderson, SC, is a mostly
touring, partly racing club which also includes a sizeable
mountain biking population. We have over 200 members from
all over Upstate (Northwest) South Carolina.
- Elisha
Mitchell Audubon Society
- Freewheelers
of Spartanburg Bicycle Club have their regular Club
meetings on the first Monday of each month. Visit the website
for more information on meetings and events.
- Golden
Strip Track Club is a non-profit community based organization,
managed by volunteers. The objective is to provide youth
an opportunity to participate in Track and Field activities
in an organized and positive environment.
- Greenville
County Recreation District
The Greenville
County Recreation District is committed to improving the
quality of life in this community by providing recreation
facilities and leisure time programming for its residents
and visitors.
- Greenville
Parks and Recreation Department
The Parks & Recreation Department provides supervision and
administrative support for the operation of recreation programs
and facilities, for activities of the Greenville Zoo, and
for the maintenance of parks, beautification sites, rights-of-way,
cemeteries and trees. This office also promotes leisure
opportunities through the news media, utilizes co-sponsors
to enhance public awareness and participation, and serves
as the City's liaison to downtown festivals and City advisory
boards.
- Mudslingers
The Cherokee Mudslingers ATV Club is a member run club dedicated
to safe, fun and ethical ATV riding. The club was formed
in July of 1998 when landowners stopped OHVs from riding
at the sandbar located in Gaffney, SC on the Broad River.
The club headquarters are located in Gaffney, SC.
- Out
There
- Palmetto
Conversation Foundation is a nonprofit membership
organization that conserves South Carolina's natural resources,
preserves historic landmarks, and promotes outdoor
recreation and active living.
- Pisgah
National Forest
- Spartanburg
Running Club is open to anyone interested in running.
For information call 864-591-4261 or visit the website.
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