Out and About in the Upcountry, South Carolina

If you’re looking for outdoor adventure at any speed, the Upcountry has it. Thrilling whitewater, leisurely greenway strolls, treetop ziplines, waterfall hikes, white-knuckle mountain biking and more await in Upcountry South Carolina. Grab your boots, spruce up your bike, and pack a bag because adventure calls.

Bigtime Thrills

For the biggest adventure around, you need whitewater. Fortunately, the Chattooga River is right here in the Upcountry. 

“People travel from around the world to paddle and experience the Chattooga,” says Woody Woodruff, Marketing Director with Wildwater Adventure Centers. “Around the river is some of the most wild and remote country you’ll find, and when you’re out there paddling, fishing, or hiking, it’s hard to believe Greenville and Atlanta are just a few hours away.”

Wildwater paddles the rapids of the Chattooga and other rivers in South Carolina and the region, but here at home they offer another thrill: ziplining. Their zips take you soaring through the trees for a heart-pounding (but totally safe) good time. You’ll find other ziplines taking advantage of the heights and views of the Upcountry: Flying Rabbit Adventures and Treetop Quest, in Greenville; and Upstate Zipline, in Sunset, deliver high flying thrills. 

Pedal Power

Bring your bike (or rent one) and pedal across this perfect corner of South Carolina where road cycling, mountain biking, and pleasantly paced greenways make the miles disappear. The 8.5-mile Doodle Trail offers a scenic, cycle-centric connection between Pickens and Easley. Mountain bikers should check out the Issaqueena Lake Trail; this 7.8-mile set of loops takes you to the edge of Lake Issaqueena and through the Clemson Experimental Forest on a trail you’ll share with hikers and equestrians.

The singletrack, looping lanes, and soon-to-be-completed expansion of Stumphouse Mountain Bike Park in Walhalla offers challenges to all level of mountain bikers, and it’s part of the mountains-to-the-coast Palmetto Trail if you’re looking for a really long ride. You’ll find more details on cycling the Upcountry at www.bikeupcountrysc.com.

Trails To Everywhere

There are even more trails in the Upcountry suited for your boots, bikes, and your walking shoes. The 500-mile Palmetto Trail cuts a track across the Upcountry as it heads for the coast, and the 77-mile Foothills Trail shows off a rugged slice of the state (and dips briefly into North Carolina), but the state parks offer hikes that are more friendly to young hikers and those new to the trail. Spartanburg’s Cottonwood Trail, in the city’s Cottonwood Trail Preserve just outside of downtown; Croft State Park’s 1.5-mile Nature Trail; the Battlefield Trail at Kings Mountain National Military Park; and Table Rock State Park’s Lakeside Trail and Carrick Creek Trail are all suited to hikers seeking an easy day out. 

More To Discover in Any Season

There’s more to discover in the Upcountry. Boating and bass fishing on the lakes, and fly fishing mountain streams. Wandering to waterfalls and along scenic greenways. Leisurely drives through the country. And still more. 

So, when should you come? Anytime. As Woody Woodruff says, “come for spring wildwater season, play in the rivers in summer, take in the beauty of fall leaf season, or enjoy the quietness of winter; here in the Upcountry, we have it all.”