First Day Hikes and Getting Outside this New Year

New Year’s Day is the perfect time to start the year off right and get outdoors! South Carolina State Parks hold these events every January 1st across the state. Most hikes are free; some require advanced booking, and none of the prices listed below include park admission/passes. Check out this updated list for New Year’s Day, and make it a goal to get outdoors more this coming year!

Cherokee County:

• Kings Mountain State Park – Location: 1277 Park Rd, Blacksburg, SC, 29702. Times: 10 am – 1 pm. For this free hike, meet at the CCC Bathhouse Trailhead on Lake Crawford. This hike will take you from the CCC Bathhouse Trailhead of Kings Mountain State Park to the Boulders Access Area of Crowders Mountain State Park. It’s a moderate 5.6-mile hike, and the recommended age is 10+ to participate. A shuttle bus will drive you back from Crowders Mountain! Learn more here: https://southcarolinaparks.com/products/10003882.

Spartanburg County:

• Croft State Park – Location: 450 Croft State Park Rd., Spartanburg, SC, 29302. Times: 10 am – 11:30 am.  This hike is free with paid park admission or a SC State Parks pass! You’ll hike the Nature Trail, a 1.5-mile easy trek. Learn more here: https://southcarolinaparks.com/products/10004233.

Greenville County:

• Stool Mountain Hike at Table Rock State Park – Location: 158 Ellison Lane, Pickens, SC, 29671. Times: 9 am – 2 pm. This very strenuous hike traverses the brand-new Stool Mountain Trail, a 5.4-mile round-trip to the top of Table Rock and back. Free, but advance registration required here: https://southcarolinaparks.com/products/1000405.1. 
• Raven Cliff Falls at Caesars Head State Park – Location: 8155 Geer Hwy, Cleveland, SC, 29635. Times: 1 – 4 pm. This 4.4-mile round-trip hike is a long one (plan on being out on the Raven Cliff Falls Trail for about three hours) and is filled with talks on the park’s natural and cultural history. Free, but advance registration required here: https://southcarolinaparks.com/products/10004053. 
• Wildcat Wayside Trail at Caesars Head State Park – Location: 8155 Geer Hwy, Cleveland, SC, 29635. Times: 10 – 11:30 am. Meet up at the Wildcat Wayside Falls parking lot (off Hwy 276) to start this easy, one-mile hike past three waterfalls and the ruins of the original Greenville Wayside Park. Reservations are required as space is limited. Learn more and sign up to hike here: https://southcarolinaparks.com/products/1000446.8. 
• Paris Plunge at Paris Mountain State Park – Location: 2401 State Park Rd., Greenville, SC, 29609. Times: 10 am – 12 pm. This is a bonus entry for the Lake Placid Paris Plunge on New Year’s Day! This event raises funds to help upkeep the park and other yearly events it hosts. Participants pay $20 for adults and $10 for kids to jump in the lake, and prizes are awarded for best costumes, with warm drinks and snacks after the plunge. Book your tickets and learn more here: https://friendsofparismountain.org/paris-plunge 

Pickens County:

• Natural Bridge Nature Trail at Keowee-Toxaway State Park – Location: 108 Residence Dr., Sunset, SC, 29685. Times: 10 – 11:30 am. This free, moderately strenuous hike has slightly uneven terrain over the 1.4-mile loop.  Meet up with other hikers at the Jocassee Gorges Visitor Center, at the park office/trailhead. Learn more here: https://southcarolinaparks.com/products/10004236. 

Oconee County:

• First Day 5K Ranger Run – Devil’s Fork State Park – Location: 161 Holcombe Cir, Salem, SC, 29676. Times: 10 am – 12 pm. Another bonus entry! This race is $35 per person, and is perfect for runners, joggers, walkers, and dog walkers (all dogs must be on a leash at all times and not aggressive). This paved course is also stroller-friendly! Purchase tickets here: https://reserve.southcarolinaparks.com/register/first-day-5k-ranger-run
• Lake Loop – Oconee State Park – Location: 624 State Park Rd./ Mountain Rest, SC, 29664. Times: 10 – 11 am. This free, easy, 1.2-mile loop trail is a fun way to ring in the New Year. Hot cocoa and coffee will be provided after the hike. Learn more here: https://southcarolinaparks.com/products/10003884. 
• Station Cove Falls at Oconee Station State Historic Site – Location: 500 Oconee Station Rd., Walhalla, SC, 29691. Times: 2 – 4 pm. This free, moderate, 3-mile round-trip hike will follow the historic Station Cove Falls Trail, with the chance to see the winter-blooming hapatica flower near the falls. Learn more here: https://southcarolinaparks.com/products/1000423.1. 
• Lake Hartwell Nature Trail at Lake Hartwell State Park – Location: 19138-A Hwy 11 S, Fair Play, SC, 29643. Times: 10 – 11 am. Meet up at the Lake Hartwell State Park Visitor Center for this free, one-mile easy-to-moderate hilly loop hike. Learn more here: https://southcarolinaparks.com/products/100040.56 
• Multi-Use Trail at Sadlers Creek State Park – Location: 940 Sadlers Creek Rd., Anderson, SC, 29626. Times: 10 am – 12 pm. This three-mile hike is perfect for those who want to see wildlife! Check out more information on the flora and fauna on this free hike here: https://southcarolinaparks.com/products/10004003. 

We hope this list has given you plenty of information about these fantastic places for getting outdoors on New Year’s Day! If you can’t make it on January 1, tackle these hikes anytime throughout the year. Stay tuned for more adventures outside in the Upcountry.

By: Sarah (Moore) Gross, Contributing Author