As the weather is starting to warm up, it's going to be the perfect time to go hiking! Here, in the Carolinas, we are lucky to have beautiful mountains and several great places to go hiking. I've come up with a list of my favorite places to go hiking in the area.
1. Max Patch
Max Patch is part of the Appalachian Trail in North Carolina. It consists of grassy bald mountains covered in wildflowers in the spring and summer. In the winter, you'll see snowy mountaintops and there will likely be some snowfall during your hike. In the fall, you'll have amazing views of the colorful leaves. You have 360-degree views of mountains throughout the entire hike. This is a pretty easy hike with stunning views. This hike is also dog-friendly and great for families!
2. Rainbow Falls
Rainbow Falls is a popular hike located in Jones Gap State Park in the upstate of South Carolina. Jones Gap has several trails, but Rainbow Falls is by far my favorite! It's a tough climb up the mountain, but once you make it to the top, there is an amazing waterfall. When it's sunny, you can see a rainbow through the falls. You're surrounded by mountains, rock formations, trees, and the sound of the waterfall is so peaceful. The hike down is also much easier than the climb up and takes about half the time.
3. DuPont State Recreational Forest
DuPont Forest is located in North Carolina and is full of trails to hike. There are several beautiful waterfalls throughout the park. This is where parts of the Hunger Games was filmed. Most of the hikes in the forest are easy to moderate and are dog-friendly and perfect for families.
4. Pisgah National Forest
Pisgah National Forest is located in western North Carolina and has numerous trails for hiking. There are several trails that lead to gorgeous mountain summits, gorges, and waterfalls. These hikes vary from easy to strenuous. Pisgah has a trail for every hiker to enjoy!
5. Table Rock State Park
Table Rock is located in the upstate of South Carolina. There are numerous trails for hiking, mountain biking, and there's a lake. There are also various waterfalls throughout the park. The most popular hike is the trail that leads to the summit of Table Rock Mountain. This is a strenuous hike that is a total of 7.2 miles. When you make it to the summit, you'll be rewarded with spectacular views of the mountains.
BONUS: Tallulah Gorge State Park
This state park is actually in Georgia, but it's not far from the upstate of South Carolina. This trail entails several thousand steps, but it is more than worth it. At the beginning of the trail, you'll see a beautiful, picturesque waterfall. As you continue down the steps you'll start to see the gorge. Once you make it down to the gorge, you are surrounded by trees and rock formations. Then, you have to climb back up, but you'll get an excellent workout and even better views.
I hope this list gives you some ideas for hiking this spring!
