Five-Star Trails: South Carolina’s Upstate: 30 Spectacular Hikes in the 10 Upcountry Counties

Discover 27 five-star hiking trails in northwestern South Carolina, including popular routes and hidden gems.

From its mountains and lakes to its waterfalls and trails, the Upstate is an outdoors lover’s paradise. The trail system is quite extensive, and opportunities range from day hikes to backpacking trips along the Foothills and Appalachian Trails. This diverse geographical wonderland offers a variety of easy, moderate, and strenuous hikes. You can hike through history along Cowpens Battlefield Trail or enjoy the fall colors at Nine Times Preserve. Take the kids to the Croft State Park Nature Trail, or walk your dog on the Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail in downtown Greenville.

Explore the region’s best, five-star trails with this easy-to-carry and easy-to-use guidebook. In the updated edition, local author and hiking expert Sherry Jackson shares everything you need to know about spectacular outings that lead to mountain panoramas, majestic waterfalls, remote wilderness, and more.

Inside you’ll find:

• Descriptions of 27 five-star hiking trails for all levels and interests


• GPS-based trail maps, elevation profiles, and detailed directions to trailheads


• Insight into the history, flora, and fauna of each route


• Ratings for scenery, difficulty, trail condition, solitude, and accessibility for children

Lace up, grab your pack, and hit the trail!

Sherry Jackson’s love of travel came at a young age. Her family would load up the car on the weekend, pick a destination, and set off to explore. She has traversed through jungles, snorkeled the turquoise waters of the Caribbean, and wandered the streets of Paris, always searching for her next adventure. Her articles have been featured in a variety of outlets including USA Today, Blue Ridge Country, Foothills Spotlight Magazine, Jetsetter, BootsnAll, Gadling, Yahoo, The Simpsonville Sentinel, and countless other print and online publications. She owns and maintains four websites. Sherry is a member of the International Food, Wine and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) and the North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA).