Blue Ridge Country January/February 2021 - 44

LEFT: Feel the cool air and spray of multiple
waterfalls and streams at Jocassee Gorges.
BELOW: Pause for photos at the wooden 1909
Campbell's Covered Bridge.

rock passageway known as Devils
Kitchen (with a mythical story included).
southcarolinaparks.com/caesars-head)

Jocassee Gorges
Named by National Geographic in the list
of " 50 of the World's Last Great Places, "

MUCH MORE TO SEE IN SOUTH CAROLINA...
)) Ellicott Rock Wilderness, Oconee County. Tap into your
inner wilderness explorer through the dense forests, rugged
terrain and the longest, largest free-flowing mountain river in
the southeast.
)) Eastatoe Creek Heritage Preserve, Pickens County. Explore
this pristine mountain gorge to see native and rare plants and
animals and a picturesque waterfall.
)) Table Rock State Park, Pickens County. Climb the highest
mountain completely within the state; take a dip in the oldfashioned swimming hole; and stay the night in the campground or a renovated Civilian Conservation Corps cabin.
)) Hagood Mill Historic Site, Pickens. Step back in time visiting an 1845 gristmill, cotton gin, moonshine still, log cabins,
Native American exhibits, the petroglyph site and blacksmith
shop, or join in a folklife festival.
)) Hatcher Garden and Woodland Preserve, Spartanburg. Add
this living classroom of multiple garden landscapes including
themes of native plants, butterflies, conifers, hostas, water
plants, ericaceous species, woodland plants and hope and healing to your vacation list.
)) Fred W. Symmes Chapel, Cleveland. Reserve a sunrise visit
to the " Pretty Place " at this 108-year-old YMCA camp of 1,400
acres.
)) Oconee State Park, Oconee County. Stay at one of the 19
historic CCC cabins, and begin a hike at the southern trailhead
of the Foothills Trail (Blue Ridge Escarpment, 77-mile wilderness
trail).
)) Paris Mountain State Park, Greenville County. Built by the
Civilian Conservation Corps in 1936, it's home to history, four
lakes, 15 miles of trails, campsites and swimming and fishing
areas at this popular park.
)) Clemson Experimental Forest, Clemson. Learn how " worn
out farmland " has become an exemplar of forest management,
clean air and water, and flora, fauna and habitat diversity.
)) Swamp Rabbit Trail, Greenville. For a bit of urban greenspace, walk or bike this 22-mile all-access walkway along the
Reedy River.
)) Issaqueena Falls - Stumphouse Mountain Tunnel, Walhalla.
Visit the 200-foot cascade waterfall; explore an incomplete Civil
War era railroad tunnel; or hike part of the 500-mile Palmetto

BLUERIDGECOUNTRY.COM

Trail that crosses the
state.
)) Nine Times Preserve, Pickens. Hike
these 560-acres to
see five mountains,
seven unique types
of forests and over
134 native wildflower species.
)) Jones Gap State
Park, Marietta. Try
your luck at some of the best trout fishing in the state at this
tranquil, 13,000-acre mountain woodland and cove destination.
)) Yellow Branch Falls Trail, Oconee County. Pass through
groves of hardwood trees, cross branches and get the camera
ready for the 50-foot waterfall with multiple cascades.
)) World of Energy, Seneca. Take the self-guided tour of exhibits and education to learn the history and future of energy
production, followed by a picnic and nature trail walk at this
location on the shores of Lake Keowee.
)) Chestnut Ridge Heritage Preserve, Spartanburg County.
Enjoy the quietness of this " hikers only " trail through forests at
various stages of development amongst rocky outcrops with a
keen eye open for the endangered white irisette flower.
)) The Liberty Bridge - Falls Park on the Reedy, Greenville.
Witness a feat of engineering and unobstructed views of Reedy
River falls at this 345-foot, single suspension cable bridge-the
only one of its kind in the country.
)) Chauga River Blueway, Mountain Rest. Paddle beginnerfriendly to Class IV rapids along this 31-mile stretch of waterway known as a freestone river.
)) Campbell's Covered Bridge - Beaverdam Creek, Landrum.
See the only remaining historic covered bridge in the state,
read about the history on the interpretive signs, and enjoy a
picnic by the creek.
)) Greenville Mill Tours, Greenville. Choose from three unique
tours and book a ride to see, hear and touch the impactful history of textile mills with visits to actual locations.

Blue Ridge Country January/February 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country January/February 2021