Hiking Trails & Parks in South Carolina
4,290 mapped hiking and walking trails, plus 35 parks, recreation areas, and campgrounds across South Carolina. Free trail maps for every listing — browse by county or city, or jump straight to the full list.
About Hiking in South Carolina
South Carolina has 4,290 mapped hiking trails and 35 federally managed parks and recreation areas spread across 84 counties. Trail data comes from OpenStreetMap contributors; parks and campgrounds from Recreation.gov.
Trying to narrow down? Browse all trails, all parks, all 84 counties, or pick a county below to see only its options.
Where to Go in South Carolina
A spatially-sampled view of 371 trail and park locations across South Carolina’s counties.
South Carolina Counties
Top 24 counties shown — 84 total indexed.
Trails by Difficulty in South Carolina
Parks & Campgrounds in South Carolina
Longest Trails in South Carolina
Curated Guides for South Carolina
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there hiking trails in South Carolina?
Yes — we have 4,290 mapped hiking and walking trails in South Carolina, sourced from OpenStreetMap. Browse the full list below, with distance, elevation, and difficulty for each.
What is the most difficult hiking trail in South Carolina?
Selma Erwin Nature Trail near Hardwick is rated expert — the toughest classification among South Carolina's mapped trails.
What is the best hiking trail in South Carolina for families?
051-5107-0 near Rincon is one of the best family picks in South Carolina — easy difficulty, short enough for kids and first-timers. See the full family hiking guide below for more options.
Is there a trail map for South Carolina?
Each of the 4,290 trails in South Carolina has its own page with an interactive map, GPS coordinates, and a link to view it on OpenStreetMap — no app or account needed.
What parks and recreation areas are in South Carolina?
South Carolina has 35 parks, recreation areas, and federal facilities in our index (12 classified as recreation areas). Each listing includes activities, photos where available, and directions.
Can I go camping in South Carolina?
Yes — 3 of South Carolina's parks have mapped campsites, from first-come sites to Recreation.gov reservations. The largest is Longleaf Campground with 16 sites. See the full campgrounds guide below for the ranked list.
Hiking guides & rankings for South Carolina
In-depth articles drawing on the trail and park data above.
Photo: Tobias MrzykThe 10 Longest Hiking Trails in South Carolina, Ranked
South Carolina's longest mapped hiking trails, ranked by distance with notes on what makes each route worth the commitment.
Photo: Tobias MrzykSouth Carolina's 10 Most Punishing Trails by Elevation Gain
Steep is hard. These are the ten South Carolina trails with the most total elevation gain — quad-burners earned by hard climbing.
Photo: Tobias MrzykThe Best Beginner-Friendly Hikes in South Carolina
Ten gentle, well-marked South Carolina trails perfect for first-time hikers, families, or recovery days.
Photo: Joshua EarleThe 10 Most Challenging Hikes in South Carolina
South Carolina's ten hardest hikes — expert difficulty, big mileage, or serious exposure. Reserved for experienced hikers.
Photo: Joshua EarleThe Best National Parks & Recreation Areas in South Carolina
Federal parks and recreation areas in South Carolina ranked by what they actually offer hikers and campers, not just popularity.
Photo: Joshua EarleBest Waterfall Hikes in South Carolina: 10 Trails to See Falls Up Close
South Carolina's best hikes to named waterfalls — from short family-friendly viewpoints to all-day cascade chasing.