South Carolina Botanical Gardens

Date: Saturday, September 27, 2009
Location / Map

Trails: Nature
Distance: about 1 mile
Time: 45 minutes

Rating: && (out of 5)

It was a rainy Saturday morning, but I wanted to get the boys out of the house for a little while. So I grabbed the backpack and took the kids to the SC Botanical Gardens for a quick hike. My "plan" was to let Andy ride in the backpack, and convince James that he wanted to walk. That actually worked pretty well, once we got past the initial whining. We looked for hiking sticks, then mushrooms...James just needs to have a job. There are so many little waterfalls and bridges on these trails, it makes for a good hike with small kids.

South Carolina Botanical Gardens

Date: Sunday, September 20, 2009
Location / Map

Trails: Nature
Distance: about 1 mile
Time: 30 minutes

Rating: && (out of 5)

On this Sunday afternoon, Kerri took James to see "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" at the Clemson Little Theater. When Andy woke up from his nap, I took him to the grocery store, and then to the South Carolina Botanical Gardens to attempt a hike. I say attempt, because 1) it was raining outside, and 2) I still wasn't sure how Andy would handle riding in the backpack, even though he did pretty well the last time.

We lucked out, because the rain stopped. There were only a couple of people on the trails. And it turns out Andy really likes riding in our Kelty backpack. As we passed by the wet branches, the water sometimes showered down on us...Andy thought this was great! The whole time, he was "talking" and giggling.

I can't really say what trail or series of paths we took. If you've ever been to the SCBG you'll probably understand why. They have a pretty large series of pathways and nothing is really marked. Lots of times, you're not even totally sure you're on an official trail. But I can say, we parked in the main lot near Perimeter Road, right next to the main steps where the bell is located. Then we went downhill to the left of the amphitheater, and crossed over a bridge. From there, we more-or-less made a short loop, and back up the hill to the car. Lots of fun!

Keowee-Toxaway State Park

Date: Saturday, September 12, 2009
Location / Map

Trails: Natural Bridge
Distance: 1.5 miles
Time: 45 minutes

Rating: &&& (out of 5)

Really, for the last couple of weeks we've had great weather - sunny, cool (relatively), and dry. Today was no different. James had a birthday party to attend, so Andy and I took the backpack and went for a hike. Alas, I forgot the camera, so no pictures. But Andy had such a great time! He "talked" the whole time, which sounded mostly like "uh-oh...uh-oh...uh-oh." We met some really nice people along the way. We took the Natural Bridge loop trail in a clockwise direction, which meant we took the steepest part going downhill, and soon reached the Poe Creek. Andy was just watching the water and pointing, and he seemed very excited about the small waterfalls. Andy didn't care, but I noticed a lot of spider webs (being tall and early, I got to knock them all down) and crazy-looking mushrooms. After crossing Poe Creek, we climbed the "stairs" and crossed the natural bridge after which this trail is named. On the way back up to the parking lot, we saw several other hikers...Andy blew them all kisses, his new thing. I was sweating pretty good when we got back to the car, but at least Andy is a lot lighter than James! A great time!

Mountain View Park

Date: Monday, September 7, 2009
Location / Map

Trails: Walking
Distance: 1 mile
Time: 25 minutes

Rating: && (out of 5)

It was Labor Day, and we had some very nice weather in Clemson. In the afternoon, after naptime, we took the short drive to Mountain View Park with the kids. They both do very well in the backpacks. A very nice 1-mile hike!

Pigpen Falls

Date: Saturday, July 26, 2009
Location / Map

Trails: Foothills
Distance: 1.4 miles
Time: about 1 hour, 45 minutes

Rating: &&& (out of 5)

I read an article about this waterfall, and a friend told me he had been there and that it was a great place to take small kids. The waterfall is on Licklog Creek, very close to the Chatooga river. There is a big shallow wading pool at the base of the falls, with a sandy bottom and an open area for camping / picnicking.

Getting here is half the adventure. It is a little remote, and involves driving about 2 miles on a bumpy gravel road. There were a couple of stream crossings as well. I felt like we were in a Land Rover commerical. Various guidebooks tell you to park at the marked parking area on the right from NIcholson Ford Road. But you can get closer to the trailhead by driving to the end and parking...there is a kiosk where the trail starts.

After parking, it is just 0.7 miles to the falls, on a slight downhill. You pass through a couple of camping areas, and go over a couple of footbridges. Then you'll hear rushing water on your left, at the junction for the Chatooga Trail. Go left, and the falls are just before the footbridge over Licklog Creek.

We had a great time here, and a great picnic afterward!

Table Rock State Park

Date: Saturday, June 20, 2009
Location / Map

Trails: Table Rock, Ridge, Pinnacle Mountain, Carrick Creek
Distance: 10 miles
Time: 6 hours, 45 minutes

Rating: &&&& (out of 5)

One of my Father's Day presents this year was an "all-day" hike, while Kerri watched the kids. Maybe I took it too literally....

I have a South Carolina trail guide that suggests a great way to see all that Table Rock State Park has to offer. I'd say this is my all-time favorite place to hike, so I thought I'd give it a try. It involves making a 10-mile loop, taking you to Governor's Rock, Table Rock / Stool Mountain, Pinnacle Mountain, Bald Knob, Mill Creek Falls, and lots of cool stuff in between. The guide book rates this as "Highly Strenuous"...yeah, I'd say that's about right!

The high temperature for the day was about 98 degrees, but it was cloudy in the morning with a nice breeze along the Ridge. I carried a gallon of ice water with me and I drank nearly all of it. The toughest parts of the hike are the initial ascent from from the Nature Center to Panther Pass on the Table Rock Trail, and then the ascent to Pinnacle Mountain. Everything else is either "managable" or just plain downhill.

So I got to the park at about 8am and started on the Table Rock trail. In about an hour I was at the CCC shelter and 10 minutes after that I was finally on the ridge at Panther Pass. Here you can either turn right to go to Table Rock, which I did, or you can turn left to go to Pinnacle Mountain. Maybe an hour later I was at the overlook on the East Face of Table Rock. But before that is Governor's Rock (see photo) which I think is an even better view.

Heading back down to Panther Pass, I continued on the Ridge Trail. This one isn't used very much, but I did see one guy trail running (hard core). After some steep ups & downs, you reach the well-marked turn-off for Mill Creek Pass. Then comes the "butt-kicking" climb up to Pinnacle Mountain. Despite what you would assume, there is no view here; it is completely wooded. But just a little while after you start heading downhill, there are some GREAT views from Bald Knob, a large exposed rock face, and that is where I ate lunch. Seriously, there are some spots where the trail is only a few yards from the edge of the cliff.

Leaving Bald Knob, this is one of the coolest (not literally) sections of trail in the park. It winds downhill, and the path is very narrow. There is a stream (Mill Creek) that can be heard, and soon you are right beside it. After crossing the Creek, follow the signs for the Pinnacle Mountain trail. There is a turnoff on the right for the Mill Creek Falls Spur trail, but I totally missed it I was so tired. I wouldn't have taken it anyway. Beyond this, there are some large rock overhangs and small "waterfalls" (really just water seeping out of the rocks). The trail winds along the mountainside, gently descending for 2 or 3 miles, before reaching the Carrick Creek trail. Lots and lots of kids here playing in the creek, on such a hot day. It is just about 20 minutes from here back to the parking lot.

A great hike overall, just a little hot. Spring or Fall would be a better time to do this. Worth it though. I couldn't believe how many small scrapes and cuts I got, from all the rocks and briars along the way!

Keowee Toxaway State Park

Date: Saturday, May 30, 2009
Location / Map

Trails: Natural Bridge
Distance: 2 miles
Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Rating: &&& (out of 5)

We had some great weather today...sunny and temperatures in the upper 60's and 70's in the morning. Keowee Toxaway is only 30 minutes from our house. We got an early start and took the whole family; got started on the trail about 9:45.

We decided to do the Natural Bridge loop, which is about 1.5 miles long. The Raven Rock Trail is just too strenuous and too long for the kiddos at this age. But soon...! I've learned from past experience that it is better to take this loop in the clockwise direction. It is very steep going down, but going up it with backpacks would be a killer. So the trail goes downhill through thick forest, before nearing Poe Creek. There are several small waterfalls on the creek. The trail parallels the creek for awhile before coming to a rock crossing and a bench on the opposite side.

From there, we took the Raven Rock trail about a quarter mile along Poe Creek on the opposite bank. At the point where the trail started going uphill, we turned around. Back at the bench, we continued up the steps on the Natural Bridge Trail past a decent-sized waterfall. Where the steps end, there is the second turnoff for the Raven Rock Trail, and almost directly across from it is a side path (unofficial). It leads to a large exposed rock face, that slopes down to a nice waterfall and a shallow pool. This was a perfect place to stop and get the kids out of the backpacks, and we came prepared with a towel and dry clothes. The water was COLD though!

Continuing on the main trail, we soon came to the "rock bridge"...James seemed mildly interested. Not much to see past this point; the trail climbs steadily uphill most of the way back to the parking lot, with Highway 11 visible through the trees on the left. Reaching the car, we drove across the highway to the other "half" of the park and had a picnic there. Another great trip!