Hiking Trails of Paris Mountain State Park in Greenville, South Carolina

Paris Mountain State Park is an expansive park lying just outside the city limits of Greenville, South Carolina. 1540 acre park includes opportunities for almost every outdoor recreational activities, including hiking, bicycling, swimming, boating and fishing. Camping sites are available from cabins, traditional camping and back country sites for overnight hikers. With it's close proximity to Greenville, Paris Mountain State Park offers a great chance for city and suburbia dwellers to sneak away for a hike in an area large enough to get deep into the forest and foothills. The trails in the park range from strenuous treks up Paris Mountain to leisurely strolls through the nature trail that are appropriate for just about every fitness level. Here are some details and resources on the three most popular trails in the park: Sulphur Spring Loop, Brissy Ridge Trail, and Lake Placid Nature Trail.

Sulphur Spring Loop Trail

This strenuous hike up and down the slope of Paris Mountain is a great workout through a pleasant mix of terrain that is difficult enough to feel like an accomplishment but short enough to not take over your day. The 3.5 mile white blazed loop is rugged and steep throughout, regardless of which direction you choose to do the loop. Some of the sites to take in include a cradling thicket of rhododendrons, babble creeks, ridge side vistas and Mountain Lake with its accompanying dam.

Brissy Ridge Trail

Brissy Ridge Trail is an even shorter and pretty family friendly while being strenuous enough to get everyone's heart a healthy workout. At only 2.3 miles round trip, it's a nice side hike to fit into a wider day of activities at the park. Part of the loop includes walking along the ridge line with views of the reservoir below.

Lake Placid Nature Trail

The easiest trail in the park is the Lake Placid Nature Trail, also referred to as the park's self-interpretive trail. It is a 1.3 mile loop that encircles the shore of Lake Placid. The rangers at the nearby park office can help give your party some tips on the different forms of wildlife to keep an eye out for.

There are a handful of other hikes with Paris Mountain State Park, all of which are less than 3 miles. For a longer hike, consult the park maps to weave together a longer route of your design. Many of the park trails are open to bikers Sunday through Friday, but no bikes are allowed on the trails on Saturday.

Sources:

http://www.southcarolinaparks.com/park-finder/state-park/722/things-to-do.aspx
http://www.sctrails.net/Trails/ALLTRAILS/Hiking/Upcountry/SulphurSprings.html
http://www.southcarolinaparks.com/boots-bikes/hike.aspx
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