Keowee-Toxaway State Park: Natural Bridge and Raven Rock Trails (Blog Hike #621)

Trails: Natural Bridge and Raven Rock Trails

Hike Location: Keowee-Toxaway State Park

Geographic Location: northwest of Pickens, SC (34.93289, -82.88521)

Length: 4.1 miles

Difficulty: 7/10 (Moderate/Difficult)

Date Hiked: March 2017

Overview: A double loop with lots of up-and-down past a natural bridge and to a fantastic view of Lake Keowee.

Park Information: https://southcarolinaparks.com/keowee-toxaway

Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=943047
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: Keowee-Toxaway State Park is located on the north side of SR 11 in northwestern South Carolina 8.7 miles west of SR 11’s intersection with US 178 (or 0.2 miles west of its intersection with SR 133).  Enter the park, and park in any of the three small parking lots near the park office.

The hike: Somewhat of a hidden gem among upstate South Carolina’s many top-tier hiking destinations, Keowee-Toxaway State Park (also known as Keowee-Toxaway State Natural Area) owes its existence to a land donation from Duke Energy in 1970.  The park protects 1000 acres on the east shore of Lake Keowee, which is a long narrow lake that was constructed partly to supply water for Duke Energy’s three nuclear power plants located on its shores.  A short hike at Duke Energy’s World of Energy Visitor Center, located at one of these nuclear stations, is described elsewhere in this blog.

            One of the reasons Keowee-Toxaway State Park flies under the radar is its lack of amenities.  On point, the park features only a 24-site campground, a few cabins, canoe/kayak access to Lake Keowee, and three hiking trails.  The short Lake Trail (not described in this blog) connects the campground and cabin areas.  The park’s other two trails, the Natural Bridge Trail and Raven Rock Trail, are both moderate-to-difficult lollipop loops.  The Raven Rock Trail is only accessible from the Natural Bridge Trail, so it makes sense to combine them and form the 4.1 mile figure-eight route described here.

Trailhead behind park office

            The hike starts at an information board behind (east of) the park office where the Natural Bridge Trail enters the woods.  The information board features a nice trail map, which may be helpful because the park office is only open 11am-noon and 4-5pm.  The trail descends slightly, and in less than 500 feet you reach an unsigned but obvious fork.  This fork forms the loop portion of the Natural Bridge Trail.  For the shortest and easiest route to the natural bridge, I chose to turn right and eventually use the left option as my return route.

            The trail follows the ridge crest northeast with some traffic noise from SR 11 filtering in from the right.  The park’s trail system was partially rebuilt in the early 2010’s, and at 0.2 miles the old and new Natural Bridge Trails converge.  Look for a wooden fence to the right that blocks the old route.  Trails at Keowee-Toxaway are marked with metal diamond markers, so it is hard to get lost.

Descending over waterbars

            At 0.4 miles, you begin a moderate descent over dirt waterbars that will deposit you at the west end of the natural bridge.  The trail uses the rock bridge to cross Poe Creek, but the trail never goes to the base of the bridge.  Moreover, the dense understory of mountain laurel that lives along Poe Creek makes it hard to get a good view of the bridge.

Crossing the natural bridge

Poe Creek flowing from under natural bridge

            At 0.6 miles, you reach a signed trail intersection with options going straight and right.  If you want a short hike, you can continue straight on the Natural Bridge Trail and skip the Raven Rock Trail, thus shortening the hike to only 1.3 miles.  To see some of the park’s most scenic areas, turn right to begin the Raven Rock Trail.

            The Raven Rock Trail climbs briefly over some wooden steps built into the ground before beginning a gradual-to-moderate descent into one of Poe Creek’s side ravines.  During the descent, you pass some scenic rock outcrops that rise vertically to the right of the trail.  At the base of the ravine, the trail makes a sweeping left curve to begin an equally gradual-to-moderate ascent up the other side of the ravine.

Rock outcrop beside trail

            1 mile into the hike, the Raven Rock Trail splits to form its loop.  To make the climbing a little easier, I chose to turn up and right and use the trail going down and left as my return route, thus hiking the loop counterclockwise.  The gradual ascent continues, and at 1.25 miles you reach this hike’s highest point, which is nearly 1200 feet in elevation.

Descending toward Lake Keowee

            Next comes perhaps my favorite part of the hike, as the zig-zag trail descends on a persistently moderate grade into the remote northern corner of the park.  Overall, you lose about 300 feet of elevation over 0.5 miles.  When Lake Keowee comes into view, the trail curves left to begin heading west along the lake’s south shore.  At a couple of points the trail comes within 10 feet of the lake, and the elevation changes on this section are gradual.  The golf course you see across the lake is the private Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards, and it along with some mansion-type homes remind you that civilization is only a lake away.

            At 2.2 miles, the signed spur trail to the park’s primitive campground exits right as the trail climbs moderately away from Lake Keowee.  The grade intensifies somewhat before you reach the open rock ledge known as Raven Rock.  This rocky perch offers a fine view to the southwest down the length of Lake Keowee, the waters of which have a characteristic mountain-fed blue color.  Stop, have a trail snack, and enjoy the view.

Lake Keowee, as seen from Raven Rock

            Past Raven Rock, the moderate climb continues as the serpentine trail slithers in and out of several tight ravines.  A hiker friend told me that timber rattlesnakes are abundant at Keowee-Toxaway.  While I did not see any rattlesnakes on my hike, they are more common in the fall than in the spring, and the rocky areas along this trail are prime rattlesnake territory.

            At 2.8 miles, you close the Raven Rock Trail’s loop at the top of a finger ridge.  Continue straight to retrace your steps 0.4 miles to the Natural Bridge Trail, then turn right to continue the Natural Bridge Trail’s loop.  The Natural Bridge Trail descends some wooden steps to reach a bench beside Poe Creek just below some small waterfalls.  Stop here to rest a few minutes in the tranquil creekside setting before crossing Poe Creek on some strategically placed boulders.

Boulder-hopping Poe Creek

            The trail heads downstream beside rhododendron-choked Poe Creek for a few hundred feet before curving left to begin the climb back toward the trailhead.  This section of trail goes straight up the hillside for part of the climb, thus making this climb the steepest one of the hike.  Just as the trail starts to level out, you close the Natural Bridge Trail’s loop.  Retracing your steps for 500 feet returns you to the trailhead to complete the hike.