Trail: Carrick Creek Trail Hike Location: Table Rock State Park Geographic Location: north of Pickens, SC (35.03176, -82.69829) Length: 2 miles Difficulty: 6/10 (Moderate) Date Hiked: May 2020 Overview: A waterside course, moderately steep and rocky, featuring many small waterfalls. Park Information: https://southcarolinaparks.com/table-rock Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=806494 Photo Highlight:
Hike Video: Directions to the trailhead: From Pickens, drive US 178 north 8.6 miles to SR 11 and turn right on SR 11. Drive SR 11 east 4.1 miles to Table Rock State Park’s west entrance on the left. Turn left to enter the park, and drive the main park road 1.3 miles to the Nature Center on the left and the large trailhead parking area on the right. Park in the trailhead parking lot.
The hike: For my general comments on Table Rock State Park, see my May 2016 hike to Table Rock. For people unable to make the long, rough climb to Table Rock’s famous views, the Carrick Creek Trail described here is a nice consolation prize. Though not without climbing or difficulty, the aptly-named Carrick Creek Trail stays creekside for much of its distance, and it passes more waterfalls per mile than any other trail in the area. The brevity and waterfalls make this trail a great choice for families with kids.
Trail leaving rear of Nature Center
From the rear of the Nature Center, the wooden boardwalk that is the trail system’s common entrance trail dips to cross rocky Carrick Creek. The aquatic entertainment begins immediately: a ledge-type waterfall that drops less than 10 feet into a large and attractive plunge pool. A wooden observation platform provides a fantastic view of the waterfall and the surrounding cove.
First waterfall and plunge pool
Past the first waterfall, the trail surface turns to dirt and rock as the creekside climb begins. At 0.2 miles, the green-blazed Carrick Creek Trail splits to form its loop at an intersection with many trail signs. To ascend on the less steep portion of the loop, I chose to turn right here and use the trail going left as my return route, thus hiking the loop counterclockwise. Carrick Creek itself also forks at this intersection with the fork bearing the Carrick Creek name going left. The fork our route climbs beside is called Green Creek.
Mountain laurel-framed waterfall
More small waterfalls appear in the creek as the trail’s grade intensifies. The mountain laurel was in full bloom when I hiked this trail in mid-May, and it made a beautiful frame for both the trail and the waterfalls. Just after passing the carsonite post that is the 0.5 mile marker, the red-blazed Table Rock Trail exits right. Unless you have the time and energy to make the big climb to Table Rock, angle left to remain on the Carrick Creek Trail.
Near the trail's highest point
After climbing one more switchback, you reach the Carrick Creek Trail’s highest point, which is almost 400 vertical feet above the Nature Center. For the next 0.6 miles the wide dirt trail undulates gently as it heads south across the side of the hill, which rises to the right and falls to the left. At 1.2 miles, the yellow-blazed Pinnacle Mountain Trail enters from the right at another signed intersection. Turn left to begin the final leg of the Carrick Creek Trail.
Waterslide in Carrick Creek
The Carrick Creek Trail soon returns to its namesake creek, which features many more waterfalls, waterslides, and cascades. One unusual waterfall appears in a small tributary to the left: the watercourse splits into two parts with the right side’s waterfall higher on the rockface and closer to the trail than the left side’s one. Some wooden boardwalks get you over wet areas, but the creek is still crossed twice via stepping stones. In general, this ravine is narrower and steeper than the one you ascended through.
Unusual two-sided waterfall
At 1.8 miles, you close the loop. Turn right to head back to the Nature Center and complete the hike. If you want some more easy hiking, try the 1.9 mile Lakeside Trail, which starts at the other side of the Nature Center parking lot. The Lakeside Trail forms a nearly flat loop around Pinnacle Lake, and it offers nice views of Table Rock Mountain across the lake.
Trail: Walking Trail Hike Location: Sadlers Creek State Park Geographic Location: west of Anderson, SC (34.42149, -82.83256) Length: 0.6 miles Difficulty: 1/10 (Easy) Dates Hiked: (many) Overview: A short lollipop loop, partly on ADA-accessible
concrete trail, along the shore of Lake Hartwell. Park Information: https://southcarolinaparks.com/sadlers-creek Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=806112 Photo Highlight:
Full Hike Video:
Directions to the trailhead: From downtown Anderson, take US 29
south 10 miles to SR 187. Turn right on SR 187. Drive SR 187 north 0.8
miles to Sadlers Creek Road and turn left on Sadlers Creek Rd.Sadlers
Creek Rd. deadends
at the park entrance.After paying the nominal
fee to enter the park, follow signs for the park office and picnic area, and
park in the cul de sac at the picnic area.
The hike: For my general comments on Sadlers Creek
State Park, see my longer hike on this park’s Bike Trail.Sadlers
Creek State Park is located less than 15 miles from my house in Anderson, and for
many years I saved this short nature trail for a hiking “emergency,” i.e. an
opportunity for me to get out and do a hike even if I could not hike anywhere
more distant or more famous.With the coronavirus
outbreak of 2020, such a scenario emerged, and I spent a pleasant couple of
hours on a seasonally cool mid-May morning hiking around the Walking Trail
several times.
Trailhead at parking area
The signed
trailhead for the Walking Trail is located beside the picnic area’s restroom
building.The concrete ADA-accessible
trail heads north through the newly constructed disc golf area with Lake
Hartwell visible through the trees on the left.Numerous interpretive signs describe the park’s flora and fauna.After passing the park’s butterfly garden,
the trail enters the forest and crosses a small stream on a fancy wooden bridge
before climbing gradually via switchbacks.The relatively young forest with bare understory consists of many
sweetgum, oak, and pine trees.
Concrete portion of trail
Just past
0.2 miles, the concrete trail ends at the park road that leads to the fishing
pier.Cross the road to continue the
Walking Trail as the trail surface turns to dirt.A slight decline brings you to a metal bench
that overlooks a fantastic lake-level view of Lake Hartwell.This bench and several others were
constructed by Drew Hogg as an Eagle Scout project in 2004, and they provide
nice shady places to rest and enjoy the forest.
Lake Hartwell view
Climbing the switchback
Past the
lake view, the steepest part of the hike ensues as the trail climbs a
switchback to recross the park road.The
difference between maximum and minimum elevations on this hike is only 70
vertical feet, so all elevation changes are manageable.A gradual right curve closes the loop, where
a left turn will take you back to the picnic area to complete the hike.Before you leave, be sure to check out the
lake views at the picnic area and pavilion, which included a Canada goose floating
across the water on my visit.
