The Palmetto Trail probably isn’t the first long-distance trail that comes to mind when I think about hiking in the Southeastern U.S.
There’s plenty of more popular footpaths out there. You’ve probably heard of some of them too – the Appalachian Trail, the Benton MacKaye Trail, the Pinhoti Trail. These long trails each get their share of hikers, for sure.
But, the 500-mile Palmetto Trail in South Carolina is an genuine up-and-comer in the Southeast. And here’s why more long-distance hikers should be considering it for their next hike.
What is the Palmetto Trail?
Established in 1994, the Palmetto Trail traverses the state of South Carolina – from the Blue Ridge Mountains in the upstate, all the way down to the Intracoastal Waterway in the low country.
This diverse trail travels into the backcountry, through urban areas, across greenways and battlefields, and into wildlife management areas and state parks. It even passes in front of a state capitol building.
The Palmetto trail is divided into 26 sections ranging from 1.5 miles to 47.2 miles, allowing hikers to mix-and-match sections for an ideal length.
Finding where to access the trail is exceptionally easy. There are interactive maps available on the Palmetto Conservation Foundation website, and each individual section has its own dedicated page.
The website also provides a description of each section’s terrain, level of difficulty, length, type of blazes, and what activities are permitted. All Palmetto Trail sections are open to hiking and backpacking, but a few are also multi-use trail.
There are also multiple trailheads along each section, allowing hikers to divide the longer ones into more manageable chunks.
Reasons to hike the Palmetto Trail
Now that you know a little about the trail, let’s discuss why you should venture out on it for a hike, even if it’s not in right in your backyard. Here’s my top four reasons.
#1 – Distance
This lesser known 500-mile adventure may fit the bill for hikers looking for something unique to fill the void.
Whether you’re building your trail legs or just looking for a new adventure, you can do it here. The Palmetto Trail is long enough to fill up a complete month if you want the challenge of hiking it end-to-end. And there aren’t large crowds to endure.
A word of warning though. The entire trail is not finished yet. So completing a thru-hike of the Palmetto Trail may be a little more challenging than other more established trails. Maps of the trail’s entire path are online, so experienced hikers who don’t mind a little orienteering won’t find it too difficult to navigate the gaps to complete the entire route.
#2 – Year-round Hiking
Another great reason to add the Palmetto Trail to your bucket list is because of its accessibility virtually year-round.
The majority of this hike isn’t in the mountains. So waiting for the snow to melt or the temperatures to warm up isn’t a major factor in timing your hike.
South Carolina’s mild winters, and pleasant spring/fall seasons allow this trail to fit almost any hiker’s schedule. Plus, you’ll still have time leftover to squeeze in other epic mountain hikes in the summer.
#3 – Diversify Your Hiking Resume
The Palmetto Trail brings new challenges for those who associate hiking with high altitude adventures.
Although this trail is mostly just above sea level and flat, that doesn’t mean it’s a cakewalk. The soil through much of the state is very sandy. So this hike is similar to a heading out on a desert trail (just with far more water options).
Hiking in different terrain forces you to adjust your backpacking style. If you’re thinking of making a future bid for a challenging desert route like the Oregon Desert Trail or Hayduke Trail, this type of hike will help you hone new skills.
#4 – Resupply
A final reason to hike the Palmetto Trail is because logistics and resupplying is fairly easy.
Water is plentiful along the route, with the trail crossing numerous large rivers and passing near lakes and local campgrounds. The trail also runs adjacent to many small towns, which allows you to carry a lighter cache of food as you crisscross the state.
Fundraising with the Palmetto Trail Ale
Even if you’re not ready to hit the Palmetto Trail, you can still help make this trail enjoyable for other hikers. All you need to do is drink some local beer.
Yep, you read that correctly!
The Palmetto Conservation Foundation teamed up with Spartanburg’s RJ Rockers Brewing Company to help raise funds to complete the rest of the Palmetto Trail. The brewery is donating a portion of the proceeds from their Palmetto Trail Ale to finish the remaining 150 miles of trail.
As you already know, I’m a big fan of hiking and drinking craft beers. So this fundraiser is right up my alley!
See you on the trail!