5 Unforgettable Camping Trips in the Palmetto State
From the mountains to the coast, South Carolina is one of the most beautiful and adventure-rich states you’ll find anywhere east of the Rocky Mountains. If you’ve got the time, the state is ripe for exploration, but exploration often requires overnight “accommodations.” Luckily, the Palmetto State is brimming with top-notch campsites, from remote trailside locales deep in the Blue Ridge Mountains to boat-in getaways—think the shores of stunning Lake Jocassee or the undeveloped beaches of Capers Island in the Lowcountry. Here are five of our favorites off-the-beaten-path camping expeditions in the Palmetto State.
1. Summit Pinnacle Mountain in Tablerock State Park then Camp on the Famed Foothils Trail
At an elevation of 3,415 feet above sea level, Pinnacle Mountain is the tallest mountain completely contained within the borders of South Carolina. This hike is fairly popular, but the balds at the top offer unrivaled views of the iconic Table Rock Mountain. To get to the top start at the eastern terminus of the Foothills Trail inside Table Rock State Park. Once you reach the balds soak in the views, then bypass the true summit and continue on the Foothills Trails beyond the boundary of Table Rock State Park to a few stellar backcountry campsites.
2. Edisto River Treehouse Camping
If you’re willing to embark on a thirteen-mile paddle along cypress-lined river banks in the Coastal Plains just outside of Charleston, you will eventually find sanctuary and solitude at one three treehouses on South Carolina’s Edisto River. These treehouses—each of which come equipped with a grill, cooking gear, a screened-in sleeping area and a canoe— are owned and operated by Carolina Heritage Outfitters and they’re the kind of stuff that magical river trips are made of. Just make sure to plan your trip for one of the cooler months. Book a trip here!
3. Camp on the Shores of Lake Jocassee
Take in a panoramic view of Lake Jocassee from Jumping Off Rock, and you’ll immediately understand why National Geographic Magazine once named the Jocassee Gorges in a list of ‘50 of the World’s Last Great Places‘. Ironically, the pristine lake is the product of a man-made hydro project, formed by the flooding of the Horsepasture, Thompson, Toxaway, and Whitewater River. But the forested mountains that surround Lake Jocassee contain some 40,000 acres of pristine public land. Tucked away within those 40,000 acres are a total of 13 shoreside, boat-in campsites, all of which are located in the same general area of Devils Fork State Park. These sites must be reserved for a minimum of two nights and can be booked by calling 1-866-345-7275. Get more deatiled info on lakeside camping at Jocassee here.
4. Spend the Night Camping on the Remote Capers Island
This undeveloped barrier island is accessible by boat only, and it’s one of the few barrier islands you can camp on in the Charleston, SC area. Getting there requires a three-mile paddle from Gadsdenville Public Boat Landing along Copahee Sound to Capers Inlet. Once there you’ll find three miles of pristine shoreline with plenty of wildlife—species such as alligators, bottle nose dolphins, and loggerhead sea turtles—and an 850-acre of maritime forest. The island is also an ideal place for surf fishing, offering anglers the opportunity to catch sea trout, red drum, flounder, black drum, king whiting, spot, pompano, and croaker.
5. Plan An Overnight Adventure on the Chatooga River
Widely recognized as one of the best stretches of whitewater in the East, the Wild and Scenic Chattanooga River is also home to some amazing riverside campsites. Start off by paddling the 13-mile section III from Earls Ford to Highway 76. Campsites await at the end of this section and offer hiking, swimming and fishing opportunities. If you’re up to the challenge, head out for section VI on day two, the steepest and most intense section of this famed waterway.