A Weekend in South Carolina & Congaree National Park

South Carolina is known for its beaches and coastal cities, but in this guide we will outline the perfect weekend getaway to the mountains in the Northwestern part of the state, along with Congaree National Park in central South Carolina. We visited these areas in early November, which was past peak in terms of fall foliage, but was still beautiful. We were pleasantly surprised by how quiet most of our stops in this region were this time of year. This is your key to a peaceful weekend in nature with mountains, waterfalls, rivers, state champion trees, and diverse ecosystems.

Saturday:

Campbell’s Covered Bridge

Start your morning with a quick stop at Campbell’s Covered Bridge. This is the only covered bridge in South Carolina and was built in 1909. We had this aesthetic and historical stop all to ourselves.

Caesars Head State Park

From the visitor center, you will find an incredible overlook easily accessible from your car. In the park, there are plenty of hikes to choose from, but we recommend the 4-mile moderate Raven Cliff Falls Trail. The trail is a pleasant walk through the forest leading to an overlook of Raven Cliff Falls, South Carolina’s largest waterfall. Caesars Head State Park definitely was getting more crowded in the afternoon than it was in the morning so keep that in mind if you visit during the Fall as parking is first come first serve. Other hikes to consider in Caesars Head include: Falls Creek Waterfall Trail, Tom Miller Jones Gap Trail, and Dismal Loop Trail.

Mountain House at Caesar’s Head

If you are interested in a quick lunch, coffee, or ice cream break, make sure to stop at the Mountain House. It is such a cute local café with really delicious food & coffee.

Bald Rock Heritage Preserve

Just 5 miles south of Caesar’s Head State Park, you will find Bald Rock Heritage Preserve with easily accessible sweeping views of the Carolina foothills. There are no hiking trails here, but it is a beautiful granite space to admire the surrounding views.

Table Rock State Park

This South Carolina state park gets its name from the iconic rockface that overlooks the rolling mountains, Lake Oolenoy, and Pinnacle Lake. We did not get a chance to hike, but if you have the time/energy, Table Rock Trail looks absolutely breathtaking. Kayak and canoe rentals are available seasonally at the Lake Pinnacle boathouse.

Sassafras Mountain Observation Tower

Finish your day with a stop at Sassafras Mountain, the highest point in the state of South Carolina. It is located along the South Carolina & North Carolina border which is marked on the ground at the observation tower. The summit is an easy 300 feet from the parking lot and is even wheelchair accessible. We did not stick around for sunset, but supposedly sunsets here can be really stunning.

Sunday

Congaree National Park

Late Saturday evening/early Sunday morning drive a few hours to central South Carolina where Congaree National Park is located. Congaree National Park is one to the least visited national parks in the United States and we can understand why to a degree. It is not super multidimensional and does not necessarily have the “wow factor” that a lot of other national parks do. HOWEVER, we did very much enjoy walking around the park. It was first designated as a national park in large part due to its existence as the largest intact expanse of old growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the southeastern US. It has several champion trees, which are known to be the oldest and largest trees of this kind in the region. We recommend the Boardwalk Trail in combination with the Weston Lake Trail, which is an easy 5-mile walk. We also recommend visiting early because the way the morning light hits the leaves is rather beautiful. You can also navigate the park by kayak/canoe where you can see firsthand the diversity of wildlife in the area. The Fall is a nice time to visit the national park as the weather is ideal and mosquitos are minimal.

We hope you enjoy your adventures and South Carolina is the perfect place for a relaxing weekend in nature. This guide is just scratching the surface of activities in the area so don’t be afraid to branch out if you have more time. The mountains of North Carolina or Georgia are not too far away either if you are interested in further exploring the Appalachian Mountains. It’s always a good day to spend time outside and appreciate Earth’s natural beauty.