Greenville is a great place to train to be a resident. The clinical experience is excellent, the city is charming, and the food is immaculate. However, the upstate is also a veritable playground for the outdoor enthusiast. Within a two hour drive of downtown there are hundreds of outdoor opportunities. The upstate is a destination outdoor stop in its own right, but nestled in the corner of the state, Greenville also offers easy access to all of western North Carolina and the upstate of Georgia. Several of the Southeast’s best beaches are just a short drive away.
Whether your outdoor interests include hiking, camping, climbing, or paddling, the upstate has you covered. South Carolina’s famous Blue Wall escarpment rises 2000 feet, and is within eyesight of downtown. The network of upstate lakes provides diving to 300 feet, swimming beaches, and some of the best fishing in the South. There are national forests, lakes, rivers, mountain scenery, and even snowy slopes that await the outdoor adventurer. The region is full of both standout and hidden gems, all that is required is an adventuring spirit.
STATE PARKS
Ceasars head
Table rock
Paris Mountain
Jones Gap
Croft State Park
Devils Fork
Oconee State Park
NATIONAL PARKS
Great Smoky Mountain
Congaree National Park
Cowpens National Battlefield
Kings Mountain National Military Park
Ninety Six National Historic Site
Blue Ridge Parkway
TRAILS
Appalachian Trail
Palmetto Trail
Foothills Trail
OTHER OUTDOOR SPACES
Naturaland Trust
Lake Conestee Nature Park
Wildcat Wayside
LAKES
Lake Hartwell
Lake Keowee
Lake Jocassee
RIVERS
Chattooga
Saluda
Reedy
Enoree
PAVED TRAILS
Doodle Trail
Swamp Rabbit Trail
WATERFALLS
South Carolina
North Carolina
Georgia
INDOOR CLIMBING
Climb at Blue Ridge
The Rockoon
Trailhead Climbing
Clemson Fike Recreation Center
