Start your day hiking with your dog with a long walk on a beach that appears so primordial it was elected to star as the Vietnam jungle in Forrest Gump. Then take a three-hour drive and finish an epic dog day with a hike to and across a 411-foot waterfall that is sure to leave canine tongues panting. In between Hunting Beach Island in South Carolina’s Lowcountry and Raven Cliff Falls in the Upcountry are a dozen or so state parks that feature lake hikes and swimming for your dog. And toss in Congaree National Park, the rare national park that allows dogs on the trails, including more than two miles of boardwalk through the loblolly pines, tupelo and bald cypress that keeps paws above the flooding of the Congaree River that occurs an average of ten times a year. The park protects the largest contiguous area of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the United States, harboring 20 state or national champion trees. For backpackers the 77-mile Foothills Trail is as good as you’ll find anywhere. You want history with your canine hikes? America’s best collection of intact Revolutionary War battle sites - Kings Mountain, Cowpens, Ninety-Six - all welcome dogs on the trails. In the Palmetto State even the businesses open their grounds to dogs. Duke Energy has trails to view Lower Whitewater Falls, part of a chain of plunges that represent the highest series of falls east of the Rocky Mountains. In Spartanburg the Milliken conglomerate campus is one of the largest corporate greenspaces in the Southeast and a delight to hike with your dog among ponds, rolling fields and a world-class collection of trees in the arboretum. Myrtle Beach, Huntington Beach, Edisto Beach, James Island, Kiawah, Hilton Head - all offer tail-friendly sand year-round. We can’t give a 10 because no state is perfect (we’re looking at you Brookgreen Gardens).

The Best Day Hike You Can Take With Your Dog In South Carolina

Table Rock National Recreation Trail
Table Rock State Park • Pickens

South Carolina does not spring to mind when compiling lists of best mountain hikes but this climb with Seaman to the top of Table Rock will demonstrate how abruptly the Blue Ridge Mountains slam to a halt in the Palmetto State. Whitewater Falls with two 400-foot drops, the tallest waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains, is right down the road and Raven Cliff Falls,another 400-footer, is an “Upcountry” neighbor.

The Table Rock Trail begins beside a delightful stretch of the Carrick Creek. Don’t let Seaman get too attached, however. After a half-mile the path turns away from the creek and the hike begins in earnest. The top of Table Rock Mountain, a massive open-faced landmark, lies 2,000 feet above. The hard-packed trail snakes its way upward through an open forest sprinkled with large boulders.

After much panting from all involved the 3,124-foot summit is tagged but there is plenty of hiking to still be had across the granite dome. The views from Table Rock - surprise - are the best South Carolina has to offer. When Seaman looks down on the bluewaters of Table Rock Lake the trail ends after 3.6 miles. After spending some quality time sitting at the very edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains looking at the Piedmont that will flatten as it heads to the Atlantic Ocean, it is time to head back down.

HIKING TIME: 3-4 hours

(from the book 300 Day Hikes To Take With Your Dog Before He Tires You Out: Trails where you won’t be able to wipe the wag off your dog’s tail)

Hiking With Your Dog In South Carolina