Families can explore nature together at Paris Mountain State Park in Greenville
Paris Mountain is an Upstate icon that offers the best of both worlds – convenience to restaurants and shopping and easy access to nature and outdoor adventures.
If it's been a while since your last visit, summer is the perfect time to change that.
To get an insider’s view of the park, register your whole family for a guided hike.
“Paris Mountain State Park is a great place for families to explore nature together,” Park Ranger Cathy Taylor said. “Children of all ages are naturally good at observing nature, when given the chance to explore our natural world up close. When we hike to Mountain Creek, parents are often surprised to find out that their children, despite being used to indoor activities, are natural explorers. In the creek, older children will look for baby insects and salamanders under rocks, while toddlers just enjoy picking up the rocks. About once a week, I see a child in a euphoric state, exclaiming how much they love this place!”
Insider tips for Paris Mountain
“For an easy family hike, I recommend a one-mile walk around Lake Placid, where the ducks, turtles, dragonflies and water keep it interesting,” Taylor said. “Sulphur Springs parking area, a mile into the park, is a great place to get to a creek without a long hike, and it is usually not crowded. My favorite shorter hike is there, taking Sulphur Springs trail just up to Mountain Lake and back. It is a little over a mile, and involves easy to moderate difficulty levels. When my 3- and 5-year-old grandchildren visit, we take that or the Lake Placid trail. With 17 miles of trails to choose from at Paris Mountain State Park, there is something for children of all ages.”
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Paris Mountain admission, info
2401 State Park Road, Greenville
southcarolinaparks.com/paris-mountain and friendsofparismountain.org
864-244-5565
ctaylor@scprt.com
Hours: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Admission: $6 each for adults, $3.75 each for ages 65 and older; $3.50 each for ages 6 – 15, and free for ages 5 and younger. This admission includes access to the designated swimming area when it is open. If you purchase an All Parks Passport for $99, you and everyone in your vehicle will get in free at all 47 state parks for a year. Buy a passport at southcarolinaparks.com or at the Park Center office.
Paris Mountain activities
·Friday Family hikes are 10 a.m. – noon June 17, July 1, 2, 8, 15 and 29, and Aug. 5. Reservations are required. The cost is $5 per person, including adults, in addition to admission. (If you have a Park Passport, you only pay the program cost). These hikes are limited to 25 participants. To register and to confirm that the scheduled hike will proceed, email ctaylor@scprt.com, call 864-244-5565, or check at the admission booth. Weekday Group hikes are also available.
·Swimming is open daily at the Lake Placid swimming area. It is free with park admission.
·Boats are available to rent on weekends throughout the summer and on some weekdays starting in mid-June. Call the park to confirm. The boat rental rate is $5 per boat for 30 minutes.
·Download the Agents of Discovery app and plan to be a Nature Detective around Lake Placid.
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Paris Mountain State Park lets families explore nature together
