Hiking, Slow travel, Travel Diary, United States, Walking Holidays

Weekend Walk along Tammany Trace

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Tammany Trace Abita Springs

Earlier this year, I went on a weekend walk along the Tammany Trace, which is a “rails to trails” path on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain (just north of New Orleans). I went with my sister, husband & the couple who introduced us to walking holidays. Our initial thought was to do this as a true inn-to-inn walking trip, but lack of transportation was an issue — we couldn’t find anyone willing to shuttle us from starting point to end. Plus, dinner options are limited along the trail if you don’t have a car with you that first night. So, we adapted & used 2 vehicles. The distance between parking lots was only about 7.5 miles each time we had to move cars.

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Hiking, Travel Diary, United States

Trip Notes: Devil’s Fork State Park

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hiking trail in forest of Devil's Fork State Park

Visiting Devil's Fork State Park

Planning a last minute hiking trip for New Years weekend can be challenging, especially when you have special requirements such as these:

  • Must be able to drive there (flights too expensive for last minute holiday)
  • Prefer one central location with lots of hiking options nearby
  • Prefer cold weather but no snow
  • Affordable AVAILABLE lodging
cabin at Devil's Fork State Park

This was the challenge I faced earlier this year (after Eric informed me that under no circumstances would he visit Québec in January…no matter HOW good Air Canada’s deals were). I probably learned more US geography while researching for this trip than I did in grade school or college (sorry Dr. Gomez). Just when I had given up and resigned myself to spending my holiday wearing shorts and flipflops, Eric stumbled across Devil’s Fork State Park in South Carolina.

tree over rocks and clear lake at Devil's Fork State Park

Devil’s Fork is a 12hr drive from my hometown, so we spent the night along the way. The drive was uneventful except for Atlanta — the traffic cesspool of the Southeast. The park is nestled in the far northwestern tip of South Carolina, just east of the Chattahoochee and Nantahala National Forests. We lucked out that a cabin was available, especially considering how nice the cabins are. Our only complaint with the cabin was that it had a stink bug infestation. Once we accepted that we’d be sharing space with these pesky Pentatomidae, they really didn’t bother us unless we left our clothes in the living room…they liked hiding out there.

woman hiking by water in Devil's Fork State Park

This region was quiet in January, as it’s primarily a summer lake resort destination. Half the cabins were occupied, one of which had obviously been reserved for the full Christmas/New Year holiday because they had Christmas lights wrapped around the porch. The cabin had a full kitchen and we stopped for provisions at Ingles Market in Walhalla (25min drive). Jocassee Outdoor Center was much closer and a good option if we wanted camp food, but that just didn’t pass muster with these foodies. There was also a tiny grocery called Keowee Towne, which had gourmet meats, cheese, wine and beer…but they were closed for the holiday. 🙁

Make sure to leave yourself some “city time” in lovely Greenville, SC and eat at Tupelo Honey — it’s divine!

Raven Rock Trail

Best Hikes near Devil's Fork State Park

Laurel Fork Falls via Foothills Trail

Strenuous but beautiful 8.4mi in & out trail ending at a waterfall. Trailhead parking on Hwy 178 @ Laurel Valley Rd.

Raven Rock (Keowee Toxaway State Park)

Well-marked, lovely 4.4mi loop trail which ends with a great lake view. Mostly moderate with some strenuous hills.

Bear Cove Trail (Devils Fork State Park)

This 2.5mi loop trail starts out flat & boring, but the views open up halfway through as you begin to round a peninsula. There’s a beautiful place to stop & relax at the water’s edge.

Oconee Bells Nature Trail (Devils Fork State Park)

Short but sweet 1.5mi loop trail with a mixture of forest & lush plant life along a creek. Perfect easy stroll.

woman hiking trail in Devil's Fork State Park

More Trails near Devil's Fork State Park

Above is a list of hikes we actually did, but there are plenty more options to choose from in this region. Visit these sites for more trail suggestions:

6 Must-Do Hikes in the South Carolina Upcountry

Oconee State Park Trails

Table Rock State Park Trails

Caesars Head State Park & Jones Gap State Park Trails

Paris Mountain State Park

Foothills Trail (77mi backpacking trail through South Carolina & North Carolina)

South Carolina Trails

Western North Carolina Trails

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Hiking, Reflections & Humor, Trip Planning, United States

Let’s Go to New Hampshire…or Not

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White Mountains New Hampshire
Mother nature reminds us mere mortals once again that we are at her mercy. We may have dodged Hurricane Harvey in Southwest Louisiana, but we have not escaped the repercussions of this disastrous storm.  Our “almost Banff turned New Hampshire” trip has been cancelled, due to the fact that we can’t fly out of Houston (as originally scheduled) and there were no good options out of New Orleans.  That & the fact that our own city might see some serious flooding if this rain doesn’t let up.
I could sit here feeling sorry for myself & racked by guilt for feeling this way while loved ones in Texas are experiencing such devastation, but I won’t. Instead, I’ll share our “not-to-be” Labor Day trip to New Hampshire in hopes that someone may enjoy a beautiful hike in the White Mountains.
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