Fall Foliage In South Carolina

Where do the good folks from Soda City go for the best fall foliage in South Carolina? An hour and a half northwest of our fair city is a place called Upcountry, and it is a popular destination for visitors looking to experience the very best fall foliage in South Carolina. If you're ready to get outdoors and enjoy Mother Nature's colorful glory, a great starting point is the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area.

Any time is a great time to visit South Carolina's diverse state parks, but we've found that fall provides a perfect period to choose one or more state parks for finding colorful fall foliage. The beauty of leaf peeping in South Carolina's state parks is that there are so many from which to choose.

There are currently 47 unique parks in the South Carolina State Parks system-and more than a dozen of them provide breathtaking leaf peeping possibilities. It's just a matter of choosing one or many parks and then hitting the road for several nights (thanks to many in-park accommodations options in cabins, villas, and campgrounds). Plus, fall colors along the way mean a leaf peeping adventure starts before you even get to the park's entrance.

Congaree National Park

• Located about ~20 miles southeast of Columbia — very accessible.

• The bottomland hardwood forest and cypress trees here take on rich golds and russets in fall.

• Features boardwalk trails (less strenuous) making this a relaxing way to see foliage in a natural, less “mountain-tourist” setting.

Best timing & tips:

• According to a local fall-guide, late October to mid-November is prime for the greater Columbia area. 

• Try the boardwalk nature trail for easy walking & beautiful views — bring your camera.

• Since it’s low elevation, you won’t get the dramatic mountaintop views, but you’ll still get vibrant color in a unique setting.

Sesquicentennial State Park (and nearby parks)

Why it’s great:

• Very close to Columbia; ideal for a shorter outing or half-day.

• The surrounding parks (like Dreher Island State Park or Harbison State Forest) also show good fall color and give you options depending on how far you want to drive.

• Good for mixing a walk/hike with foliage photography and less travel time.

Best timing & tips:

• The region (midlands) tends to peak slightly later than the mountain regions. So plan for late October into early November.

• Pick an easy trail or picnic spot and soak in the color — great for a creative photo outing.

The Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway

Of course, South Carolina's fabled Upstate region and its rolling foothills and mountains make for classic fall foliage exploration. One insider tip that we always provide to friends in search of the best fall foliage in SC is to head straight to the appropriately-named Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway (SC 11), where more than a half-dozen colorful state parks are all within easy reach.

Generally following the route of an old Cherokee Native American footpath, Highway 11 runs east and then south about 110 miles along a two-lane road that leads to many state parks, as well as other sightseeing opportunities. It starts (or ends) in Gaffney in the east and ends (or starts) near quaint Fair Play and sprawling Lake Hartwell. Heading out of Gaffney proper and roughly paralleling the nearby North Carolina state line, leaf peeping and sightseeing begins promptly at the first twisting bends in the road. The first state park stop is Jones Gap State Park, which is about 60 miles from Gaffney, so there's plenty of time for colorful pull-offs and appropriate sightseeing stops along the way.