18 | www.Ups tatePhys i c i ansSC . com | www.Hea l thL i nksUps tate. com TABLE ROCK STATE PARK Created as a park in the 1930s, this 3,000+-acre park in northern Pickens County is not only one of the most picturesque places in the Upstate, it has long been a favorite destination for generations of visitors. Whether it’s camping and lodging, wading through a mountain stream, paddling or fishing in one of the park’s two lakes, enjoying the “Music on the Mountain” bluegrass program each month or exploring and hiking to the top of Table Rock Mountain, the park offers something to do year-round. FALLS PARK You might have to look a long time to find a central Upstate resident who hasn’t been to Falls Park in Greenville at least once to see and walk across the 345-foot-long Liberty Bridge spanning the Reedy River Falls. The bridge and the falls together are not only a signature downtown attraction, but the area where they meet is a hot spot for restaurants, sightseeing and river wading for all ages. CONESTEE NATURE PRESERVE Near the city of Mauldin in Greenville County, Conestee Nature Preserve is a conservation wonder, nearly hiding in plain sight. But once inside this 406-acre wildlife sanctuary, you'll find a diverse birding refuge, the Lake Conestee Dam and vast habitats of deer, raccoons, beavers, foxes, river otters, salamanders, frogs, snakes and many other wildlife species. CHATTOOGA WILD AND SCENIC RIVER Synonymous with all things boating and water, the Chattooga Wild and Scenic River is the Upstate spot for whitewater rafting and kayaking. Here at the edge of the Georgia and South Carolina border, you can take in thundering waterfalls, dense forests, pristine flora, a variety of animals, more than 100 types of fish and, of course, all the rapids that your sense of whitewater excitement can handle, whether you are a novice or a veteran. DEVILS FORK STATE PARK/LAKE JOCASSEE It is rumored to be the gateway to the Blue Ridge Mountains, but one visit to Devils Fork State Park and you’ll be hardpressed to continue any farther. Nestled in the spectacular Jocassee Gorges just above the town of Salem, the park is a series of steep rock walls carrying dozens of mountain rivers down into the vast, 7,500-acre Lake Jocassee. Constructed in 1973, the lake remains mostly undeveloped, and many of its waterfalls can be reached only by boat. While you’re there, try your hand at some of the state’s best trout fishing, hiking, camping, canoeing and kayaking. Photo by Carin Scates Photography. Photo by Carin Scates Photography.
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