Are you looking for a place to hike in Pickens, SC, then Nine Times Preserve is one of the places you should check out! Nestled on the edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains with over 500 acres of protected land and 134 species of native wildflowers to encounter, who can resist this nature preserve? Find out about this nature preserve and how to get there.
There is so much to see and do in Pickens County, South Carolina! We’ve discovered another place to explore with your family no matter the season! If you love hiking trails and hidden gems – we’ve got a perfect place to check out. You might even come across a flower that is thought to only exist in the Upstate!
About the Nine Times Preserve
The 560-acre piece of land was purchased by Upstate Forever from a real estate company to keep it from being transformed into a housing development. It is now managed by the Nature Conservancy. The preserve was named for the nine bridges across a small creek that were needed to gain access to the property.
Nine Times Preserve is one of the most biologically significant properties in the southeast, harboring more than 100 species of native wildflowers, black bears, trout, birds of prey, and more. You may even spot a peregrine falcon or two soaring overhead. There are even seven distinct forest types packed into the preserve!
Hiking Trails at Nine Times Preserve
There is a total of 1.7 miles of trail within the preserve that you can hop on to explore. The Trillium Trail is the easiest, with a one-way .25-mile hike. This bio-diverse wonderland runs along parts of the Little Eastatoe River. The Trillium Trail is where you will find an abundance of wildflowers in bloom, especially in late spring and summer. You will want to park in the Ephemeral Trail parking area. Then, head across the bridge to access the trail.
If you are looking for a more adventurous trail, then the Rocky Bald Loop Trail and the Cedar Rock Trail are excellent options for more advanced hikers. Both are moderate to difficult and a little over 1/2 a mile each. You will want to park at the Cedar Rock parking area to access the Cedar Rock trail. You can also access the Rocky Bald trail here, but there is a Rocky Bald parking area if you want to enter at the trailhead.
How to Get To Nine Times Preserve
The preserve is found right near Table Rock State Park and the Jocassee Gorges Management Area off Highway 11 in Pickens, South Carolina. GPS might try to take you the wrong way and lead you to a dead-end at the private property. Apparently, this happens frequently. The easiest way to get there is to put the intersection of Eastatoe Creek Road and East Preston McDaniel Road into your GPS, or these coordinates:
Lat: 34.95337162792310
Long: -82.80727305992451
Things to Know Before You Go
- Pets are allowed on the trails but must be leashed at all times. Also, please pick up after your pets!
- Hunting and Fishing are allowed at the preserve. However, you have to follow the strict guidelines SCDNR for fishing and WMA regulations. The preserve does recommend hikers wear orange during peak hunting seasons in April, October, and November.
- Camping, campfires, bicycles, motorized vehicles, or horseback riding is not allowed at the preserve
- While hiking the trails, please do not damage or remove native plants. They already struggle enough, so let’s help them flourish by leaving them alone!
What awesome things have you found on nature hikes in the Upstate?
Kidding Around Team
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