Hiking in the Heat along the Oconee Trail

Honestly, this was not the trail I had intended to take on the first day of July. I had intended, the day before, to hike the trail to Opossum Creek Falls in upstate South Carolina. However, apparently, either my handy waterfall guide needs updating, or I just flat out couldn't find the appropriate roads to the trailhead. So, I then decided, no worries, there are other falls in the area, so I tried for another one, and once again, I had no luck. By that point, it was starting to get rather hot, as the weekend that saw June out and July in was one of the hottest weekends in Georgia and South Carolina. I went home, figuring I'd try another hike the next day.

The next day, I went up to Oconee State Park, which is just up from Walhalla, SC on 107. Although I had planned to hike the Foothills Trail to Hidden Falls, my directions led me to another trail, the Oconee Trail. Seeing as how I didn't want to miss my window of opportunity yet again, I gave the Oconee Trail a go. It turns out to be a loop trail around the rhododendron forests around the park. The trail is fairly standard, not particularly difficult, although with a couple of elevation changes that could get your heart rate up a bit. My favorite parts of the hike are the rhododendron thickets through which this trail winds. I've always liked the sight of the chaotic jumble of rhododendron trunks, and this trail had plenty of good views. Just over 2.5 miles, it's a good hike when you don't have a lot of time before the heat starts to become oppressive.