What's not to love about South Carolina's state parks? The state does a wonderful job of protecting and presenting some of the most beautiful places right here in our own backyard. Case in point: the 1,540-acre Paris Mountain State Park is located just six miles from downtown Greenville. The park offers swimming, hiking, picnicking, kayaking, fishing, camping, and a 4.4-mile trail that leads to a hidden lake in South Carolina that's truly worth the effort of getting there.

Once inside the gate of Paris Mountain State Park, head to the Brissy Ridge parking area to find the trailhead.

Since this hiking trail is a loop, we'll steer you in a counter-clockwise direction from the start.

As you're exploring the trail underneath a hearty forest canopy, think about how the Cherokee Indians used to inhabit Paris Mountain long before Europeans arrived on the continent.

Some may think of America's history as beginning with the colonization efforts, but here in South Carolina, we're well aware our Native American ancestors were here long before anyone from Europe arrived. And if you're on this trail, then you may very well be walking in their footsteps.

Some of the most reputable hiking sites rate this one as moderate. That's primarily because it has a 797-foot elevation change along the 4.4-mile loop. That converts to an average of almost 200 feet per mile; some of it up, and some of it down. So come prepared for a bit of effort.

Along the trail, you'll cross over the park's main road that leads up to Camp Buckhorn, a 40-person lodge you can rent for large gatherings at Paris Mountain. Cross over the small road and continue on Brissy Ridge until it meets Pipisissewa. Hang a right onto Pipissessewa and follow the trail approximately half a mile to arrive at the hidden lake.

This dazzling gem is known by two names: North Lake and Reservoir 3.

In comparison to the park's other lake, Lake Placid, it's roughly 2.5 times larger and is approximately 45 acres.

At this point, you can turn around and hike back to catch the other half of the Brissy Ridge loop back to your car...

... or follow the trail all the way around North Lake and then hike back to Brissy Ridge.

Because of its remote location within Paris Mountain State Park, North Lake is widely undiscovered by most visitors.

Note: the park doesn't allow swimming in North Lake. But there is a swim beach, bathhouse, and boat rental spot over on Lake Placid just inside the park's entrance gate.

But North Lake is reportedly a great spot for catching catfish, if you feel like hauling your fishing gear this far into the wilderness!

There are also five outpost backcountry tent sites around the lake that can be reserved in advance.

Paris Mountain State Park's North Lake just might be the most hidden lake in South Carolina. If you were to do a search for “best state parks near me,” it would most likely pop up at the top of the list! For more information, check out the South Carolina State Parks website.

Have you ever been to Paris Mountain State Park? If so, what was your favorite part? If not, is it a place you'd like to see in person soon? We'd love to read about your experience in the comments section below!

For more reasons to love Greenville, keep reading 11 Reasons To Drop Everything And Visit This One City In South Carolina! And if you're interested in making a weekend trip to Greenville, there is no better place to spend the night than The Westin Poinsett, Greenville.

If you’re still in the mood for more Palmetto State adventures, take a look at this video about the Kiawah River Pelicans: