One of the best state parks in South Carolina is Paris Mountain State Park. Located just six miles north of Downtown Greenville, the park is home to the isolated mountain peak of Paris Mountain and offers many hiking and mountain biking trails, camping, and lakes to explore. Two of the four lakes are recreational, with lots of water activities and equipment rental options. With so many things to do and see, find out why we think this hidden gem is a must-visit.

The park is very easy to navigate. Explore the four lakes, like the gorgeous North Lake, through one of the multiple hiking trails. North Lake can be accessed through a few different trails, but our favorite way to get there is through the Brissy Ridge and Pipsissewa Loop. This trail is a 4.4-mile moderate-strenuous hike that takes an average of 2 hours to complete, bringing you to the beautiful payoff, North Lake.

North Lake is a 15-acre reservoir situated along the back of the park, where fishing is allowed as long as you have a South Carolina fishing license.

The other recreational lake is Lake Placid which you can drive to and park or access through trails. Lake Placid is eight acres, with plenty of room to have fun. Visitors can enjoy swimming, paddling, and fishing. Kayaks, canoes, and pedal boats can be rented as well.

In the 19th century, the land around the park was used by Greenville Water System as a site for three reservoirs. The original dams and spillways remain on the property, like this one by Lake Placid.

The Paris Mountain State Park has excellent camping facilities, which include paved campsites and five trailside campsites around the North Lake Trail Loop. In addition to those options, there is also Camp Buckhorn. The property at Camp Buckhorn has a lodge and nine rustic cabins situated on Buckhorn Lake.

They are furnished with modern amenities and are available for daily, weekend, and weekly rentals. Perfect for large groups wanting to host a wedding, event, or retreat.

Lastly, we have Mountain Lake, which can be accessed through Sulphur Springs Trail. This trail is 4.5 miles, takes 2 hours to complete, and is moderate-strenuous in difficulty.

Also, get a load of the Mountain Lake dam tower while you're there!

How fantastic is Paris Moutain State Park? Let us know!

Looking for more lesser-known state parks in South Carolina? Check out this list.