Park Center — Attraction in Travelers Rest

Paris Mountain State Part offers a gem of trails within easy reach of Greenville. Surprisingly uncrowded specially if you walk the trails mid week. Yet weekends aren't crowded either if you go early.

During the summer visit soon after the park opens at 8am to enjoy very cool temperatures over the tree canopy shaded trails.

I prefer to park at the lake near the park's entrance and hike up to the top of the Sulphur Springs trail and back. So far I had no issue finding a parking spot there, as opposed to finding one at the park's higher altitude parking areas which fill up early on weekends.

As to the hike, once you reach the top Sulphur Spring, you have two choices return the way you came or continue to the other side. The other side of Sulphur offers a beautiful yet a more challenging trail. Keep in mind that on that side of the trail it's rougher and harder on knees and lower back, so although I enjoyed doing it recently, I rather stay on the side of the mountain that goes from the lake by the park entrance up to top of Sulphur Springs and back. That hike can be good 2hr round trip hike at an easygoing pace that is not too challenging on the knees. Personally been doing it 3-4 times per week since arriving in mid August. (FYI on this segment of the trails, I gotten good cell signal through 95% of the walk - in case you needed.

Just remember watch out for the occasional mountain bikers, spray on the insect repellent, and bring plenty of water.

Amazing, beautiful nature park. ...

This place has a few trails to offer. They are steep and Rocky not recommended for the light of heart but not much of a climb, just a lot of inclination. You can rent a paddle boat or a kayak for five dollars an hour in the visitor center and there is a swimming area in the visitor center that is very small and very muddy I would not swim there. You can fish there, the old reservoir but they do not keep the pond/lakes/stocked. There is an old historic camping lodge called Buckhorn there is also a lake called Buckhorn and if you take a 2 1/2 mile hike past the fire tower trail there is a large reservoir there that may be stocked with fish but no one including myself that we met along the path who had been visiting Paris mountain for many years claims that they’ve ever had any luck fishing there. The pond on the sulfur Springs Trail is pretty to admire and has the old dam that drops off where there is a small pretty waterfall and an old existing pump house that explains the detail of how it used to be Greenville‘s first water reservoir that is pretty neat. They’re also water moccasins and copperheads here so beware when you are traveling along the paths. The old fire tower pass goes up to where there is an old existing foundation where in house used to be that connected to the fire tower there are two existing chimney is in ruins there as well but provides a nice picnic spot...

It is a really great place and I did have fun! However, some real improvements need to be made involving trail safety, more detailed road signage and updates to bike trail maps. I am from the North Georgia Mountains, and I am an experienced mountainbiker. Some of the trails were super fun; however, the Brissy Ridge Trail really needs to have major maintenance or be closed to bikers. I am used to trecherous/technical trails. Some of this was impassible on bike; like high centering on boulders every 15ft next to a cliff. It is extremely dangerous, but is marked high moderate; it isdefinitely the worst trail here, it looks like trying to bike sections of the AT. I like danger, but this trail wont let you go fast enough for it to be a fun danger or fun technical. As I said, major maintenance, warning signs, or closure to bikes.... The Sulpher Springs trail, next to the Brissy Ridge, is very well maintained and can be used to access some of the other trails which were very fun. The top of the firetower trail is neat and features remnants of an old tower. However, it has very confusing maping; the posted map shows the trails ending, however the trails continue. You even can see a "trail closed"sign laying on the ground with wood everywhere (sooo... someone opened more trails whether official or not and they...