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Saluda Mountains Passage Now Open
The newest section of the Palmetto Trail is now open to the public. The 9.1 mile section, known as the Saluda Mountains Passage, opened on April 28th. PCF hosted a private preview of the trail on April 27th for our sponsors and supporters. A big thanks to all of the sponsors who attended the opening. You can check out our website for more information on this passage and download the new map.
Click here to view more pictures in our Picasa Album.
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 View our online Picasa Web Albums. If you have pictures of the trail that you would like to share, you can email them to us or post them on our Facebook page. 
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Palmetto Trail Wish List
Maintaining the Palmetto Trail is a huge task and our trail coordinators do a  great job. Having the proper tools makes their job a whole lot easier. If you would like to donate anything on our wishlist, please contact our office at (803)771-0870.
We appreciate your help!
- Husqvarna Pole Saws
- Chain Saw Winch
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Palmetto E-Explorer
June 2012
The Natural Connection to South Carolina
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National Trails Day Event and Peak Grand Opening
 We celebrated National Trails Day on Saturday, June 2nd with the grand opening of the Peak to Prosperity Passage and a day full of hiking and fun. Thanks to everyone who came out to celebrate with us!
After years of working through the railbanking process, Palmetto Conservation purchased an 11.5-mile, 200 ft. wide right-of-way from Norfolk Southern Railroad. The rail trail begins on the banks of the Broad River at Alston in Fairfield County and continues west into Newberry County, through piedmont forest, into the towns of Peak and Pomaria, and over 14 wooden trestles that cross Crims Creek.
The first phase of the passage, going from Peak to Pomaria, has been complete for a few years, but the opening of this second phase has added five continuous miles from Pomaria to Prosperity. These two phases are now seamlessly combined to create a larger Peak to Prosperity passage of 10.8 miles total. For those interested, we've updated the maps on our website to include this longer, more complete trail. You can access the new map here.
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Results of the Palmetto Trail Challenge are in!
We'd like to recognize the winners of this year's Palmetto Trail Challenge. The walking team winner is Miller Team #1 with 1,438.5 miles. Diane and Glen Miller won a gift basket from Mast General Store, 2 Timex Watches and an Eagle Creek case from The Backpacker, an Edisto River Companion guide, and The Waterfalls of SC book.
The winning bicycle team is Team Ramrod with 1,705 miles. Matthew Latta and TJ Sharpe won 2 yearlong memberships to the Palmetto Cycling Coalition, 2 bicycle tune-ups from Trek Bicycle Store, a NorthFace backpack, water bottles and t-shirts from Half-Moon Outfitters, and 2 copies of Joyride by Mia Burke.
Thanks to everyone who participated in the challenge this year! We enjoyed hearing all the great stories and seeing the pictures that some of the teams submitted. We look forward to hosting the Palmetto Trail Challenge again next year!
Thanks to our sponsors:
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Art on the Trail
With over 120 people attending our Art on the Trail event in Columbia, and over 40 people attending in Peak, this program was a great success. We invite everyone to explore the art installations now featured both on the Peak to Prosperity Passage and the Capital City Passage in the Columbia Riverfront Park.
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This installation in the Columbia Riverfront Park doubles as a bird feeder, attracting wildlife to the trail.
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We'd like to thank our sponsors and partners for this event: Pocket Productions, Alfac, SCE&G, City of Columbia, and The Great Chapin Community Endowment, an affiliation of the Central Carolina Community Foundation.
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Artist Brian Rust is pictured here with his installation on the Peak to Prosperity passage.
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Adventure Awaits
Upcoming events and outings
Saturday, June 23rd Waterfall Hike
9am
Miuka Falls and Secret Falls Join PCF volunteer Chris Burnette (aka XtremeKatfishin) on the first of many waterfall hikes this summer. This trip is rated moderate, and will include 1.7 miles of hiking along the Winding Stairs Trail. Miuka Falls is a beautiful 75 foot waterfall and Secret Falls is 60 feet.
Click here for more info.
Saturday, June 23rd
Lower Green Paddle Trip
This is a great paddle with Class I-II rapids perfect for any skill level, especially beginners! Easy to navigate rapids with many pools that are perfect swimming holes!
Click here for more info.
Sunday, June 24th
Waterfall Hike
9am
Blue Hole Falls
This hidden treasure rushes 75 feet down a narrow gap and into a beautiful blue pool that gives the area its name. This is a moderate 0.5 mile hike to the falls, where the group can enjoy lunch a relaxing swim in Cedar Creek.
Click here for more info.
Saturday, July 21st 
Lake Jocassee Paddle
Cool off in the summer heat with this paddle on the beautiful Lake Jocassee. You'll even visit a waterfall or two along the way for some added fun!
Click here for more info.
Save the Date:
Saturday, July 21st
Yellow Branch Falls
Sunday, July 22nd
Stumphouse Tunnel, Issaqueena Falls, Tunnel Falls
Saturday, August 25th
Spoonauger Falls, King Creek Falls 
Sunday, August 26th
Big Bend Falls
Saturday, September 22nd
Licklog and Pigpen Falls
Sunday, September 23rd
Chauga Narrows
Saturday, October 6th
Moonshine Falls, Confusion Falls
Sunday, October 7th
Brasstown Falls
Saturday, November 3rd
Opossum Creek Falls
Sunday, November 4th
Long Creek Falls
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Senior Explorers
PCF has kicked off another 
year of exciting trips with the Senior Explorers. Thanks to Palmetto Health and Agape Senior, this year is better than ever! We've got a variety of trips and events planned and we hope you'll join us. Senior Explorers is open to older adults and is free to participate. Space is limited.
Monday, June 18th at 10am
Waterfall Hike with Master Naturalist Dan Whitten
Come along for a series of short, easy hikes to three different waterfalls in the SC upstate, all of which are rated excellent. Hikers will walk less than 1/4 mile to see Reedy Branch Falls, nestled into a cool and refreshing cove. Next, a 1/2 mile hike through four different habitat stations will lead participants to Station Cove Falls, perhaps the most loved and visited waterfall in the state. Finally, you'll journey to see Issaqueena Falls, a dramatic and beautiful drop whose viewing platform is only a minute's walk from the parking lot. You can choose to carpool from Columbia or meet us in the Upstate. Master naturalist Dan Whitten will be your guide for the day. Bring a lunch and water bottle. Transportation will be provided from two separate locations. Directions to these locations will be sent once you have registered.
Space is limited. Please call to sign up (803)771-0870.
For more information about this hike, click here.
July
Cooking Class at The Good Life Cafe
Thursday August 30th
Bee City- Learn all about honey bees, visit the petting zoo and nature center, bottle your own honey to take home, and make your own beeswax candle.
Thursday September 6th
Penn Center- Visit the museum and walk the nature trails.
Thursday October 18th
The Center for Birds of Prey- learn all about hawks, owls, falcons, and more. Afterwards we'll stop for lunch at the Sewee Restaurant.
Dates are subject to change. Check our website for up to date information. Visit our website, or call us at (803)771-0870.
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Summer Camp
PCF's Summer Adventure Camp started this week with approximately 20 campers in Session 1. Activities include kayaking, mountain biking, crafts, games, and more. Session 2 starts July 30th - August 3rd, and there's still space to sign-up.
Click here for more details.
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Become a PCF Member Today!
A PCF Membership comes with great benefits, including discounts at local outfitters and special rates on PCF events. Your membership dollars will go towards building and maintaining the Palmetto Trail.
Click here to become a member!
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