Connecting People to Nature

With its breathtaking landscapes, award-winning parks, and scenic waterways, there's plenty to love about our little corner of South Carolina. At Upstate Forever, we want to help everyone enjoy the outdoors and take pride in our natural resources through recreation. That's why we've worked with community partners on projects like the Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail, Adopt A Stream, and Blueway Mapping. Whether you like to hike, cycle, paddle, or just lounge in the park, the Upstate is one of the best places around to connect with nature.

Featured projects

Saluda Grade Rail Trail

A coalition of nonprofits including Upstate Forever are working to transform the inactive Saluda Grade railroad corridor into a new approximately 31-mile rail trail.

Blueway Mapping

Upstate Forever is mapping regional rivers to offer paddlers of all skill levels an easy way to plan a waterway adventure. 

Adopt A Stream

Join the team of volunteers who help keep our streams healthy by monitoring water quality. 

Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail

Our work to promote greenways across the Upstate includes playing a key role in the inception and expansion of the Swamp Rabbit Trail. 

Web of Water: The Book

This beautiful book is the culmination of a partnership of four South Carolina photographers, an Upstate nature writer, and Hub City Press and an extension of our ongoing work in the Saluda-Reedy watershed. 

Photo: Ben Geer Keys