Drive west from Pumpkintown toward the mountains, and the landscape changes quickly. The foothills begin crowding closer to the road, rhododendron fills the darker creek bottoms, and the familiar mountains of northern Pickens County rise ahead. Hidden within that landscape is a place that many people drive past without realizing how much is there: Nine Times Preserve and Nine Times Forest.
At first glance, Nine Times can be confusing. No big state park entrance, visitor center, or single parking lot serves as the starting point. Instead, there are several trailheads, two separately owned conservation properties, multiple mountains, small creeks, old roads, and more than 2,200 acres of protected land. One trail can take you beside a quiet mountain stream while another leads toward exposed granite on Big Rock Mountain.
An even older story also explains the unusual name. Long before these mountains became protected conservation lands, people traveled through this valley along a route associated with Cherokee communities along the Big Eastatoee River. The creek crossings along that old route eventually gave Nine Times its name. Today, the same rugged geography that once made travel difficult is a big part of what makes the area worth protecting.
For anyone interested in exploring the quieter side of Pickens County, Nine Times fits perfectly alongside the places in our guide to 25 hikes beyond Table Rock.
Why Is It Called Nine Times?
The name sounds like the beginning of a local legend, but it has a geographical explanation.
According to The Nature Conservancy, Cherokee towns along the Big Eastatoee River were once connected by a trail through this area. Travelers following the route had to cross a roughly two-mile tributary of the Little Eastatoee River nine different times. Early settlers continued traveling the route, and it remained in use into the twentieth century. That tributary became known as Nine Times Creek, which today parallels the northern boundary of Nine Times Preserve.
Think about that the next time you are walking beside one of these little mountain streams. Today, a creek crossing may simply be an interesting part of a hike. Before paved roads and bridges, waterways and mountain terrain determined where people could travel. A stream that repeatedly crossed the easiest route through the valley could become one of the defining features of the journey.
Eventually, the name attached itself not only to the creek but to the surrounding area.
It is one of those Upstate place names that sounds strange until you understand the landscape.
Nine Times Preserve and Nine Times Forest Are Two Different Places
This is probably the most important thing to understand before visiting.
Nine Times Preserve is the approximately 560-acre property owned and managed by The Nature Conservancy. Across the road is Nine Times Forest, a 1,648-acre property owned and managed by Naturaland Trust. The information kiosk at Nine Times describes the two properties as totaling more than 2,200 acres.
They protect different portions of the same larger landscape, but they are not interchangeable. Different recreational activities are permitted depending on which property you are visiting.
Nine Times Preserve contains five mountains and seven distinct forest types. The preserve sits where South Carolina’s Southern Blue Ridge Mountains meet the Piedmont, creating an unusually diverse collection of habitats within a relatively small area.
Nine Times Forest contains three mountains along with creek bottoms, hardwood forests, streams, and substantial granite outcrops. Naturaland Trust allows activities there that are not necessarily permitted within Nine Times Preserve, including mountain biking and rock climbing.
That distinction matters around Big Rock Mountain because climbing is permitted there, while rock climbing is prohibited within Nine Times Preserve.
So when someone says, “I went hiking at Nine Times,” that could describe several very different experiences.
How Nine Times Was Protected
It is easy to walk through a mature forest and assume it was always destined to remain that way. Nine Times tells a different story.
Upstate Forever purchased the 560-acre property that became Nine Times Preserve from Crescent Resources in 2007. The Nature Conservancy acquired it in 2009 with assistance from the South Carolina Conservation Bank and private support. Later, the Conservancy built trails to provide public access through the preserve’s forests, ravines, and streams.
The kiosk at the preserve tells part of this story, too. It credits Upstate Forever, the South Carolina Conservation Bank, and multiple donors with participating in the purchase. Duke Energy is credited with assisting in stewardship, while trail installation received assistance through the Recreational Trails Program in cooperation with the South Carolina Trails Program and the Federal Highway Administration.
But protecting those 560 acres still left a much larger neighboring forest vulnerable.
Naturaland Trust and Upstate Forever later worked to protect another 1,648 acres that became Nine Times Forest. The purchase closed in 2013 after several public and private sources assembled funding. Naturaland Trust described the property as one of the largest intact unprotected forests remaining in the Upstate at the time.
The result is what visitors experience today: thousands of connected acres, not small, isolated patches of protected forest.
That connection matters for everything from black bears moving through the mountains to protecting small streams flowing toward the larger Eastatoe and Jocassee watersheds.
What It Is Actually Like to Hike Here
Nine Times does not feel like a developed state park.
No crowds gather around a visitor center, and no single attraction draws everyone to photograph. On our visit, much of the experience was simply following a trail through dense Appalachian forest.
The sections we explored passed through thick rhododendron and hardwoods alongside a small stream. Roots crossed the trail, moss covered rocks beside the water, and little pools formed where the creek slowed. In several places, the trail and water seemed almost intertwined. Old roadbeds and wider stretches also hinted at earlier uses of the land.
That is part of Nine Times’ appeal. You do not necessarily need a waterfall or famous overlook at the end of every trail. Sometimes the forest itself is the destination.
If you enjoy this quieter kind of hiking, our Beyond Table Rock guide includes 25 more hikes around Pickens County ranging from short family walks to much more remote adventures.
For a more developed trail system nearby, the Table Rock State Park Trail Guide covers the trails, intersections, waterfalls, and routes within Table Rock State Park.
There Is Not Just One Nine Times Trail
This is another important point for first-time visitors.
The current trail map posted at Nine Times shows separate access areas rather than one central trailhead. The preserve’s principal marked trails are Trillium Trail, Rocky Bald Loop, and Cedar Rock Mountain Trail, while the larger forest contains additional roads and trails, including access toward Big Rock Mountain.
Trillium Trail
For the easiest introduction to Nine Times, Trillium Trail is the obvious choice.
The current trailhead map lists it as approximately 0.2 miles and rates it easy. It follows the creek through an area particularly known for spring wildflowers.
This is probably the trail to choose if you want to experience Nine Times without committing to a longer mountain hike. It may also be a good choice for families introducing younger children to hiking. For more ideas like that, our kid-friendly hiking guide to the Upstate includes trails where the experience is more important than reaching a difficult summit.
Rocky Bald Loop Trail
Rocky Bald is a much different hike.
The current kiosk at the trailhead lists Rocky Bald Loop as a 1.6-mile loop rated moderate with strenuous sections. At approximately 0.6 miles, hikers reach an intersection with Cedar Rock Mountain Trail. From there, you can continue around the loop toward the parking lot or branch onto Cedar Rock Mountain Trail.
The current on-site information is particularly useful here because some older descriptions online give different mileage for Rocky Bald. When planning a hike, I would use the current posted trail map rather than relying entirely on an older trail description.
Cedar Rock Mountain Trail
The current map lists Cedar Rock Mountain Trail at approximately 1.1 miles and rates it moderate.
The route follows an old logging road partway up Cedar Rock Mountain and eventually connects with Rocky Bald Loop. That connection lets hikers combine portions of the trail system rather than treating each trail as an isolated destination.
This is also a good place to pay attention to maps and trail markers. If you are relatively new to hiking, our guide to what trail blazes actually mean explains how trail markings help keep hikers on the correct route.
Big Rock Mountain
Then there is Big Rock.
Big Rock Mountain is within Nine Times Forest rather than The Nature Conservancy’s Nine Times Preserve. Its exposed granite gives this part of Nine Times an entirely different appearance from the shaded creek bottoms we explored.
Big Rock has also become an important destination for rock climbers. Naturaland Trust worked with climbing organizations to improve access while protecting the surrounding landscape.
This illustrates why knowing the difference between Nine Times Preserve and Nine Times Forest matters. Rock climbing is prohibited within the preserve, while climbing is an established activity in the Big Rock area of Nine Times Forest.
Big Rock could easily justify its own trip rather than trying to see everything Nine Times has to offer in one day.
One of Upstate’s Wildflower Hotspots
Nine Times is beautiful even if you cannot identify a single plant, but botanically it is an unusually important place.
More than 130 species of native wildflowers have been documented within the preserve. Its five mountains and seven forest types are packed into only about 560 acres, right in the transition zone where the Blue Ridge meets the Piedmont.
Spring is therefore one of the most interesting times to visit.
Trillium Trail is particularly associated with spring ephemeral wildflowers. These woodland plants take advantage of the short period when temperatures begin to warm, but the trees overhead have not yet formed a full canopy.
That means Nine Times can look dramatically different depending on when you visit. The dense green forest in our September photographs is only one version of the place.
Fall brings another transformation as the hardwood forests change color. If you are making a longer scenic trip through the area during fall, Nine Times can easily be combined with a drive along the Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway.
Wildlife at Nine Times
A connected forest of this size also provides important wildlife habitat.
Black bears, peregrine falcons, trout, deer, wild turkeys, and numerous smaller animals can be found in this part of the Southern Blue Ridge. Naturaland Trust has specifically noted the importance of the larger forest for black bear habitat because of its connection with the mountains surrounding the Jocassee Gorges.
You should not expect wildlife to appear on command. In heavily wooded places, tracks, scat, feathers, and other signs often reveal more about the animals around you than direct sightings.
The little streams deserve attention too. They may look insignificant compared with Lake Jocassee or the Upstate’s large waterfalls, but these headwater streams are important pieces of the mountain ecosystem.
The Arnold Nemirow Bench
One of the smallest things we encountered was also one of the things that made us stop.
Beside a quiet pool in the creek is a simple wooden bench. A plaque attached to it is dated March 25, 2024, honoring Arnold Nemirow for his contributions to conservation.
It would be easy to walk right past.
But it seems particularly appropriate here. Nine Times exists in its present form because conservation organizations, government programs, donors, and individuals decided these mountains and streams were worth protecting.
Sitting beside the creek, the bench feels less like an attraction and more like a reminder that protected land usually has a story behind it.
Something We Did Not Expect: Shattered Glass at the Beginning of the Trail
Unfortunately, not everything we found during our visit was positive.
Coming from the Pumpkintown direction, we stopped at a trail on the right side of the road. Almost immediately after we started walking, we encountered a considerable amount of shattered glass scattered across the trail and surrounding leaf litter.
It was enough glass that we stopped specifically to photograph it.
This observation is from September 2026, so conditions may be completely different when you visit. Hopefully, the area will be cleaned. If it has not been, watch where you step near the beginning of the trail.
The glass is particularly concerning for anyone hiking with children or dogs. A leash does not protect a dog’s paws from small pieces of glass embedded in dirt and leaves, and children naturally wander toward things along the edges of a trail.
I am deliberately not naming that particular trail because I would rather give an accurate warning based on what we personally observed than guess which trailhead it was from our direction of travel.
It was also disappointing to see because littering is specifically prohibited within Nine Times Preserve.
More importantly, this is a good example of why responsible trail use matters. Our complete guide to hiking etiquette discusses Leave No Trace principles and other simple ways hikers can help protect the places they visit. Explore More Hiking & Trails
Nine Times Is Also a Hunting Area
Hikers need to understand this before heading into the woods.
Both Nine Times Preserve and Nine Times Forest are designated South Carolina Wildlife Management Areas in partnership with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. The current kiosk states that Nine Times Preserve is open to public hunting under regular Game Zone 1 seasons and that WMA regulations apply.
The kiosk also specifically asks hikers to consider wearing orange during hunting season.
Do not assume that seeing a hunter means someone is somewhere they should not be. Hunting is an established permitted use of these lands.
Before visiting during hunting season, check the current South Carolina Department of Natural Resources regulations. Even for a short walk, wearing blaze orange is a simple precaution.
Fishing at Nine Times
Fishing is another permitted use, but it has restrictions.
Within Nine Times Preserve, fishing is permitted along Eastatoee Creek and is subject to current South Carolina freshwater fishing regulations.
Anyone making a trip specifically to fish should check the current state regulations before leaving home because seasons and regulations can change.
Rules to Know Before Visiting
Nine Times Preserve is a nature preserve, not a conventional recreation park. The current kiosk asks visitors to stay on designated trails and lists several prohibited activities.
Camping, campfires, rock climbing, horseback riding, bicycles, motorized vehicles, alcohol and drugs, littering, and disturbing or removing plants or animals are prohibited within Nine Times Preserve.
Remember that those are the rules for the preserve. Nine Times Forest is separately managed, and some activities prohibited within the preserve are allowed in designated areas of the forest.
The distinction is easy to miss if you think of the entire area simply as “Nine Times.”
Parking and Finding the Right Trailhead
Do a little planning before you leave.
Access to the preserve is through the road network around Eastatoee Creek Road and East Preston McDaniel Road. Separate parking areas serve different trails, including Trillium, Rocky Bald, Cedar Rock Mountain, and Big Rock Mountain.
That is why simply entering “Nine Times” into your navigation app may not take you to the trail you actually want to hike.
The information kiosk includes a map and QR code for the Nine Times trail system. Take a picture of the map or download it before heading into the woods. Cell service can become unreliable once you get into the mountains.
Most importantly, do not expect a Table Rock-style entrance gate.
Nine Times spans a wide area.
Which Nine Times Hike Should You Choose?
If you want a very short, easy walk, Trillium Trail is probably the best place to start. It gives you a taste of the creekside forest without requiring a substantial hike.
Rocky Bald Loop is better for someone who wants a moderate mountain hike with some strenuous sections, while Cedar Rock Mountain Trail offers another moderate route and can connect with Rocky Bald.
Big Rock Mountain is the option to research if the granite landscape and climbing side of Nine Times interests you.
That variety is one of Nine Times’ strengths. A family looking for a short nature walk and an experienced climber headed toward Big Rock can both spend the day at Nine Times and experience completely different landscapes.
If Nine Times leaves you wanting another hike, the 25 Hikes Every Pickens County Explorer Should Know About guide is a good place to choose the next one. Nine Times itself is included on that list. Pumpkin Town
When Should You Visit?
I would like to return in every season because each one should reveal something different.
Spring is probably the signature season because of the wildflowers. The forest floor comes alive before the tree canopy completely fills in, making this an especially interesting time to explore Trillium Trail.
Summer gives you the dense green forest shown in our photographs. Rhododendron and the heavy tree canopy make some of the creek bottoms feel almost enclosed.
Fall should be another beautiful time to explore because of the variety of hardwood forest communities packed into the property. It is also a good time to turn the trip into a longer drive along Highway 11.
Winter loses the lush green canopy but gains visibility. With the leaves down, the shapes of the mountains, rock formations, and surrounding terrain can become easier to see.
There really is not one “right” season for Nine Times.
What Else Is Nearby?
This may be the best part about Nine Times for someone exploring the Pumpkintown area. You are already in one of the richest outdoor corridors in South Carolina.
Table Rock State Park is nearby and provides a completely different hiking experience. If you have never explored the park beyond the main entrance, our Table Rock State Park Trail Guide breaks down the trail system, including Carrick Creek, Pinnacle Mountain, Table Rock Trail, and the connecting routes.
For an even bigger list of possibilities, Beyond Table Rock: 25 Hikes Every Pickens County Explorer Should Know About includes Nine Times along with Eastatoe Creek Heritage Preserve, Sassafras Mountain, Laurel Valley, Laurel Fork Falls, the Foothills Trail, and other nearby adventures. Pumpkin Town
If waterfalls are what brought you into the mountains, our Waterfalls Near Pumpkintown guide includes everything from short roadside stops to longer waterfall hikes. Pumpkin Town
You can also continue west on Highway 11 toward the Jocassee and Oconee County mountains. That opens up Lake Jocassee, Devils Fork State Park, Stumphouse Mountain, and Issaqueena Falls.
Issaqueena is particularly interesting if you enjoy places where natural scenery and local history overlap. The waterfall once powered a black-powder mill associated with the construction of Stumphouse Tunnel. You can read the full story in The Forgotten Powder Mill at Issaqueena Falls. Pumpkin Town
Nearby, we have also researched The Lost Town of Tunnel Hill, the railroad community that once stood above Stumphouse Tunnel and was home to more than 1,000 people during the attempt to build the Blue Ridge Railroad through the mountains. Pumpkin Town
That makes Nine Times easy to work into a much larger day of exploring the Cherokee Foothills.
Is Nine Times Worth Visiting?
Yes, but understanding what Nine Times is will make the visit much better.
Do not go expecting another Table Rock.
No enormous lodge, famous summit trail beginning beside a visitor center, beach, or campground. There is not even one “Nine Times trail.”
Instead, more than 2,200 acres of protected mountains and forest are divided between two conservation properties. There are granite outcrops, old logging roads, wildflower-covered forest floors, bear habitat, shaded creeks, and trails that can feel remarkably secluded considering how close you are to Highway 11.
There is also history beneath your feet.
Long before anyone called this a nature preserve, people were finding their way through these mountains. The route repeatedly crossed the same little creek, and those nine crossings eventually gave the landscape a name that has survived for generations.
We went expecting a hike.
What interested me more was everything surrounding it: the creek, the conservation story, the two different properties, the wildlife, the old roadbeds, the bench beside the water, the unfortunate glass scattered near the beginning of the trail, and the realization that there was much more land here than we could explore in a single visit.
That may be the best way to approach Nine Times.
Do not think of it as one trail to check off a list. Think of it as another piece of the mountains around Pumpkintown that is worth coming back to explore.
