Deep in the rugged mountains of South Carolina sits the hardest trail in the state, the Dismal Trail. The name sure is fitting.

The trail drops 1,500 feet into one of the deepest, darkest, yet most beautiful and secluded gorges in the state, before climbing back up nearly 2,000 feet to Raven Cliff Falls, all in the span of 3 miles.

The Trail is part of the larger 10-mile Raven Cliff, Dismal, Naturland Trust Loop at Caesars Head State Park. I have wanted to hike Dismal Trail for a while, ever since I discovered it is harder than Table Rock. Somehow, I roped in my girlfriend, Chloe Terry, to go hike the 10 mile loop with me.

Very early on an cool May morning, Chloe and I made the 2 ½ hour drive to Caesars Head State Park, one of my favorite state parks.

We arrived just as the gates opened to check out the park’s surreal lookout. From on top of a large rock outcropping just a few steps from the parking lot, you can see the sheer 2,000 foot drop to the foothills below. You can make out other landmarks like Paris Mountain and Table Rock from the wide panoramic overlook.

WE DROVE A couple minutes further down the winding highway to the Raven Cliff Parking. We were the first to arrive and after getting our stuff together, we started out on the Raven Cliff Trail. The 2 mile hike to the overlook is a moderate difficulty trail.

Very soon into the trail I realized I had left my trusty hiking sticks and boots at home and that I was in fact in Tennis Shoes. That was a bummer but it wasn’t gonna stop us. We found some dead sticks perfect for hiking and kept on.

The trail followed a mountainside before joining the ridgeline. After 2 miles, we made it to the Raven Cliff Falls overlook. A small shelter with benches and a deck gives a great view of the falls. The 200 foot tall falls sits on the other side of the deep valley below about a mile away. To get to the falls, we would hike Dismal.

After a small snack, we backtracked 0.2 miles to where Dismal Trail splits off from Raven Cliff. A sign posted on the trees warns visitors of how hard the trail was and to only enter if prepared.

The mile trip down involved steep drops and rough switchbacks down into the valley below. The trail just got steeper and steeper, and the forest changes from a relatively open forest to the dense mountain laurel jungle of the wet lower valley. Matthews Creek tumbled down below us. At the bottom, Dismal Trail ended and the Natureland Trust Trail began.

ONE-WAY, THE TRAIL runs for 5 miles to a parking lot and the other way, where we would be heading, the trail climbs 2,000 feet in 1.5 miles to the top of the falls. We were heading back up to the top, but first we wanted to stop for another break. We stopped at the small bridge across the roaring creek. The sound of water falling drowned out everything else leaving us feeling completely alone.

It was time for us to climb back up. The next 2 miles would be the hardest trail either of us had ever done. On the other side of the bridge, a number of small steep steps immediately led away from the creek. We huffed and puffed up the first mile, the trail was ridiculously steep but at least it was easy to follow and there weren’t many obstacles.

After that mile, we were still hugging the gorge wall for the creek below.

We came around a bend and were stunned by a 100 foot tall sheer cliff. Water fell off the cliff in all directions soaking us in a cooling mist as we tried not to slip on the wet ledge we had to get around the cliff on. Thankfully, there wasn’t a sheer drop below us too. I couldn’t help but to be amazed by the beauty of it.

AFTER THE CLIFF, the trail entered the thickest mountain laurel jungle yet. It was no longer a trail, sure it was blazed and a path was clear, but we were on our hands and knees climbing at some points. We had to duck under limbs and follow the rough path as it winded up a steep hill.

At one point we made the best wrong turn of my life. The trail ended at the edge of a cliff right next to the spectacular drop of Raven Cliff Falls. The view was absolutely stunning. We could see the water falling 200 feet before crashing into the rock below and cascading down to darkness.

We turned around and found the trail. After a bit more climbing and a few ladders, yes ladders, we made it to the suspension bridge at the top of Raven Cliff Falls. We had just finished the hardest 3 miles of trail in South Carolina.

From here on out it was a moderate 4 mile hike back to the car. On the other side of the bridge, the trail followed the creek one last time before a comparatively easy climb up to the ridgeline. After a mile of climbing, we made it to Gum Gap Trail. To the left, the trail, part of both the 77-mile Foothills Trail and the Palmetto Trail, continued for 10 miles to Sassafras Mountain but we would be heading to the right.

THE TRAIL WAS actually an old service road and the hiking was very easy going. After 2 miles, we completed our loop and rejoined the Raven Cliff Trail, now all we had to do was the moderate 1.5 miles back to the car. In total we hiked 10 miles in 5 hours. Although it was hard, we had a blast.

After hiking it, we both agreed that Dismal/Naturland was harder than Table Rock, and the hardest trail in the Palmetto State.

If you decide you want to hike it, come prepared, but even if you don’t want to hike all the way to the falls, the 4 mile moderate round trip to Raven Cliff Falls is still worth the drive.

Cole Stilwell is a junior at Gray Collegiate Academy and electronics and social media intern at Lexington County Chronicle/ His World Outdoors appears regularly in the Chronicle and Lake Murray Fish Wrapper.