Paris Mountain - Altamont Pass

Altamont Pass is part of a continued effort to expand protections and public access for Paris Mountain State Park in Greenville County. Visitation to Paris Mountain has quadrupled since 2020, reflecting both local population growth and the increasing demand for close-to-home outdoor recreation. The park is one of the most accessible and heavily used state parks in South Carolina, serving not only longtime residents but also the rapidly growing communities of Travelers Rest and Greenville. For many families, schools, and community groups, it provides the nearest opportunity to experience mountain trails, natural forests, clean streams, and wildlife within minutes of their homes. Paris Mountain is a defining landscape feature that shapes the identity and quality of life for the Upstate.

Historically, the mountain’s springs and reservoirs supplied Greenville’s early drinking water system, forming the foundation for the city’s growth in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The mountain has long been a retreat and gathering place, connecting generations to the outdoors. Today, its trail network is where local students learn about ecology, where neighbors meet one another, where families come to reconnect, and where visitors from across the region come to hike, bike, and experience nature.

Recently, Paris Mountain made statewide news when a hotel and resort development was proposed adjacent to the park. The county and the City of Travelers Rest ultimately voted down the project, citing Paris Mountain’s importance as an ecological resource and a cherished public destination. However, the pressures that led to the proposal still remain. Just east of these tracts and north of State Park Road, large parcels have been subdivided and have become dense neighborhoods. Even steep and visually prominent slopes have been developed elsewhere on the mountain. With its panoramic potential and direct proximity to the park and city centers, the Altamont Pass property is especially vulnerable to future development pressure.

Protecting this 84-acre tract will prevent fragmentation of the forested ridges surrounding Paris Mountain State Park and safeguard a key wildlife movement corridor for species such as black bear, bobcat, fox, deer, and numerous migratory and resident bird species. Keeping this land intact will maintain the park’s sense of wilderness and quiet, preserve scenic viewsheds seen from foothill communities, and ensure that local wildlife can continue to move freely across the landscape. Forested tracts like this also play a role in watershed protection, helping maintain water quality in the headwaters that eventually feed into the Reedy River system.

This parcel is a top acquisition priority for Paris Mountain State Park, and securing it has been a multi-year effort. We now have the opportunity to protect the largest remaining unprotected parcel adjoining the park, simplifying future stewardship and preventing incompatible development at the park’s boundary. This is a rare and time-sensitive opportunity to build on recent conservation successes and ensure that Paris Mountain remains a natural, connected, and publicly accessible landscape for generations to come. By securing Altamont Pass, we strengthen the ecological resilience of the park, preserve an iconic greenspace at the heart of the Upstate, and protect one of the region’s most treasured and widely used natural resources.