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Places We Protect

Blue Wall Preserve

South Carolina

A wide body of water with trees lining its shore and mountains in the background.
South Carolina Blue Wall Preserve © Cara Chancellor/TNC

This area was originally inhabited by Cherokee Indians, who called the Blue Ridge Mountains the “Blue Wall.”

Viewing

Overview

Description

Look up from the base of Hogback Mountain in The Nature Conservancy’s Blue Wall Preserve, and you’ll quickly see how the preserve got its name. The sharp, 1,400-foot elevation rise of the Southern Blue Ridge Escarpment is on full display in this 575-acre preserve near Landrum, S.C. TNC has owned the preserve since 1997 and maintains several hiking trails on the property.

Blue Wall Preserve is part of a mosaic of protected lands that cover about 22,000 acres within the Blue Ridge Escarpment of the Southern Appalachians. These conserved lands provide clean drinking water, outdoor recreation opportunities and critical habitat for wildlife. 

The Nature Conservancy is grateful to the Duke Energy Water Resources Fund for supporting road repairs at Blue Wall that improve water quality and benefit people and nature.

Access

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Serene ponds and creeks, graceful cascades and a portion of the Palmetto Trail.

Size

575 acres and part of a mosaic of protected lands that cover about 22,000 acres within the Blue Ridge Escarpment of the Southern Appalachians.

Explore our work in South Carolina

Water flows down a flattened boulder surrounded by greenery.
Cascade views Water flows down a cascade viewable from the main trail. © Cara Chancellor/TNC
A wooden boardwalk goes straight throught the forest with greenery surrounding.
Hiking trails A boardwalk leads through the woods at Blue Wall Preserve. © Bill Robertson
Cascade views Water flows down a cascade viewable from the main trail. © Cara Chancellor/TNC
Hiking trails A boardwalk leads through the woods at Blue Wall Preserve. © Bill Robertson

Life at Blue Wall

The preserve has a variety of natural plant communities, including hardwood uplands, Virginia pine succession forest stands, saturated southern shrublands and open-water lakes. Blue Wall’s waters are home to many diverse fish species, including seagreen darter and rosyside dace.

With its abrupt rise in elevation and abundant rainfall, the Southern Blue Ridge Escarpment is one of the most ecologically important areas in the eastern U.S. -- especially for migrating birds.

A Wildlife Paradise

Blue Wall is home to resident and migratory birds and rare amphibians and fish.

Seagreen darter A rare freshwater fish. © TNC
Blue-headed vireo A winter migrant to South Carolina. © A. Drauglis
Red-eyed vireo A summer resident in South Carolina forests. © Greg Schechter
Broad-winged hawk This raptor breeds in South Carolina during the spring and summer. © Jason Major
Rosyside dace A rare freshwater fish. © TNC
Scarlett tanager This bird breeds in the Upstate of South Carolina. © Matt Williams
Red eft Juvenile stage of the Eastern Newt. © Ryan Thackray

The preserve was designated as an Important Bird Area by the Audubon Society. More than 100 different bird species have been observed on the preserve, including:

  • Acadian flycatcher,
  • black-throated blue warbler, 
  • yellow-rumped warbler, 
  • worm-eating warbler, 
  • Louisiana waterthrush, 
  • hooded warbler, 
  • rose-breasted grosbeak
Aerial Shot of Blue Wall Preserve, including two large blue-tinted mountains rising above green hills.
Andrew Kornylak Aerial Shot of Blue Wall Preserve, South Carolina. © Andrew Kornylak
A steep boulder is covered with fall leaves as a stream rushes down its slope.
Lanny’s Cascade Lenny's Cascade at Blue Wall Preserve, South Carolina. © Andrew Kornylak

Lanny's Lasting Impact

The peaceful cascade near the preserve’s entrance has been dedicated to one of our most passionate supporters, Lanny Webster, by her family. Lanny was a conservationist, served for many years on TNC’s board and was a pillar of the Greenville community. Her commitment to protecting South Carolina’s special places has lasting impact—creating a world where people and nature thrive together. 

We know we can do something about what’s in our backyard, what’s up the road, what’s down the hill. That’s what The Nature Conservancy is all about.
Lanny Webster
A brown hiking trail marker designates a dirt path as part of the Palmetto Trail.
Linking Lands A segment of the Palmetto trail that runs through TNC’s Blue Wall Preserve. © Cara Chancellor/TNC

Connecting South Carolina

TNC helps maintain trails for public enjoyment in partnership with the Palmetto Conservation Foundation (PCF). The PCF has established a part of the Palmetto Trail crossing South Carolina on the Blue Wall Preserve. The trail runs through Blue Wall and onto Vaughn’s Gap, and to more public lands at Poinsett Bridge Heritage Preserve.

Blue Wall Preserve is a connector along the cross-state Palmetto Trail. Starting in Stumphouse and winding all the way to the coast, trail visitors can hike and bike paths beside lakes, across mountain ridges, through forests, into towns big and small, and across swamps.

We are working on eradicating invasive plant species on the Blue Wall Preserve, including Chinese privet, kudzu, multiflora rose, English ivy, princess tree and Tree of Heaven.

A wispy white flower rises from verdant greenery.
Beautiful wild flowers Queen Anne’s Lace blooms in the summer time. © Cara Chancellor/TNC
A dark green bloom perches on three dappled green leaves, popping through brown winter ground.
Unique native plants Trillium blooms in early spring near Vaughn’s Creek. © Ryan Thackray
Beautiful wild flowers Queen Anne’s Lace blooms in the summer time. © Cara Chancellor/TNC
Unique native plants Trillium blooms in early spring near Vaughn’s Creek. © Ryan Thackray

The preserve is located in northeast Greenville County near Lake Lanier and minutes from Chestnut Ridge Heritage Preserve.

Trails

  • Palmetto Trail at Blue Wall: Enjoy a 2.7-mile easy one-way hike along the Blue Wall Passage of the Palmetto Trail. Those wishing to continue on the Palmetto Trail to Vaughn’s Gap will encounter a more strenuous 1.5-mile hike upon leaving the Blue Wall Preserve. 

  • Waterfall Trail: 1 mile up the Palmetto Trail from the Pennell Rd. parking area, hikers have the opportunity to take a 0.7-mile hike around the north side of the pond for a nice view of a waterfall. This trail joins back up with the Palmetto Trail at the south end of the pond.

Preserve Guidelines

The public is invited to enjoy the preserve during the daylight hours. While at the preserve, we ask you to please respect the site and follow these guidelines:

  • Stay on designated trails

  • Keep pets on a leash and clean up after them

  • No camping, fires or cookouts

  • No bicycling

  • No use of motorized vehicles

  • Dispose of all trash (no dumping)

  • Do not disturb wildlife or plants

  • No drug or alcohol use

  • No horseback riding

Parking

Ample parking is available at the parking area located on Pennell Rd. Please be advised that the next parking area available for the Palmetto Trail access is about 10 miles away.

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