Palmetto Trail — Fort Jackson Passage
~2 days · 21.5 mi · easy · Point-to-point
Quick facts
What the Palmetto Trail — Fort Jackson Passage is known for
The Fort Jackson Passage runs about 19 miles across the Fort Jackson U.S. Army installation east of Columbia, following the trail through longleaf pine and wiregrass habitat managed within the active military reservation. Access requires a visitor permit from Fort Jackson, and the flat to gently rolling terrain reflects the sandhills ecology of the central SC Piedmont. Maintained by the Palmetto Conservation Foundation as part of the ~500-mile Palmetto Trail.
Elevation profile
Elevation ranges from 636 ft to 1,506 ft over 21.5 mi. Measured from OSM geometry (approximate).
- Uphill 7.3 mi · 34%
- Downhill 4.9 mi · 23%
- Flat 9.2 mi · 43%
Ridgefold breaks every route into uphill, downhill, and flat — see the full per-day breakdown in the app.
How hard is the Palmetto Trail — Fort Jackson Passage?
On the Ridgefold Difficulty Index, the Palmetto Trail — Fort Jackson Passage scores 7/100, a relative rating across the 1,243 trails we've mapped, blending distance, elevation gain, and steepness. It is a comparison within our set, not an official rating.
Frequently asked questions
How many days does the Palmetto Trail — Fort Jackson Passage take?
Most backpackers hike the Palmetto Trail — Fort Jackson Passage in about 2 days (1 nights out) over its 21.5 miles, though pace varies with fitness and conditions.
How much elevation gain is on the Palmetto Trail — Fort Jackson Passage?
The Palmetto Trail — Fort Jackson Passage climbs roughly 974 ft total — about 45 ft per mile, topping out near 463 ft.
Related trails
Sources & attribution
Route geometry from OpenStreetMap, © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 — source relation. Stats are approximate and may differ from official surveys; permit rules and conditions change — verify with the managing authority before your trip. Last reviewed July 2026.