The Nut House is a backyard birding oasis in Clemson. CNPA member Carl Ackerman has spent years developing The Nut House, a custom-built photo blind. The landscaping has been thoughtfully chosen to provide plenty of natural food and cover for a wide variety of bird species. Strategically placed natural-looking perches provide a nice variety of clean backgrounds and there ’s a water feature that has proven to attract birds. In addition to the Nut House, a reflection pond and a new meadow area provide photo opportunities as well.

Equipment: Recommended to have at least a 300mm lens, however, a lens in the 400-600mm is preferred. The birds will be relatively close, from eight to 20 feet away. Also recommended to avoid wearing brightly colored clothing. The Nut House is not heated or cooled so dress accordingly.

Address: 211 Blue Ridge Drive, Clemson, SC

Leave hotel: 15 minutes prior to session start

Limit: 10

Facilities: Yes

Fee: $50

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Reserve Your Friday (Morning) Spot

Reserve Your Friday (Afternoon) Spot

Friday Morning ONLY: 6:30am - 1:00pm

Yellowbranch Falls, Issaqueena Falls, Oconee State Park lake and Whitewater Falls

The trail to Yellowbranch Falls is a moderately difficult 3 mile out-and-back trail that leads to the base of this spectacular 50-foot vertical cascade. Issaqueena Falls is accessible from inside Stumphouse Park, 0.3 mile out and back. It ’s a five-minute walk to the viewing platform from the parking lot. Depending on the foliage this outing may stop at Oconee State Park, where the lake gives opportunities for fall color photos. And finally, Whitewater Falls is the highest waterfall east of the Rockies. The falls plunge 411 feet. This is a 1/2 mile round trip on a paved path.

Equipment: Normal range of lenses, wide angle to telephoto. Polarizing and neutral density filters, tripod, water and snacks.

Leave hotel at 6:30am; driving time 40 min

Address: Highland Hwy, Mountain Rest, SC 29664

Limit: 10

Facilities: Yes

Equipment: Normal range of lenses, wide angle to telephoto. Polarizing and neutral density filters, tripod, water and snacks.

Reserve Your Friday Spot

Friday and Saturday Mornings: 6:30am - 1:00pm

Table Rock State Park (several sites outside and inside park) and the Sign Barn

Table Rock Mountain provides a towering backdrop at the edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The state park features two lakes and several cascades. We ’ll take advantage of several locations outside the park and inside the park to photograph Table Rock, reflections and cascades. No strenuous hiking is involved in this trip. We ’ll conclude with a trip to the Sign Barn, a barn owned by Wayne Madden that features a large collection of advertisement signs posted on its exterior.

Equipment: Normal range of lenses, wide angle to medium telephoto, polarizing filter, graduated neutral density filter, neutral density filter, tripod, snacks, water.

Leave hotel at 6:30am; driving time 45 min

Address: 158 E. Ellison Lane, Pickens, SC 29671

Limit: 10

Facilities: Yes

Fee: $6 adults; $3.75 SC seniors (age 65 & older);unless somebody in your vehicle has a South Carolina State Park Pass

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Reserve Your Saturday Spot

Friday and Saturday Mornings: 7:45am - 11:00am

South Carolina Botanical Garden

The South Carolina Botanical Garden, located on the campus of Clemson University, is a diverse 295-acre garden of natural and manicured landscapes within the South Carolina Piedmont ecosystem. It began as a camellia preserve on a small parcel of land adjacent to John C. Calhoun ’s 19^th century Fort Hill estate and was designated the state ’s botanical garden in 1992. In addition to fall flowers, we could see migrating songbirds

Equipment: Normal range of lenses, wide angle to long telephoto, polarizing filter, graduated neutral density filter, neutral density filter, tripod, snacks, water.

Leave hotel at 7:45am; driving time 5 min

Address: 150 Discovery Lane, Clemson, SC

Limit: 15

Facilities: Yes

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Reserve Your Saturday Spot

Friday/Saturday Mornings: 6:30am - 12:00pm

Conestee Nature Preserve

Leave hotel: 6:30am; driving time 40 min

Address: 840 Mauldin Road, Greenville, SC 29607

Limit: 10

Facilities: Yes

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Reserve Your Saturday Spot

Conestee Nature Preserve is a 640-acre nonprofit owned and operated wildlife sanctuary located just five miles south of downtown Greenville. Conestee Nature Preserve includes over 13 miles of trails and boardwalks and 11 wildlife observation decks. The preserve has been designated by the South Carolina Audubon Society as an Important Bird Area. There have been 226 identified species of birds at the park. In addition to birds and wildlife, the preserve offers possibilities for landscapes as well.

Equipment: Normal range of lenses, wide an Normal range of lenses, wide angle to long telephoto, polarizing filter, graduated neutral density filter, neutral density filter, tripod, snacks, water.

Friday and Saturday: 8:30am - 3:00pm (or 5:30pm with extension)

Lake Jocassee Boat Tour, optional Whitewater Falls

Lake Jocassee is a 9,000-acre, 385-foot deep reservoir created by Duke Power for the purpose of generating hydroelectric power. On this lake tour, you ’ll see why National Geographic declared Lake Jocassee and the Jocassee Gorges one of the world ’s 50 last great places. The highlight of this tour is the waterfalls that are only accessible by boat. Whitewater Falls - Trip Extension. – A 30-minute drive from Devil’s Fork State Park and the Lake Jocassee Boat trip, Upper Whitewater Falls is the highest waterfall east of the Rockies, plunging 411 feet. 1/4 Walk on Paved surface from car park to Falls. For those wanting to venture down there are 154 wooden steps to lower viewing deck.

Equipment: Normal range of lens from wide angle telephoto, polarizing filter, graduated neutral density filter, neutral density filter, tripod, snacks, water. (Tripod not advisable on boat)

Leave hotel at 8:30am; driving time 45 minutes (28 miles)

Address: 161 Holcombe Circle, Salem, SC

Limit: 10

Fee for boat tour: $65

State Park Fee: $8 per person, $5 for seniors. Or free with a State Park Pass per carload.

Facilities: Yes, at Devil ’s Fork Visitors Center. No facilities on the boat, but they ’ll stop for “nature calls.”

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Reserve Your Saturday Spot

Friday Afternoon/Evening : 2:00pm - After Dark

Falls Park/Downtown Greenville

Falls Park on the Reedy is one of Greenville ’s greatest treasures. Located in the city ’s Historic West End, the park features Reedy Falls and the Liberty Bridge. Don ’t forget to photograph the Medusa Tree, which is on the path near the S.C. Governor ’s School for the Arts and Humanities. Downtown Greenville also offers plenty of night photography opportunities.

Equipment: Normal range of lens from wide angle to medium telephoto, polarizing filter, graduated neutral density filter, neutral density filter, tripod, snacks, water.

Leave hotel at 2:00pm; driving time 37 minutes

Address: 300 River Street, Greenville

Limit: 25

Facilities: Yes (at Falls Park)

Reserve Your Friday Spot

Saturday Morning/Afternoon: 6:30am - 3:00pm

Brasstown Falls, Ramsey Creek Falls and river in Chau Ram County Park and optional Riley Moore Falls

Brasstown Falls, which is rated moderate, offers three unique cascades on a 0.3-mile boardwalk trail. Ramsey Creek Falls is located in Chau Ram County Park and is accessible from the parking lot. In addition, the park offers some opportunities to photograph river cascades. Riley Moore Falls is a 1.9-mile out-and-back trail that is generally considered easy to moderate.

Equipment: Normal range of lens from wide angle to medium telephoto, polarizing filter, graduated neutral density filter, neutral density filter, tripod, snacks, water.

Leave hotel at 6:30am; driving time 40 min

Address: Highland Hwy, Mountain Rest, SC 29664

Limit: 10

Facilities: Yes

Reserve Your Saturday Spot

Carolinas' Nature Photographers Association

info@cnpa.org