OverviewSassafras Mountain is the highpoint of South Carolina.
It is located in Pickens County, in the Northwestern part of the state, off of a windy mountain road. Northwestern South Carolina is home to small mountain ranges, and Sassafras Mountain is lucky to get any recognition, since it is right on the border of North Carolina. From the top you can view 6,000' + mountains in the distance.
Getting ThereGet on route 178, accessible from I-85 or any surrounding routeways. You drive to the town of Rocky Bottom, a little before you reach the North Carolina state line. If you see a welcome to North Carolina sign on route 178, you have gone too far. From the South Carolina side, you take a right turn where you see a sign for a school for the blind. This road is also called road 199. You drive for 5 miles up a long hill, and you are almost at the summit. You follow a small paved path the rest of the way. I recommend parking a few miles up and hiking up the rest of the road. We had to do that, because the road was covered in ice when we climbed it.
At the top, you can walk off to the side a little bit and see a decent view of North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains through the trees. The summit is well marked, and there is a summit register.
You can take a short hike through the forest on the Foothills trail from Chimneytown Gap to the summit. For a moderate length approach, you can go about a mile past the turn off to the school for the deaf and blind (i.e. the road to the Sassafras summit. Keep going on hwy 178, and you will see the road cross a small bridge over the Eastatoe river. There is a trail on the right. It is approximately 4.7 miles and 1900 vertical feet to the summit. The trail crosses the mountain road at Chimneytop Gap and again near the summit.
An even longer approach would be reached by driving from South Carolina Highway 11, officially designated the Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway, which turns into 178 eventually. You can also take Highway 11 to Table Rock State Park and take a long hike on the Pinnacle Mountain/Foothills Trails, which go through several miles of mountains and eventually lead to Sassafras Mountain.
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When To Climb
View towards the North Carolina 6000 footers' from the summit. Photo taken by Hellen at:
Hellenspage.com.
You can climb year round, but beware of icy conditions in the winter. The Western Carolinas are known for their ice storms. The road may be icy in winter, but you can park at the bottom of the road, on the side, and you should be alright to hike up the road. If the road is icy, consider hiking the short Foothills Trail route - see the routes to the left of the page.
Red TapeNo permits required. Parking is free.
CampingFor more information on camping, trails, and routes, call
Table Rock State Park (864-878-9813)
NewsSouth Carolina Buys Sassafras Summit
12/24/04: The state now owns South Carolina’s highest peak.
The Natural Resources Department has bought two acres at the top of Sassafras Mountain from Duke Energy for $50,000 earlier this month.
The sale guarantees public access to the 3,560-foot peak in northern Pickens County.
Natural Resources Department director John Frampton said he’s glad the state has been able to protect the site.
All the South Carolina land next to Sassafras’ peak was protected seven years ago in the landmark Jocassee Gorges agreement that protected 32,000 acres. But the top of Sassafras was left out of the $21 million deal.
Utility officials said the peak was not included because of surveying questions that have since been cleared up.
news courtesy of the Highpointers Club
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