Overview
Sassafras Mountain is the highpoint of South Carolina. USGS maps put it at 3560 feet, but a recent South Carolina Geological Survey assessment downgraded to 3533 feet, mostly due to grading that lowered the natural height. That still puts it at least 50' higher than nearby Hickerynut Mountain (3,483').Sassafras Mountain 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.
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Getting There
Get 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. More recently, there is a deck and overlook located off the west side of the parking lot with nice views of the foothills in the area.
You can take a short hike through the forest on the Foothills trail from Chimneytop 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 round trip 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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For more information, please see the links section
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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 Tape
No permits required. Parking is free.Camping
For more information on camping, trails, and routes, callTable Rock State Park (864-878-9813)
External Links
- Table Rock State Park
Map of the Pinnacle Mountain/Foothills trails that lead to Sassafras Mountain
- Bob Smith's SP page on nearby Pinnacle Mountain
Bob Smith's wonderful SummitPost page on nearby Pinnacle Mountain.
- Bob Smith's SP page on Table Rock Mountain.
Bob Smith's wonderful SummitPost page on nearby Table Rock Mountain.
- Update from 9/18/2012 on progress towards new observation tower.
- South Carolina Mountain photos
Hellenspage.com, a site by an excellent amateur photographer, with photos of South Carolina mountains with captions.
Additions and Corrections
[ Post an Addition or Correction ]
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| jeff mabry | Untitled Comment | |
Hasn't voted | Sassafras mountain can be hiked on the foothills trail from hwy 178 , 1 mile past the deaf and blind school. As the road crosses a small bridge over the Eastatoe river you will see the 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. If you want to really hike it this is the way to go. | |
| Posted Feb 12, 2006 4:58 pm | ||
| hgrapid | Untitled Comment | |
Hasn't voted | Thank you. Added. | |
| Posted Feb 12, 2006 9:17 pm | ||
| cll41059 | Chimneytop Gap Trail | |
Hasn't voted | First of all, it's listed once as Chimneytown which isn't correct. Also, it says 4.7 miles to the summit. It's 4.7 miles round trip. I think people may opt to drive to the top instead of hike if they think they have a 9.4 hike ahead of them rather than 4.7. | |
| Posted Feb 17, 2013 8:26 am | ||
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