TrailFinder
Pickens, South Carolina

Table Rock Mountain

A steep, rocky climb to South Carolina's most famous rock pinnacle.

Difficulty
Hard
Length
4.8 mi
Elevation Gain
2,000 ft
Duration
3–5
Best Season
Oct–Apr
Permit
Not required
Dogs
Allowed
Features
Pinnacle summit, Lake Keowee views

About the trail

Table Rock rises 3,124 feet above Lake Keowee on a sheer quartzite face, and the trail up is all climb. The Table Rock Trail switchbacks through pine and hardwood forest, then turns rocky and steep as it nears the summit dome. At the top, a short scramble puts you on the flat rock that gives the mountain its name, with the Piedmont falling away to the east.

Trailhead map & directions

Trailhead: 34.8306, -82.7695Get directions →

Turn-by-turn route

  1. Start at the Table Rock State Park trailhead off SC-11.
  2. Climb the Table Rock Trail through pine forest and rhododendron coves.
  3. Keep left at the Big Easy Trail junction to stay on the main line.
  4. Push up the rocky final pitch to the summit dome and short scramble.
  5. Return via the same trail, or loop the Big Easy Trail. Total: 4.8 miles.

Parking

Table Rock State Park trailhead lot off SC-11 — day-use fee applies, and it fills by 10 a.m. on weekends.

Tips from the trail

  • The summit is exposed — turn back if thunder rumbles.
  • Heat and humidity make summer climbs miserable; hike October through April.
  • The final scramble is short but has real exposure.
  • Rattlesnakes are present in the rocky upper section.