Table Rock State Park sits at the edge of the Blue Ridge Escarpment in Pickens County, and the summit trail is the park’s crown jewel. The hike begins at the Nature Center and climbs steadily through mixed hardwood forest before breaking into open granite slabs near the summit.
The final push to the top requires some hands-and-feet scrambling over exposed rock, but the payoff is a 360-degree panorama that stretches from the Piedmont to the mountains of North Carolina. On clear days you can see for 50 miles in every direction.
The trail is well-marked and well-maintained. Bring plenty of water. The exposed granite sections offer no shade and can be brutally hot in summer. Early morning starts are strongly recommended from June through September.