Iconic Hike
A day at 3,000-acre Table Rock State Park starts at the Visitor Center on the south side of Highway 11. Here, on the banks of 67-acre Lake Oolenoy—stocked with bass, bream, and catfish—staff can answer any questions you may have about the park.
The main part of the park, including all the trailheads, lies directly across Highway 11. Some 12 miles of trails lace these state lands, ranging from an easy 1.9-mile loop around Pinnacle Lake to the challenging 3.6-mile (one way) trek to the top of the granite mass of Table Rock, which the Cherokee believed was used as a dining table by the giant spirit who loomed over these mountains. When you reach the 3,124-foot summit of Table Rock—a hike that requires about two and a half hours—and look down across the breathtaking patchwork of land below, you’ll understand why the Cherokee called this place “Sah-ka-na-ga,” meaning “the Great Hills of God.”
If you’ve got the family in tow, check out the seasonal swimming hole at Lake Pinnacle, where you can relax on the small strip of sand while the little tykes splash in the water; pack a picnic to enjoy at the on-site shelter. Or rent a pedal boat and take a turn around the lake. If you’re feeling ambitious, just across the road lies the head of the Foothills Trail, which stretches 77 miles southwest to Oconee State Park (be sure to register at the trailhead kiosk before setting out on the trail).
Exploring Table Rock State Park is a day well-spent, but if you want to stay longer, lodgings include tent and RV campsites as well as 14 renovated cabins.
158 Ellison Lane, Pickens, SC. southcarolinaparks.com/table-rock
Eat
Aunt Sue’s Country Corner
Two miles east of Table Rock on Highway 11, Aunt Sue’s serves up homestyle Southern cooking at their restaurant and ice cream parlor.
107 Country Creek Dr., Pickens, SC. auntsuescountrycorner.com
Pumpkintown General Store & Café
This historic store-turned-cafe serves up a hearty breakfast, complete with country ham, old-fashioned grits, and giant pancakes. Lunch features what might be the best burger in the 864.
3837 Pumpkintown Hwy., Pickens. @PumpkintownGeneralStore
Upcountry Provisions
A wide variety of tasty sandwiches on house-baked bread—not to mention the terrific brownies—make perfect picnic provisions worth a stop on the way up to Table Rock State Park.
6809 State Park Rd., Travelers Rest, SC. upcountryprovisions.com
Victoria Valley Vineyards
In season, enjoy a panini or a salad on the terrace overlooking the vines at this 47-acre winery off Highway 11.
1360 S Saluda Rd., Cleveland, SC. victoriavalleyvineyards.com
Nearby
Long Shoals Wayside Park
A frolicking little roadside park along Little Eastatoe Creek, Long Shoals lies just off the highway between Table Rock and Keowee-Toxaway state parks. Stop here to enjoy the natural wading pool and rock waterslide—and bring a tube to go faster.
Scenic Hwy. 11, Pickens.
