Sassafras Mountain, South Carolina's loftiest point, is a place near to home yet a place I hadn't visited in a couple years. Located on the NC/SC border a few miles south of the North Carolina community of Rosman, Sassafras Mountain is an easy state high point to visit...if you know where to find it. A paved, albeit steep, road leads up the mountain from the crossroads of Rocky Bottom to within a couple hundred yards of the summit. This is the route I had taken previously. On this late afternoon I was looking for a bit longer walk so I decided to park the car alongside the road about a half-mile below the summit and walk the Foothills Trail to the top. I found a summit that had changed a bit over the previous two years...the 'new' observation deck had undergone a makeover and more clearing had been done near the top, I assume in preparation for the lookout tower that is planned for the near future. It was a quick late-day hike but an enjoyable one...come on along with me to the top of South Carolina...
Trailhead GPS Coordinates: 35.064558, -82.776282
Route Type: Out-and-back Difficulty: EASY
Hike Length: 1.0 miles Hike Duration: 1:00
Trailhead Temp: 55'F Trail Traffic: 10-25 people
Min. Elevation: 3,300' Max. Elevation: 3,553'
Total Vertical Gain: 253' Avg. Elevation Gain / Mile: 253'
Trails Used (blaze color): Foothills Trail (white)