Table Rock Hike Route Map

My hike up Table Rock (South Carolina) as tracked by the Gaia GPS app and depicted a la Google Earth...

Table Rock Hike Route Map

The route map...I'd be following the Table Rock Trail (the red one)...

Table Rock - 3,124'

Table Rock as seen from the entrance road to the park. I had awoken this morning to a thick overcast but it seemed to be clearing enough to justify the hike...

Table Rock Trailhead - 1,200'

There's nothing quite like a spring hike...case-in-point, this beautiful Dogwood welcoming me to the trailhead parking area...

Table Rock Trailhead - 1,200'

This was about the schwankiest trailheads I've ever visited...tons of maps and info, bathrooms, and even a vending machine!!

Table Rock Trailhead - 1,200'

Before heading out a small kiosk asks hikers to register...

Table Rock Trail

Leaving the trailhead, the path crosses Carrick Creek on a large foot bridge...

Carrick Creek Falls

The first half mile or so, the trail follows alongside the creek passing numerous small cascades and waterfalls...

Table Rock Trail

The first section of trail is also paved but, thankfully, it doesn't last long...

Table Rock Trail

I immediately realized this was going to be a great wildflower hike as well...here's a Dwarf Cinquefoil...

Table Rock-Pinnacle Mountain Trail Junction

Less than a half mile in is the first major trail junction. The Pinnacle Mountain Trail (which can also be used to ascend Table Rock, although it's 3-miles longer) breaks left while the Table Rock Trail goes right. The Pinnacle Mountain Trail is also the eastern end of the Foothills Trail which heads west from here, across the upcountry of South Carolina, for around 77-miles...

Table Rock Trail

Some nice foot bridges keep your feet dry when necessary...

Carrick Creek

Another nice cascade above one of the numerous crossings of Carrick Creek...

Table Rock Trail

The stonework on Table Rock Trail is just superb. The original work was done by the CCC back in the 30's and, as is common with their work, the dedication to a job well done shows...

Table Rock Trail

This is the uppermost crossing of Carrick Creek...passing a narrow, slanting, flume above a 30' waterfall...

Table Rock Trail

A good-sized Garter out enjoying the morning sun...

Table Rock-Carrick Creek Trail Junction

Three quarters of a mile in (ish) the Carrick Creek Trail breaks left and heads back down the ridge...

Table Rock Trail

More Dwarf Cinquefoil...

Table Rock Trail

As the trail nears the one mile mark the surrounding terrain becomes punctuated by huge boulders...

Table Rock Trail

The colorful blooms of the Pink Azalea were starting to pop...

Table Rock Trail

Though the trail is a pretty relentless climb, it seemed there were just enough flat sections to keep it from being too tiring...

Table Rock Trail

One mile in...seemed like a long one, probably from all the photo ops...

Table Rock Trail

One of the house-sized boulders the trail winds around in its second mile...

Table Rock Trail

I had ascended about 800' by this point and the surrounding greens were getting noticeably lighter...