We hiked Table Rock State Park and thought it was the most scenic place
we’ve seen in South Carolina.
Table Rock State Park is a 3000+ acre park in northwest South Carolina on the edge of the Blue
Ridge Mountains. The Cherokees named the mountain, believing the
spirit sat on the lower Stool Mountain and ate at the taller Table Mountain.
After a 1785 treaty with the Cherokees, Europeans settled in the area and the
land later became a recreational destination. In the 1930s the Civilian
Conservation Corps built a dam, buildings, roads and trails. The visitor center
sits on a lake overlooking Table Rock.
We appreciated the artwork
there: an outside mural, a matching quilt over the fireplace, stained glass,
and a fantastic painting behind the welcome desk that looked like a photograph
of one of the cascading streams. (We wish we took a picture of it.) The ranger
said they seasonally have an Artist in Residence.
We got some helpful hiking
recommendations and checked out our plan on the topographical map.
We drove to the other side
of the lakes to the trailhead. We hiked together at first – Barbara following
the green 1.9mi Carrick Creek Trail, and Bill following the red Table Rock
Trail which climbs up to the top of Table Rock. He also followed the rest of
the green trail on the way back. We loved the sights and sounds as the first
part of the trail follows a cascading stream.
Then Bill headed up to the
summit of Table Rock. This 3.5mi trail (7 miles there and back) climbs about
2000ft in elevation. Bill chatted with some hikers along the way including a NJ
woman who squeezed in the hike during a business trip in Charlotte. There were several overlooks near
the top, all with spectacular views.
In the meantime, Barbara
hiked the remainder of the Carrick Creek Trail, which included a connector
trail and then another section that followed a cascading stream. Barbara found
this trail delightful.
Bill later followed the same
trail. We both loved our day at Table Rock.
