Big Rock Mountain is a hidden gem of Pickens, SC, and is absolutely gorgeous in the fall. It's one of the smaller mountains in the Appalachian foothills of the Upstate, standing at roughly 1800 feet, but packing a big punch.We stumbled across this place purely by chance. And what a discovery it turned out to be!
Located in the Nine Times Forest just minutes from Pickens, this peak features lots of massive boulders scattered across the mountain sides, very steep trails, and a wild, rugged beauty that defies any expectations of a low mountain. Plus, it's a great and easy-to-reach autumn destination if you're driving from Greenville, SC. Especially, since the foliage season starts later and lasts all the way through mid-November in the Upstate, whereas in neighboring Western North Carolina it's already over by the end of October. What better way to test this theory than to go on a hike and see it with your own eyes?!
The Hike
We hiked the Doug Walker Loop Trail from the Big Rock Climbers parking area. The gravel parking lot with a paved entrance on Big Rock Lake Road and a "P" marked on a post at the entrance.
This is a simply beautiful, short, but VERY steep loop with the views that get better at each stop. To get to the top faster, we turned right at the fork.
And almost immediately, it started as a strenuous uphill hike (albeit a highly scenic one) through dense forest with some tough rocky stretches, steep parts and uneven rock stairs to navigate. Get your hiking boots ready for a short but constant up hill climb.
There are a few areas to push through and some boulders to go over and under on the way up.
Unbelievably beautiful fall colors and the amazing views peeked at us through the trees. And even the scramble up the trail was a lot of fun. But watch out for tree roots and rocks. Fallen leaves make it difficult to see them.
Once you climb up a little you will see a large boulder to your left. We paused here to take in all the expansive, breathtaking views. Honestly, the views from this rocky outcrop were about the same, if not better, as the views from the highest point that we managed to climb. Even though we couldn't reach the very top staying on this trail, the trail didn't disappoint.
After a few more twists and turns on the trail, we came across a vertical rock wall that was blocking our way. As it turned out, this side of the mountain is popular with climbers to ascend to the top and not intended for hikers. Probably less than a few hundred feet from the summit, we had to turn back.
A little to the left from that rocky vertical wall, the trail strewn with massive boulders continued sharply upward. Walking with kids further on out was simply dangerous, so we decided to turn back. Don't be deceived by this picture, it doesn't do any justice to how steep and unapproachable this last stretch of the path actually was.
Still, the hike was amazing and remarkably entertaining the entire way. Beautiful panoramic views throughout the trail. We found many outcrops that provided stunning views of the hills and surrounding area.
We didn't finish the entire trail and still had a great time, enjoying the postcard views and fall beauty all around. It's not the destination, but the journey that matters after all.
On the way to the mountain, you can also visit Hagood Mill Historic Site. Jocassee Gorges is located about 30 minutes northwest of the mountain. TABLE ROCK STATE PARK is another great place not to miss, if you are in the area.
Good to know:
- If you are hiking the Doug Walker Loop Trail, take LEFT at the fork and then turn onto the Big Rock Mtn Summit Trail that will take you to the top.
- The alternative parking for the Big Rock Mtn Summit trail is located at the intersection of Preston McDaniel Rd and Nine Times Rd. You can google both locations.
- If either parking lot is full, please do not park on the road.
- It's open only during daylight hours.
- Absolutely NO camping or fires are allowed.
- The trails are rather underdeveloped, so make sure you have clear directions on hand before the hike.
- At the trailhead, there's a sign recommending hikers to wear "blaze orange" during hunting seasons in April, October, and November. Be safe out there and enjoy the season.
- Visited on 11/11/2023
Big Rock Mountain is one of those off-the-beaten-path places that just rock your world when you discover it, especially if you thought you had seen it all. If you have places like that on your hiking list, please share them in the comments below.
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