Sassafras Mountain, known as the “Roof of the Palmetto State,” is the highest point in South Carolina, reaching an elevation of 3,533 feet above sea level.
Our hike to the summit begins at the Chimneytop Gap Trailhead and follows a scenic 2.1-mile route to the top of Sassafras Mountain. From the summit, hikers are rewarded with panoramic views that stretch across the landscape, revealing distant peaks as high as 6,000 feet.
Geologically, Sassafras Mountain is part of the inner Piedmont belt and represents millions of years of tectonic activity. It is believed to be a fragment of continental crust that became attached—or possibly reattached—to North America during the Middle Ordovician period, an event known as the Taconic Orogeny. This ancient mountain-building episode shaped the region’s rugged terrain, triggering stream erosion that carved the dramatic gorges and waterfalls found throughout the area today.
Your attention, please…
Half of the SC7 team will begin the hike from the Chimneytop Gap Trailhead. Participants who have their own transportation arranged for the return trip are welcome to start from this location as well.
The other half of the team will park and begin their hike at the Sassafras Overlook (on Sassafras Mountain Road), descending the trail to meet the group coming up from Chimneytop Gap. Once the teams connect, everyone will hike back up to the Sassafras summit together, completing the route with a shared final ascent.
Honorary Team for the Day
