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It’s no surprise that South Carolina is a treasure trove for rock climbers. Set against the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains, the Palmetto State offers plenty of excitement and challenges to suit the skill levels of every climber. All through Oconee, Pickens, and Greenville counties you’ll find a variety of established boulder routes that come complete with amazing vistas you won’t want to miss. Grab your gear—and your courage—and check out these five cool rock climbing spots in South Carolina.
You’ll have to drive a-ways to this one, but it’s well worth it once you see the views. A multitude of boulder fields dot the inside of the gorges, creating one of the best climbing opportunities in the state. Both the Jedi Boulders and Bearfields are chock full of problems, while the Lighthouse offers about 150 routes. Overall, climbers can expect a combined 1,000 routes in the area. Word to the wise: Rope climbing isn’t just frowned upon, it’s illegal here.
Embark on the Rocky Creek Trail that takes you to dozens of small granite boulders just begging to be climbed. The area is free and open to the public, giving you access to the trail, waterfall, and canoe launch. However, it’s worth mentioning that this isn’t an “official” bouldering spot, despite the many “established” routes. Climb at your own risk, don’t cause a scene, and enjoy the experience.
Park behind the Riverview Park Recreation Center, then follow the disc golf course until you can cross the bridge over the creek. Behind the water treatment plant, head to the wire fence on the right, go through the woods about 100 feet to a trail, then look for the steep access point on a spray-painted rock face to begin your climbing journey. Yes, it’s tucked out of the way, but finding it is part of the fun. There are only a couple climbing routes here, but if you’re looking for a quick afternoon activity, you’re covered.
If you love a good trad climb, Table Rock is your destination. Featuring eight total climbing routes, climbers will love the thrill of climbing the beautiful granite facings at Table Rock. It’s remote, and you’ll find very few (if any) other climbers on your journey, which means you need to be skilled enough to complete your climb solo (help will come too late). However, if you do have the prowess to master Table Rock, you’ll have earned bragging rights and self-respect, neither of which will ever be taken from you.
The perfect fall and winter climbing destination, Big Rock offers over 40 routes and hundreds of boulders to climbers of all skill levels. You’ll need to be prepared for an uphill hike of about 1.5 miles. The views are nothing short of stunning, and make all the work to get here extremely worthwhile.
Alli Hill is a freelance content writer and mom of two. She spends most of her free time exploring the great outdoors by trail or by kayak. She is also the founder and director of FreelanceSpeak, a blog to support other freelance creatives.
