Sassafras Mountain: South Carolina's Highest Point

The highest point in South Carolina is Sassafras Mountain, located in Pickens County near the North Carolina border, within the Sumter National Forest (Andrew Pickens Ranger District).

Key Details

• Elevation: 3,560 ft (1,085 m) above sea level (re-surveyed 2019; previously 3,553 ft).
• Coordinates: 35.0632° N, 82.7482° W.
• Access: Paved road (FS Road 4294 / Sassafras Mountain Rd) to summit parking. Short, accessible boardwalk to observation tower.
• Views: 360° panorama: Blue Ridge Escarpment, Table Rock, Caesars Head, Jocassee Gorges, Lake Keowee, and on clear days, the Charlotte skyline (~50 mi).
• Geology: Part of the Blue Ridge Province; metamorphic gneiss/schist. The summit is on the Eastern Continental Divide (Atlantic vs. Gulf drainage).

Nearby High Points

• Pinnacle Mountain (3,425 ft) — adjacent, Table Rock State Park.
• Hickory Nut Mountain (3,483 ft) — NC side, accessible via Foothills Trail.

Sassafras Mountain is a popular, easy-access high point for "highpointers" and leaf-peepers (peak color: mid-October).