South Carolina’s highest peak and the 29th highest US state summit, 3,554-foot Sassafras Mountain is located in the far northwest portion of South Carolina, on the North Carolina border. With 774 feet of prominence, Sassafras Mountain is only the 7th most prominent peak in South Carolina. Sassafras is a near driveup, and is wheelchair accessible. To reach Sassafras, go to Rosman, NC, and go 6.7 miles south on US 178 to the NC/SC state line. Continue another 3.2 miles on US 178 to the villaqge of Rocky Bottom, SC, and turn left onto the “F. Van Clayton Hwy” that is also labeled “S-39- 199.” This road is paved, but is steep with sharp curves. Go 4.9 miles on local road 199 to the parking lot for the Sassafras summit area.

The Sassafras summit used to be wild, but now there is a summit building with a viewing platform on top of it. The Highpointers Foundation worked with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources to renovate the summit area, and provided some of the funds for this improvement. There is also a boulder with a plaque on it to mark the actual highpoint. The summit elevation was reduced a little when the summit area was scoured for the building, but Sassafras is still the highest peak in SC. The summit building is a 120 yard walk from the summit parking lot. With the improvements, this summit sees more visitors now. The views from the viewing platform are expansive in all directions.

There is also the Foothills Trail to the top that starts at Chimneytop Gap at 2,420 feet. The round trip distance is about 5 miles, and the elevation gain is about 1,700 feet.