![Table Rock Mountain - Pickens County SC - Julia's Simply Southern](juliassimplysouthern.comwp-content/uploads/2017/06/20170625_115725-1.jpg)
On my most recent weekend adventure, we made a visit to Table Rock State Park. The park is a beautiful natural area located in the mountain region of South Carolina in Pickens County.
Table Rock is known for the famous mountain face, shown above. There are lots of activities to enjoy within the park that include an old fashioned swimming hole and hiking trails. There are also cabins available for rent within the park and camping areas.
![Lake for swimming in Table Rock state park](https://juliassimplysouthern.com/wp-content/uploads/1-Water-Lake.jpg.webp)
The park is also home to numerous waterfalls. Many of these falls are found on the Carrick Creek loop trail. The Carrick Creek trail hike takes an hour to complete and is beautiful all along your hike. The trail is moderately strenuous as there are many uphill walking elevations and some areas where you have to walk across rocks over the creek. I can tell you, I’m not a hiker and it wasn’t bad at all. The beautiful scenery makes it well worth the effort.
![Wooden deck walking path to trail in Table Rock state park in Pickens country South Carolina - hiking](https://juliassimplysouthern.com/wp-content/uploads/4-Water-deck-walk.jpg.webp)
![Table Rock Nature Center - Julia's Simply Southern](juliassimplysouthern.comwp-content/uploads/2017/06/20170625_122156-1.jpg)
Be sure to stop and register at the nature center before you hike. It is always a good idea to hike with someone or a group.
![Walking trail - explore SC](https://juliassimplysouthern.com/wp-content/uploads/5-WF-Pathway-Explore-SC.jpg.webp)
Table Rock State Park
![Waterfall on Carrick Creek loop trail - Table Rock - SC hiking](https://juliassimplysouthern.com/wp-content/uploads/6-WF-Carrick-Creek.jpg.webp)
![You begin your hike at an elevation of 1,160 feet at the Nature Center, and rise to 1,520 feet with numerous views of cascading waterfalls as you pass through a forest that includes a dominant oak-hickory forest - beautiful](https://juliassimplysouthern.com/wp-content/uploads/7-wf.jpg.webp)
![Beautiful waterfall - hiking in South Carolina - nature - outdoors - travel](https://juliassimplysouthern.com/wp-content/uploads/8-wf.jpg.webp)
![family activities in upstate SC](https://juliassimplysouthern.com/wp-content/uploads/9-wf.jpg.webp)
![Interesting waterfall trail in Table Rock - Carrick Creek - SC travel - fun outdoors](https://juliassimplysouthern.com/wp-content/uploads/10-wf.jpg.webp)
![View of water flowing over rocks](https://juliassimplysouthern.com/wp-content/uploads/11-wf.jpg.webp)
![Beautiful cascading waterfall in Blue Ridge Mountains](https://juliassimplysouthern.com/wp-content/uploads/13-wf.jpg.webp)
![Small waterfall in Table Rock - South Carolina state parks](https://juliassimplysouthern.com/wp-content/uploads/16-wf.jpg.webp)
![River in South Carolina mountains](https://juliassimplysouthern.com/wp-content/uploads/17-wf.jpg.webp)
![Stone steps on Carrick Creek trail - one hour hike in SC](https://juliassimplysouthern.com/wp-content/uploads/3-waterfall-steps-path.jpg.webp)
South Carolina State Parks
Sadly there were also reminders of the wildfires that swept through the area in 2016. Nature has a wonderful way of re-building itself and you couldn’t help but notice the healing and re-growth of these areas as well.
![Remnants of SC wild fires](https://juliassimplysouthern.com/wp-content/uploads/19-wf-burned-tree-SC-forest-fires.jpg.webp)
The entire park is full of natural beauty. As often as we visit this state park there is always so much to take in from the beautiful waterfalls, nature and changing scenery with each season.
![Trees that were burned in South Carolina wild fires](https://juliassimplysouthern.com/wp-content/uploads/20-wf-SC-wildfires.jpg.webp)
![](https://juliassimplysouthern.com/wp-content/uploads/21-wf-Wild-fires-in-South-Carolina.jpg.webp)
![Interesting tree along nature hike](https://juliassimplysouthern.com/wp-content/uploads/21-wf-tree-on-walking-and-hiking-trail.jpg.webp)
The entire Blue Ridge mountain region of upstate South Carolina has so many options for outdoor activities.
![](https://juliassimplysouthern.com/wp-content/uploads/22-wf-nature-hike-in-South-Carolina.jpg.webp)
![Visit Table Rock in Pickens SC](https://juliassimplysouthern.com/wp-content/uploads/23-wf-small-waterfall-and-swimming-hole-in-Table-Rock-state-park-Explore-SC-in-Pickens-county.jpg.webp)
![](https://juliassimplysouthern.com/wp-content/uploads/South-Carolina-state-parks-Table-Rock-Mountains-Forests-Waterfalls-Beautiful-outdoors-hiking-Julias-Simply-Southern.jpg.webp)
Meet Julia
Author of Julia's Simply Southern
About Julia
Hey Y'all! I'm Julia, the cook and writer behind the recipes here at Julia's Simply Southern. I began my website so that I could share easy to follow recipes that anyone can use to put a home cooked meal on the dinner table. Thanks so much for stopping by!
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Big Rigs 'n Lil' Cookies
Tuesday 4th of July 2017
Beautiful! Making this a destination next time we are in South Carolina!
Nikki
Tuesday 27th of June 2017
Such a beautiful and peaceful place!Thank you for sharing!
Julia
Wednesday 28th of June 2017
You're welcome Nikki! It really is so beautiful and peaceful.