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| Elevation: | 1,793 ft | 547 m |
| GPS: |
34.95749, -82.79015 Google Map · Climbing Area Map |
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| Page Views: | 186,778 total · 2,082/month | |
| Shared By: | Tom Caldwell on Sep 11, 2017 · Updates | |
| Admins: | Tom Caldwell, Steve Lineberry |
Access Issue: Neighborhood Parking
Details
Please be mindful of the neighbors on Big Rock Lake Road. Do not park along the road, generate excessive noise in the parking lot or at the cliff, or camp out. If the parking is full, use the spot at the intersection of Preston McDaniel and Nine Times Roads. This is a neighborhood, drive slow and be courteous. Violating one of these rules is an easy way to get the cliff shutdown for everyone.
The Warmest Spot in South Carolina
vimeo.com/207048710
Big Rock has a large variety of bouldering and rope climbing. The area is reminiscent of a little Joshua Tree with small formations protruding everywhere. The climbing is SE to SW, making it a great winter destination. In the warmer months, the area is a jungle infested with things that want to bite and sting you. Most of the formations are separated from the cliff line, which allows water to flow around them. This means that the area dries almost immediately after the rain stops.
This is a day use only area. No camping or lingering in the parking lot. The new lot is located in the neighborhood. Be mindful of the surrounding neighbors. Do not park along the road. If the lot is full, go to the intersection of Preston McDaniel and Nine Times Road and use the old trail head. Practice leave no trace ethics as Big Rock can be a busy location.
The rock here is granite of varying degrees of quality. Some of the starts can be a little more flakey. The climbs will likely clean up with time. Most of the climbing here has already been established. Please consult with someone from the CCC or one of the listed first ascensionists before adding hardware. This isn't to discourage development, but more of a reaction to unknown individuals adding hardware in bad locations or poor rock quality.
Big Rock has a large variety of bouldering and rope climbing. The area is reminiscent of a little Joshua Tree with small formations protruding everywhere. The climbing is SE to SW, making it a great winter destination. In the warmer months, the area is a jungle infested with things that want to bite and sting you. Most of the formations are separated from the cliff line, which allows water to flow around them. This means that the area dries almost immediately after the rain stops.
This is a day use only area. No camping or lingering in the parking lot. The new lot is located in the neighborhood. Be mindful of the surrounding neighbors. Do not park along the road. If the lot is full, go to the intersection of Preston McDaniel and Nine Times Road and use the old trail head. Practice leave no trace ethics as Big Rock can be a busy location.
The rock here is granite of varying degrees of quality. Some of the starts can be a little more flakey. The climbs will likely clean up with time. Most of the climbing here has already been established. Please consult with someone from the CCC or one of the listed first ascensionists before adding hardware. This isn't to discourage development, but more of a reaction to unknown individuals adding hardware in bad locations or poor rock quality.
Getting There
Main Parking
Directions:
Parking is the gravel parking lot on Big Rock Lake Road, Pickens, SC. It is labeled with a "P" on a post on the road. The lot was built by Naturaland Trust with the help of the Carolina Climbers Coalition through a REI grant. Follow the trails from the lot to the cliff and the boulders.
Access notes:
Only use the existing trail system. Camping is not allowed. No alcoholic beverages. Please be respectful of local residents - keep a low profile in the parking lot, keep the noise down and drive slowly on the road. Do not turn into driveways of nearby homes to turn around.
The trail going up to the X-Wall (right fork) was constructed by a group of volunteers October 2017 at a trail day hosted by the Carolina Climbers Coalition. It still needs some work. The left trail has been rerouted and built by CCC volunteers and the C4 Team in 2020. The main lot is in a neighborhood and comes with some special considerations. Please be mindful of the neighbors and do not park overnight, linger in the parking lot, cause excessive noise, speed, or park along the road if the lot is full. If the lot is full, you must use the Alternative Parking area. 0.25 miles.
Alternative Parking
If you discover that the Main Parking lot is full, exit the neighborhood and drive to the intersection of Preston McDaniel Road and Nine Times Road. Here there is a gravel parking lot and a large grassy lot. Walk across the street from the gravel lot to a log railing. Follow the logging road 200' until it turns left, stay straight instead aiming for a set of tracks made by an earth mover just right of the power lines. Follow the tracks up the hill until you reach the saddle and turn right. Continue for another 100 yards until the trail turns left and goes steeply up the hill. Follow this until you reach the ridge line and turn right on another old logging road. Follow this until you are intersected with another logging road on the right, turn here and immediately turn left on a low angled slab. Follow this for 200' and you'll be at the left shoulder of Big Rock near the Inversion Wall. ~1.25 miles
Directions:
Parking is the gravel parking lot on Big Rock Lake Road, Pickens, SC. It is labeled with a "P" on a post on the road. The lot was built by Naturaland Trust with the help of the Carolina Climbers Coalition through a REI grant. Follow the trails from the lot to the cliff and the boulders.
Access notes:
Only use the existing trail system. Camping is not allowed. No alcoholic beverages. Please be respectful of local residents - keep a low profile in the parking lot, keep the noise down and drive slowly on the road. Do not turn into driveways of nearby homes to turn around.
The trail going up to the X-Wall (right fork) was constructed by a group of volunteers October 2017 at a trail day hosted by the Carolina Climbers Coalition. It still needs some work. The left trail has been rerouted and built by CCC volunteers and the C4 Team in 2020. The main lot is in a neighborhood and comes with some special considerations. Please be mindful of the neighbors and do not park overnight, linger in the parking lot, cause excessive noise, speed, or park along the road if the lot is full. If the lot is full, you must use the Alternative Parking area. 0.25 miles.
Alternative Parking
If you discover that the Main Parking lot is full, exit the neighborhood and drive to the intersection of Preston McDaniel Road and Nine Times Road. Here there is a gravel parking lot and a large grassy lot. Walk across the street from the gravel lot to a log railing. Follow the logging road 200' until it turns left, stay straight instead aiming for a set of tracks made by an earth mover just right of the power lines. Follow the tracks up the hill until you reach the saddle and turn right. Continue for another 100 yards until the trail turns left and goes steeply up the hill. Follow this until you reach the ridge line and turn right on another old logging road. Follow this until you are intersected with another logging road on the right, turn here and immediately turn left on a low angled slab. Follow this for 200' and you'll be at the left shoulder of Big Rock near the Inversion Wall. ~1.25 miles
Classic Climbing Routes at Big Rock Mountain
Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
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