Caesars Head Overlook

The Drive: Head North on SC Highway 11 "Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway" towards Table Rock State Park. Follow SC 11 past Table Rock approximately 8 miles where it will merge with SC 8 at Pumpkin Town. Follow SC 8 for another 3-4 miles until you see the intersection for SC Highway 276 on the left. A large brown sign will direct you towards the left, and you will follow 276 up the mountain another winding 8-10 miles. At the top you will see Caesar's Head State Park Visitor Center on the left. Park here to view the overlook. 2 miles past this point on the right is the parking lot with the Palmetto Trail, Foothills Trail, and Jones Gap Trail connectors. 

The View: From the Visitor Center parking lot, follow the sidewalk towards the water tower where you will pass a series of bathrooms, and picnic tables. On the left after about 100 feet you will see an "Overlook" sign. Follow that along a wooden walkway to view the stunning panoramic view of the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area, Appalachian Foothills, and Upper Piedmont of South Carolina. Table Rock, Sassafras Mountain, Paris Mountain, and even "The Cathedral" (a large rock outcropping on the trail to Raven Cliff Falls) can be viewed from this perch. 

The Hidden Gem: So above I described the view FROM Caesar's Head, but what about the view OF Caesar's Head? Well, there is a secret stairway down a small rock crevice on the backside of the overlook (pictured above) which will descend down a short (200 ft) spur trail which will wrap around the mountain face and shoot you out at another great viewpoint of the actual rock outcrop from which the state park got its name; Caesar's Head. 

The Endless Possibilities: Caesar's Head Overlook is only the tip of the iceberg. 2 miles down the road from the Visitor Center is another parking lot (directions above) where you can hike for miles and miles, and view to 5 waterfalls, copious wildflowers and blooms during spring, and breathtaking (literally) climbs. You pick your flavor when at the parking lot, with access to 32 different trails from this origin (map pictured above)! Whether you hike to Jones Gap Falls, Rainbow Falls and the Middle Salad River passage, test your skills by descending the Dismal Trail en route to Raven Cliff Falls and the suspension bridge, or complete the spur trail of the Foothills Trail all the way (14.2 miles) to Sassafras mountain, the possibilities are virtually endless, and you have the power to choose. 

So by all means, read this post and then take a hike!