I have had zero tire trouble with my fat tire. Until I stupidly said “Hey why don’t we ride up to Jumping Off Rock?”. I think you need tire armor for this one due to the gravel or should I say boulder size on the gravel road. I blew both the front and rear tires! So gear up appropriately, and then come along for a spectacularly crazy (and fun) gravel grinder to one of the most famous overlooks in the Upstate.
How you get there: You can park at the start of Shooting Tree Ridge Road located at 34.972477, -82.860049.
Time for the ride: If you make it the whole way, (and make sure to factor in blown tires), the route is 18 miles out and back. The terrain is progressively more steep. 750 watt carrying a 190lb of person won’t throttle up this route (or make it without extensive pedaling on the part of the rider at max pedal assist). Lighter riders will be able to make it, but make sure the battery is fully charged.
Best season to do the ride: The overlook is a popular spot, and the gravel roads are heavily travelled by cars, motorcycles, and even four wheelers (plus a really worn out looking forest ranger) even in winter. So imagine summer, that’s all I’m saying.
Route to Ride
You start out at the valley floor and the first third of the ride is through pine plantation with wildlife plots interspersed. The road winds back and fourth and gently goes up and down, making for a low effort spectacularly fun ride. You’ll hang a right to stay on the route at the fork. After you pass the dove fields though, the ride begins to increase in difficulty, while still continuing to wind in an entertaining manner. Then later a large campsite is next to the creek crossing (which does have a car bridge as well as a car ford to allow easy crossing with an electric bike). From here the route get steep. Very, very steep. Insanely steep even. You’ll burn battery as the road follows a route clearly built by an impatient dozer driver who didn’t believe in switch backs. In winter spectacular views of the mountains can be seen through leafless trees.
The route crosses a powerline trail, which provides more photogenic photo opportunities, and then finally, after a grueling climb the road reaches the left hand turn onto Horse Pasture Road. Shortly thereafter a parking area, with the trail marked by being blocked by large boulders, appears ahead. If you dismount and go past the boulders you’ll reach the goal of the ride – the spectacular Jumping Off Rock Overlook.
The road
Bridge
Mountain view off the road
Entry to jumping off rock overlook
The Pickens County Legend boulder
Overlook
In sum: While there isn’t a road named after him, there is another large boulder inscribed in honor of a Pickens County Legend located at this overlook.
packgoats 