Last week I took an unplanned trip to North Carolina followed by South Carolina. One of the highlights of the trip was hiking in Table Rock State Park.

Located in the Pickens county of South Carolina Table Rock State Park is a part of Blue Ridge Mountains, a province of the Appalachian mountains. I was excited about Table Rock for it was an opportunity to see the hills and the mountains, the very aspect that is distinctive of my birthplace, Nepal. So, whenever I get an opportunity to visit a state with mountains I jump right into it.

Most of the hiking trails started near the Carrick Creek falls. So did ours, the Table Rock Trails. There were four people in my party. As we started our hike we could see children splashing in the Carrick Creek falls and families resting on the deck by the fall. If you have time and bathing suit you can take a plunge into the water right there.

Hiking up the Table Rock Trail wasn’t easy for me. The further I went the more I realized the trail was more strenuous than I anticipated. I took break often as the uphill trail made me break sweat and my heart rate increased outrageously! Nevertheless, I couldn’t help but indulge in the nature around me. Tall trees forming bright green canopy provided enough shade. Big boulders along the way made perfect spot to climb up and rest. Small creeks curated the typical forest ambience.

After almost two hours we reached a viewpoint that overlooked the park. Finally, there was a sight to behold. We could see dense forest bed with a lake on one end and a meadow on the other, the hills and blue ridges (Thus, the name Blue Ridge Mountains.) as far as our eyes could see.

By that time we were starving, and very low on drinking water. Some hikers informed us that trail ahead was rugged, top of the trail was still a little over an hour away and suggested not to continue if low on water. We took the suggestion, and headed back to the trail head.

When we arrived back at the trail head we took a moment to cool off in the Carrick Creek Fall. The cold water from the creek was an absolute relief. There were some rhododendrons around the creek. In Nepal, there are usually red/magenta rhododendron, which also happens to be the national flower of Nepal. The white rhododendrons in Table Rock were truly a visual treat specially when you haven’t seen them in years.

If you are planning to stay in the park there are camping and lodging facilities available. Table Rock State Park is a spectacular place for outdoor enthusiasts. The hike was an amazing experience to witness the natural beauty of South Carolina. Coincidentally, it happened to be on June 21. I couldn’t have imagined a better way to celebrate summer solstice.