Small Peak Near Walhalla SC
 PDF Printable Version of Buzzards Roost Hike
Buzzards Roost (el. 1,769 ft) is a small summit that
extends off the edge of the Blue Ridge front just west of Walhalla
SC. The hike to the top is relatively easy though is mostly
uphill so still requires good heart and lungs. However, worthwhile
for children because it is short though keep a hand on them near the
summit - it drops off steeply along the western edge.
Geologically Buzzard's Roost is an anomaly for the area
with its marble outcrops and associated
soil. This provides a unique environment
for plant species including purple cliffbrake, black-stem spleenwort,
and wooly lipfern. Other rare plants include smooth coneflower, bindweed and stoneroot.
Rhododendron
Bloom in June along Summit Ridge of Buzzards Roost
Buzzards Roost
(small summit on left) from SC 28 west of Walhalla
The
hardest part of the hike is getting to the trail head. Starting at
the Oconee County Courthouse in Walhalla (a recently built four-story
brick and glass building on the 200 block of West Main Street), travel
west on SC 28 toward Mountain Rest. The road ascends steeply in
approximately 4 miles and passes Yellow
Branch Picnic grounds (left) and Stumphouse
Tunnel Park (right) in 5 miles (these are worthwhile destinations
themselves). After passing the Sumter National Forest Ranger Station on the right
at 5.6 miles, you come to a 4 way intersection at 6.0. Bear
left. Follow this road 0.7 miles bearing left onto Cassidy Bridge
Road and in 0.9 bear left onto US Forest Service Road 744 (gravel road)
entering into Sumter National Forest. Then 3.1 miles from this intersection bear left onto US
Forest Service Road 7441. Follow this road another 1 mile where
you pass a large green sign on the right with information about Buzzards
Roost. Another 0.1 mile there is a small pull off to the
right at the trail head ( Approximate GPS Coordinates 34º45'59.47"N
83º08'32.77"W ). The trail begins along the right side of
the road and Buzzards Roost is the wooded ridge directly to the right of
the road clearly visible during the winter (no leaves). The road
ends in another 0.2 miles in a circle that can be used to turn around.
sign on right
just before parking pulloff
trail head
Trail Summary (note - trail distances are approximate): The
trail begins by climbing the road embankment and then descends 250 ft
down wooden steps to an intersection with an old woods road. Bear
left as marked by the trail sign.
trail sign at
bottom of steps near
the beginning of the trail.
At 0.20 miles the trail begins to
ascend. At 0.25 miles there is a view toward the southeast (right)
looking
down upon the Piedmont below.
view toward
southeast down toward SC piedmont
At 0.4 miles there is a green arrow
on a tree pointing to the left where the trail turns a corner.
Make a hard left just after the sign and ascend to the summit.
(trail to right is return route for loop)
arrow showing
turn to summit at 0.4 miles
At
0.5 miles you reach the top of Buzzards Roost with good winter views
through the trees in all directions.
view northwest
toward higher mountains of
north georgia and western north carolina
To make a loop out of this hike bear right at the summit
and follow the trail along a narrow ridge line. There are views
toward the west and northwest along the summit ridge. The loop takes a careful eye
because the trail is a little obscure particularly once it climbs off the
ridge and begins to loop back. It eventually connects back to the
main trail at the green arrow at 0.4 miles from the beginning of the
hike.
Another hike in the same are is the Cedar
Creek Falls trail.
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