The trail head is located in Oconee State Park which is located 10.5 miles west of Walhalla SC.  From Walhalla take SC 28 8.1 miles west and then bear right onto SC 107.  The state park is 2 miles further from this intersection on the right. Upon entering the park, bear right at the fork after the gate.  Then stay on the main paved road (toward the left) at the mini golf.  Bear right at the next intersection and within a mile there is a gravel parking lot on the right.  If the lot is full, there is additional parking further up the road.  The trail head is on the left with a large sign for the Foothills Trail.

Tamassee Knob Seen From Piedmont 

The hike to Tamassee Knob is more of a challenge than the 2.1 mile distance would suggest.  It starts out relatively level at approximately 1800 feet on top of the Oconee Mountain (formerely Station Mountain) plateau at Oconee State Park.  After 0.3 miles, the trails passes through a small opening in the woods.  At 0.4 trail it crosses an old roadbed which is now the Palmetto Trail.  Shortly after the Tamassee Knob trail bears right.  Soon the trail begins to descend and thins to a narrow footpath.  After a little more than a mile, the trail drops to the gap at approximately 1400 feet between Tamassee Knob and the Oconee Mountain plateau.  From here the trail climbs to the summit at over 1700 feet.  You know you are at the summit by the Trail Ends Here sign.

Distant View of Tamassee Knob (faint blue blip) from Chimney Top Mtn (el. 4,618) near Cashiers, NC

On clear days enjoy a view toward the North/Northwest into Western North Carolina from a rock just beyond the sign.  Peaks including Satula, near Highlands NC and Whiteside and Chimney Top near Cashiers NC are just visible peaking over the horizon of the Blue Ridge Front.  There are also a few open spots with views toward the east just before you arrive at the summit.

Now that you have received the reward of the view, turn around and trudge your way back down to the gap and then back up the plateau of Oconee Mountain.

Be careful with children along the trail.  It is narrow in several places and a misstep could lead to a twisted ankle or worse a tumble down slope.  Also, when we last hiked it last in September 2007 the trail was in good condition except it was getting a little overgrown toward the last half mile up to the summit.

Other hikes near Oconee State Park include Long Mountain, Hidden Falls, and the Oconee Trail.  A bike ride through Mountain Rest starting at Oconee State Park.

Winter View of Tamassee Knob (on left-distant) and Station Mtn
From SC 107 Overlook Near Walhalla Fish Hatchery