You Can See For 75 Miles From The Top Of This South Carolina Mountain That’s A Rare Geologic Formation
Glassy Mountain is located in Greenville County near the small town of Pickens and is a monadnock, which is a type of geologic feature that forms in warm, humid climates, hence, its rarity; it’s found only in the Piedmont region. This unique natural wonder in South Carolina has some of the most incredible views from the top.
A monadnock is an isolated hill of bedrock standing above a lower-lying plain, left as an erosional remnant due to its more resistant rock composition. It was so named by geologists after Mount Monadnock, a solitary mass of rock measuring 3,165 feet high in Monadnock State Park in New Hampshire. Glassy Mountain has an elevation of 2,760 feet above sea level.
The Glassy Mountain name was inspired by the glassy appearance the rockface gets when small springs at the top of the mountain trickle down the bare rock.
The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources acquired the Glassy Mountain Heritage Preserve in 1990, which covers 65 acres. There's a 1.3-mile trail leading to the top.
It's an easy, well-marked hike that works for all ages. It takes approximately half an hour to complete, but there's also parking at the top of the mountain if you'd rather drive up.
South Carolina has been home for AnneMarie since 2001. Her favorite part of the state is Lake Jocassee. An App State alumna, it's always the mountains; the lake bonus makes it heavenly. When not writing about the state, she may be spending time with family, relaxing by the pool, or out somewhere enjoying nature.
