PICKENS — The S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is planning two new hiking trails in the Sassafras Mountain area of Pickens County in conjunction with the Recreational Trails Program, which is administered by the S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism.[cointent_lockedcontent]

Courtesy visitpickenscounty.com
The S.C. Department of Natural Resources will hold a meeting next month to receive public input on a pair of new hiking trails planned in the Sassafras Mountain area of Pickens County.

A public meeting on these two proposed trails will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 8, at the Clemson DNR office, located at 311 Natural Resources Drive.

One proposed trail would be constructed to provide a view of Sassafras Falls, on Abner Creek, about a half-mile below the summit of Sassafras Mountain, the highest peak in the state at 3,583 feet.

Another proposed trail would be constructed from the parking area near the top of Sassafras Mountain to the summit, about 200 feet higher in elevation. The Sassafras Mountain Trail would comply with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA).

DNR is seeking public input, comments and guidance on the two proposed projects. Anyone interested in the proposed trails is welcome to attend the public meeting Feb. 8, where Mark Hall, DNR Jocassee Gorges land manager, will make presentations on the two projects at 10 a.m. The public meeting will be held in conjunction with the quarterly meeting of the Jocassee Gorges Working Group, a multi-agency group that helps provide management guidance for Jocassee Gorges.

For more information on the two proposed trails or the Feb. 8 meeting, call Hall at (864) 868-0281 or e-mail HallM@dnr.sc.gov.

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