Pickens district, South Carolina, United States

Places to visit near Pickens

Pickens is a town in Pickens district, South Carolina, United States, home to about 3,173 people. Within 50 km by road there are 178 places to visit — 58 hill stations & viewpoints, 46 waterfalls, 36 churches and 7 lakes, dams & reservoirs. The must-see places are Glassy Mountain (6 km), Norton Falls on Lake Glenville (17 km) and Pinnacle Mountain (21 km).

Updated · Distances are road estimates · Open Pickens on the map

Pickens, South Carolina
Pickens, Pickens district, South Carolina, United States. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Pickens at a glance

Location
Pickens district, South Carolina, United States
Population
about 3,173
Coordinates
34.8835° N, 82.7074° W
Places within 50 km
178 (33 must-see)
Best time to visit
October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; July to January, best August to November right after rains for waterfalls; year-round for churches

Top places to visit near Pickens

Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Pickens: must-see places and the closest well-loved spots first. Open a place for photos, today’s visitor status, timings and directions.

More places near Pickens

Things to see near Pickens, by type

Hill stations & viewpoints near Pickens

88 hill stations & viewpoints within 100 km of Pickens. The closest is Cannon Mountain (3 km); the best-known is Glassy Mountain (6 km). Best time: october to february for cool, clear air.

All hill stations & viewpoints in South Carolina →

Waterfalls near Pickens

49 waterfalls within 100 km of Pickens. The closest is Mill Shoals Falls (9 km); the best-known is Norton Falls on Lake Glenville (17 km). Best time: july to january, best august to november right after rains.

All waterfalls in South Carolina →

Churches near Pickens

36 churches within 100 km of Pickens. The closest is Pickens Presbyterian Church (1 km). Best time: year-round.

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Lakes, dams & reservoirs near Pickens

24 lakes, dams & reservoirs within 100 km of Pickens. The closest is Twelve Mile River Watershed Six Reservoir (5 km); the best-known is Saluda Lake (25 km). Best time: august to december when reservoirs are full and gates may open.

All lakes, dams & reservoirs in South Carolina →

Forts & heritage near Pickens

17 forts & heritage within 100 km of Pickens. The closest is Hagood-Mauldin House (1 km). Best time: october to february.

All forts & heritage in South Carolina →

Wildlife, forests & gardens near Pickens

16 wildlife, forests & gardens within 100 km of Pickens. The closest is Table Rock State Park (21 km); the best-known is South Carolina Botanical Garden (32 km). Best time: november to march for sightings.

All wildlife, forests & gardens in South Carolina →

A one-day trip from Pickens

5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 72 km on the road.

  1. Start in Pickens
  2. 1 km Pickens County Museum of Art & History · museum, Pickens
  3. 17 km Norton Falls on Lake Glenville · waterfall, Pickens
  4. 27 km Pinnacle Mountain · viewpoint, Pickens
  5. 21 km Glassy Mountain · viewpoint, Pickens
  6. 6 km Hagood-Mauldin House · heritage site, Pickens
  7. 0 km Back to Pickens

Plan a longer trip from Pickens — the planner adds a place to stay each night and keeps the route to one loop.

From travellers near Pickens

No traveller has reported from around Pickens yet. Been to one of these places recently? Open it and post what you found — is the waterfall flowing, how crowded was the temple, is the beach safe — so the next visitor knows before they drive.

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How to reach Pickens

    All places near Pickens by distance

    Within 15 km of Pickens

    15–50 km — half-day trips

    50–100 km — one-day trips

    Count by type (within 100 km)

    Places near Pickens by type
    TypeWithin 50 kmWithin 100 kmNearest
    Hill stations & viewpoints5888Cannon Mountain (3 km)
    Waterfalls4649Mill Shoals Falls (9 km)
    Churches3636Pickens Presbyterian Church (1 km)
    Lakes, dams & reservoirs724Twelve Mile River Watershed Six Reservoir (5 km)
    Forts & heritage1317Hagood-Mauldin House (1 km)
    Wildlife, forests & gardens716Table Rock State Park (21 km)
    Other attractions510Howard's Rock (32 km)
    Museums44Pickens County Museum of Art & History (1 km)
    Parks12Furman University Bell Tower (31 km)
    Caves11Fatty Crack (22 km)
    Treks01Bartram Trail (87 km)

    Pickens: questions travellers ask

    What are the best places to visit near Pickens?

    Glassy Mountain (viewpoint, about 6 km), Norton Falls on Lake Glenville (waterfall, about 17 km), Hagood-Mauldin House (heritage site, about 1 km), Pickens County Museum of Art & History (museum, about 1 km), Pinnacle Mountain (viewpoint, about 21 km), Pickens Presbyterian Church (church, about 1 km).

    How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Pickens?

    178 places on Spotwander: 58 hill stations & viewpoints, 46 waterfalls, 36 churches, 7 lakes, dams & reservoirs, 13 forts & heritage.

    Which is the nearest viewpoint to Pickens?

    Cannon Mountain, about 3 km by road; Glassy Mountain (6 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest waterfall to Pickens?

    Mill Shoals Falls, about 9 km by road; Adams Creek Falls (13 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest church to Pickens?

    Pickens Presbyterian Church, about 1 km by road; Missionary Baptist Church (2 km) is next.

    What is a good one-day trip from Pickens?

    Start in Pickens, visit Pickens County Museum of Art & History, then Norton Falls on Lake Glenville, then Pinnacle Mountain, then Glassy Mountain, then Hagood-Mauldin House, and drive back — about 72 km by road in all.

    What is the best time to visit places near Pickens?

    October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; July to January, best August to November right after rains for waterfalls; year-round for churches.

    Towns near Pickens

    Sources: places from OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata and GeoNames; Pickens’s location and population from GeoNames; see also Pickens on Wikipedia. Data sources & credits.