South Carolina Climbers Fest 2026

South Carolina Climbers Festival Presented by Fox Mountain Guides

Join us for the annual South Carolina Climbers Festival, a weekend dedicated to celebrating climbing, building community, and protecting the places we love in SC.

All proceeds directly support local stewardship efforts, helping to maintain and improve climbing and hiking access for generations to come.

South Carolina Climbers Festival is made possible with support from Pickens County

What to Expect:

• Community Climbing at Big Rock and Table Rock State Park. 

• Educational clinics*

• Guided Climbing Experiences*

• Vendor village featuring local businesses

• Food and drink

• Evening gathering with films from the Climbing Film Tour

• Fundraising raffle packed with great prizes

Registration Includes:

• Camping at Hagood Mill Historic Site Friday (11/13) and Saturday (11/14) nights

• Access to Saturday evening festivities at Hagood Mill including vendor village, food, drink, raffle, films 

• 2026 SC Climbers Festival t-shirt (must sign up by 10/25 to be guaranteed a t-shirt) 

• Access to community climbing at Big Rock and Table Rock State Park

• Access to climber education clinics and guided experiences (see info below on clinics)*

Clinics

Local guide services will host clinics at this year's event. See info and sign up for clinics by following the links below.

Fox Mountain Guides:

Big Rock Classics Clinic - Sign Up Here 

Climber Self-Rescue Clinic - Sign Up Here

Appalachian Climbing School:

Elevate Your Multi-Pitch Skills: 2-Day Trad & Follower Clinic - Sign Up Here

Women’s Outdoor Top-Rope Systems: 1-Day Anchor Clinic - Sign Up Here

Issues registering for a clinic? Contact Alycia at aandrade@carolinaclimbers.org

South Carolina Climbers Festival 2026 Schedule

Draft Schedule

Hagood Mill Historic Site (129 Hagood Mill Rd, Pickens, SC 29671)
November 13 - 15, 2026

Friday, November 13: Arrival & Annual Public Meeting

5:00 PM – Hagood Mill Historic Site opens for attendees camping

7 - 8:30 PM – CCC Annual Public Meeting at Hagood Mill Pavilion
 

Saturday, November 14: Stewardship, Climbing & Celebration

8:00–9:00 AM – Check-in & breakfast at Hagood Mill Pavilion (CCC will provide coffee and carbs - no hot breakfast) 

9:30 AM– 4:30 PM – Stewardship project at Big Rock followed by community climbing. Community Climbing at Table Rock State Park. 

Climbing clinics and guided experiences with Fox Mountain Guides and Appalachian Climbing School (check with your provider for specific location and time)

5:30 – 9:30 PM – Vendor Village open at Hagood Mill Pavilion.

5:30 - 8:30 PM –  Haulin’ Hops selling Double Stamp beer

6 PM - 8 PM  –  We Got the Beets food truck selling dinner
6:45 PM – Evening slideshow with Sean Couburn
7:30 PM – Climbing Film Tour
9:00 PM – Raffle called
9:30 PM – Festival center closes
10:00 PM – Quiet hours

Sunday, November 15 – Clinics, Guided Experiences & Community Climbing

7:00–9:00 AM – Breakfast on your own at Hagood Mill Pavilion and camping area
8:00–9:00 AM (start times vary) – Climbing clinics and guided experiences with Fox Mountain Guides and Appalachian Climbing School (check with your provider for specific location and time)

1:00 PM Clean up campsite at Hagood Mill

2:00 PM All event activities at Hagood Mill done. Please don’t leave any of your belongings. 

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FAQs

Will you set up climbs for me?: No. If you need guiding or climbing instruction, please register for one of the all inclusive clinics. 

What is Community Climbing?: Due to the nature of the festival and our crags, people will be climbing in close proximity to each other. We hope you're able to share beta, tips, and even share a rope! CCC board and staff does not provide any services for this activity other than offering beta on climbs if desired. If you do not have the skills to set up and lead climbs safely on your own, we urge you to take one of the educational clinics offered. Community climbing participants will often share top-rope setups with other participants

Looking for a climbing partner to climb with at SC Fest? Fill out this Google form and we'll do our best to connect you with folks! 

Where is Community Climbing taking place?: Community climbing is happening at Big Rock, Table Rock and Pumpkintown. You can find more info about each area here on the CCC website (Big Rock, Table Rock, Pumpkintown).

Rain?: In the event of a storm, we will cancel the event without rescheduling. We can not offer refunds, but your registration fee will be used to maintain and gain access to our many climbing areas. 

Kid-friendly?: Yes, we love kids

Dog-friendly?: Sort of. No barking dogs and dogs on leash at all times, please. All climbing areas at Table Rock State Park are difficult to access for most dogs.  

Will you be serving alcoholic beverages?: Yes, we will have Double Stamp beer for sale during the vendor village portion of the event on Saturday night.

What's the climbing like?: Table Rock State Park has a wide variety of trad and sport routes 1-7 pitches long. The park is split into two major areas: Main Wall and Pumpkintown and both areas offer a variety of climbing styles. Expect a one hour approach to each area. Big Rock offers much shorter climbs with a 1/2 mile uphill approach. Sport and mixed here, as well as potential for top rope set ups and bouldering.