South Carolina Climbers Fest 2025

Online registration is closed. You can register in person on Saturday November 7th between 8 - 9:30 AM at the White Oak Shelter in Table Rock State Prark.

When: November 7-9, 2025

Location: Table Rock State Park 

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. Whether you’re a seasoned climber or just getting started, this is your chance to connect with fellow climbers while giving back to the crags that make Upstate SC special.

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

What to Expect:

• Climbing Table Rock State Park. 

• Climbing educational clinics

• Vendor village featuring local businesses and gear

• Food and craft beer

• BYO baked goods and potluck. Sign up here to bring something.

• Evening gathering and celebration

• Fundraising raffle packed with great prizes

• Community climbing: please note that climbing areas at Table Rock State Park are a 2 mile hike with 800 feet of elevation gain. The hike is worth it! 

Registration includes:

• 2025 SC Climbers Festival t-shirt (must sign up by 10/17 to be guaranteed a t-shirt) 

• Access to community climbing at Big Rock and Table Rock State Park's Pumpkintown Area. 

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

• Access to raffle

*Camping Information*

Registration + Camping Bundle is sold out. Please book your own campsite following the instructions  below. 

• Book Your Own Site with Table Rock State Park (TRSP)

  • Call the Park Office at (864) 878-9813 and mention you’re with the South Carolina Climbers Festival.

  • Tell them you'd like to book one of the following SC Fest reserved sites in the Mountain Laurel Campground, then pay the State Park for your camping over the phone ($50/night): 

    • Sites available to book with TRSP: Mountain Laurel Campground 51, 56, 60, 62, 64, 65, 66, 69, 72

    • YOU MUST CALL THE STATE PARK TO BOOK ONE OF THESE SITES. THEY WILL NOT APPEAR ON THE STATE PARK'S WEBSITE BECAUSE THEY ARE SET ASIDE FOR SC FEST AND NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. YOU MUST CALL TO CLAIM AND PAY FOR YOUR SITE. 

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

*Clinics*

How to Register for a Clinic:
    1.    Choose the “SC Fest Clinic Participant” option on this page and check out. This reserves your registration for the SC Fest event, but you must complete the remaining steps below to be registered for a clinic. 
    2.    Find the clinic you'd like to take from the topics listed below. Click the clinic link to register directly with your clinic provider for the clinic of your choice on their website.
    3.    Make sure both registrations are completed to secure your spot.

Local guide services will host clinics at this year's event. All clinics are November 9th. See info and sign up for clinics by following the links below:

Fox Mountain Guides:

Intro to Trad CLICK HERE  ($225) 

Multi-Pitch Efficiency CLICK HERE ($225)  

Appalachian Climbing School:

Multi-Pitch Rescue CLICK HERE  ($200)  

Women's Intro to Outdoor Climbing CLICK HERE  ($200)  

Open Air Guides:

Advanced Anchor Building CLICK HERE  ($75)  

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

Slideshow Feature:
What do Alex Lowe and Jim Bridwell have in common? They both cherished their Vermin Equipment.

Many of the most blank, daunting faces at the Northside of Looking Glass, Wright Wall, and even in Yosemite were made climbable thanks to a self-taught machinist, climber, and Southeast local — Forrest Gardner. His innovative gear design pushed the boundaries of aid climbing, turning the impossible into possible on routes like Carolina Hog Farm and Secret Alloys.

Come hear Forrest’s stories — and see never-before-seen photos of some of his bold, cutting-edge first ascents — at this year’s SC Climbers Fest slideshow presentation.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! See volunteer opportunities here. Sign up for 2 or more volunteer slots and get into the event free! 

South Carolina Climbers Festival 2025 Schedule

 Table Rock State Park – White Oak Shelter & surrounding areas
November 7–9, 2025

Friday, November 7 – Arrival Day

2:00 PM – Campground opens for attendees with camping reservations (details will be emailed to registered campers)

No organized CCC activities Friday—relax, set up camp, and enjoy the park!

Saturday, November 8 – Stewardship, Climbing & Celebration

8:00–9:00 AM – Check-in & breakfast at White Oak Shelter

9:30 AM– 4:30 PM – Pickup pruners or bring your own, find a climbing group, do the approach hike, prune near the base of the wall, then go climb. 

5:00–8:30 PM – Vendor Village open at White Oak Shelter. Raffle, beer and swag for sale, visit vendor tables, get dinner.
6:00–7:00 PM – Dinner served
7:15 PM – Evening slideshow with Forrest Gardner
8:30 PM – Raffle called
9:00 PM – Festival center closes
10:00 PM – Quiet hours

Sunday, November 9 – Clinics & Community Climbing

7:00–9:00 AM – Breakfast at White Oak Shelter
8:00–9:00 AM (start times vary) – Climbing clinics with Fox Mountain Guides, Appalachian Climbing School, and Open Air Guides (check with your provider for specific location and time)

12:00 PM Check out of campsite at TRSP
9:00 AM–3:00 PM – Community climbing at Table Rock State Park and Pumpkintown

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

Where is Community Climbing taking place?: Community climbing is happening at Table Rock and Pumpkintown. You can find more info about each area here on the CCC website (Table Rock, Pumpkintown), Mountain Project, or get a shiny new guidebook.  Route grades range from 5.4 to 5.12. 

Rain?: In the event of a storm, we will cancel the event. 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 beer by donation available 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 is a 20 minute drive from the festival and 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.