Waterfall Hikes of Upstate South Carolina

By Thomas E. King

A waterfall is a perfect destination for a day hike. In this revised and updated guide, native South Carolinian, photographer, and hiker Thomas E. King lists 147 waterfall destinations in the mountains of Upstate South Carolina. Ranging from easy-to-access roadside locations to those that require a six-mile trek, these hikes feature some of the most famous, and some of the most remote, waterfalls in the region.

The guide can be used by those of all levels of hiking ability, whether expert or novice. These easy-to-reach waterfalls of Upstate South Carolina are a fun and fascinating retreat for the entire family. Most of these falls are within the ability of the average hiker to reach on a day hike. Some sites are of particularly easy access, such as the pristine falls in the Blue Ridge Mountains, which families with young children and mature adults are encouraged to visit.

King has provided the most recent trail directions and waterfall locations available to the public. He also lists and catalogs many remote or hard-to-find waterfalls and waterfalls that nature has reclaimed because the trails have ceased to be maintained. Each entry includes complete driving and hiking directions, trail length and estimated hiking time, a difficulty rating, and a detailed description of the waterfall itself, including a photograph.

• Language: English
• Publisher: University of Georgia Press
• Release date: Apr 15, 2023
• ISBN: 9781889596402

Thomas E. King

THOMAS E. KING is a native South Carolinian and award-winning photographer who began hiking in the Upstate region long before established trails were commonplace. He lives with his wife in Anderson County, South Carolina.

Book preview

Waterfall Hikes of Upstate South Carolina

Third Edition

Thomas E. King

an imprint of the University of Georgia Press

Athens

Published by Milestone Press, an imprint of the University of Georgia Press Athens, Georgia 30602

www.ugapress.org

Copyright 2023 Thomas E. King

All rights reserved

book design by Denise Gibson/Design Den

www.designden.com

Cover photograph: Pinnacle Mountain Falls

All photographs are by the author unless otherwise indicated.

The quotation from Falling Waters by Glenn Oeland originally appeared in the July–August 1990 issue of South Carolina Wildlife.

Waterfalls, Ions, and Prozac on p. 346 originally appeared in the June 2002 issue of Backpacker Magazine and on backpacker.com. Both quotations are used here by permission.

Printed and bound by Integrated Books International. The paper in this book meets the guidelines for permanence and durability of the Committee on Production Guidelines for Book Longevity of the Council on Library Resources.

Printed in the United States of America

23 24 25 26 27 P 5 4 3 2 1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: King, Thomas E., 1945– author.

Title: Waterfall hikes of upstate South Carolina / Thomas E. King.

Description: Third Edition. | Athens, Georgia : Milestone Press, an imprint of the University of Georgia Press, [2023] | Includes bibliographical references.

Identifiers: LCCN 2022035683 | ISBN 9781889596396 (Paperback) | ISBN 9781889596402 (epub) | ISBN 9781889596419 (PDF)

Subjects: LCSH: Hiking—South Carolina—Guidebooks. | Day hiking—South Carolina—Guidebooks. | Walking—South Carolina—Guidebooks. | Waterfalls—South Carolina—Guidebooks. | Trails—South Carolina—Guidebooks. | South Carolina—Guidebooks.

Classification: LCC GV199.42.S58 K56 2023 | DDC 796.5109757—dc23/eng/20220811

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022035683

This book is sold with the understanding that the author and publisher assume no legal responsibility for the completeness or accuracy of the contents of this book, nor for any damages incurred while attempting any of the activities or visiting any of the destinations described within it. The text is based on information available at the time of publication.

Falling Waters

Few sights captivate the eye like a waterfall. An irresistible magic draws us to gaze in wonder at these natural fountains. Waterfalls are among nature’s most sought-after spectacles, attested to by the fact that many a mountain trail ends at the foot of a cascading stream. Their beauty and drama inspire poems of praise and tales of tragedy, and the danger posed by their perilous heights seems only to add to their allure.

Neither skillfully made photographs nor carefully chosen words can fully convey the beauty and drama of a waterfall. Scenes of such grandeur defy expression. Perhaps this is because a waterfall is as much an event as a place—the motion and the sound of falling water, the thunderous roar and drenching spray, the smell of fresh water on laurel-scented air—these delights must be experienced firsthand.

For untold ages, these places of wild splendor have beckoned from the ancient heights. Thanks to people who care, they beckon still.

—Glenn Oeland

Table of Contents

Introduction

Purpose of This Book

Preparing for Your Hike

The Region

Upstate South Carolina and the Blue Ridge Escarpment

The Waterfalls

What Is a Waterfall?

Waterfall Structure and Classification

Rating Waterfalls

Measuring Waterfalls

Photographing Waterfalls

Other Waterfalls in Upstate South Carolina

The Hikes

Rating Trail Difficulty

Estimated Hiking Times

USGS Quadrangle Maps

Fees

Weather-Related Trail Damage

Trail Blazes

Driving Directions and Distances

Waterfalls of Oconee County

Oconee County Highway Map

Bad Creek Falls

Bee Cove Falls

Big Bend Falls

Blue Hole Falls

Brasstown Falls—Cascades

Brasstown Falls—Veil

Brasstown Falls—Sluice

Bull Sluice

Burnt Tanyard Shoals

Cedar Creek Falls

Chauga Narrows

Cheohee Road Falls

Connector Falls—Lower

Connector Falls—Upper

Crane Falls

DAR Shoals

Dick Lee Falls

Disappearing Falls

Don’s Falls

Fall Creek Falls—Middle

Fall Creek Falls—Upper

Fish Hatchery Falls

Flat Shoals

Fountain Mill Falls

Hidden Falls

Hikers Peril

Horse Bone Falls

Issaqueena Falls

Jim Lee Falls

Joney Woodall Falls

King Creek Falls

Lee Branch Falls

Lee Falls

Licklog Falls—Lower

Licklog Falls—Upper

Little Brasstown Falls

Lohr’s Falls

Long Creek Falls

Mill Creek Falls

Miuka Falls—Lower

Miuka Falls—Upper

Nick’s Falls

Oconee Bell Falls

Odell Shoals

Opossum Creek Falls

Overlook Falls

Pigpen Falls

Pristine Falls

Ramsey Creek Falls

Reedy Branch Falls

Riley Moore Falls

Sandy Ford Rapid

Secret Falls

Shoulder Bone Falls

Sid’s Falls

Sloan Bridge Falls

Spoonauger Falls

Station Cove Falls

Stribling Shoals

Wash Branch Falls—Upper

Whetstone Falls

Whitewater Falls—Lower

Woodall Shoals

Wright Creek Falls

Yellow Branch Falls

Waterfalls of Pickens County

Pickens County Highway Map

Adams Creek Falls

Bushwhack Falls

Carrick Creek Falls

Carrick Creek Road Falls

Clearwater Falls

Devil’s Hole Creek Falls

Doe Run Falls

Eastatoee Cascades

Eastatoee Narrows

Gauley Falls

Green Creek Falls

Laurel Fork Falls

Long Shoals

Meece Shoals

Mill Creek Falls—Lower

Mill Creek Falls—Upper

Nine Times Falls

Pinnacle Falls—Lower

Pinnacle Falls—Upper

Pinnacle Mountain Falls

Poe Creek Falls—Sluice

Poe Creek Falls—Plunge

Poe Creek Falls—Tiered

Sky Falls

Slicking Creek Falls

Spring Bluff Falls

Todd Creek Falls

Triple Falls

Twin Falls

Virginia Hawkins Falls

Waldrop Stone Falls

Wildcat Creek Falls

Winnie Branch Falls

Waterfalls of Greenville County

Greenville County Highway Map

Arboretum Falls

Asbury Cascades

Ashmore Falls

Ben’s Sluice

Blythe Shoals

Buckeye Falls

Cedar Falls

Cedar Shoals

Chestnut Ridge Falls

Chute Falls

Cliff Falls

Confusion Falls

Dargans Cascade

Drip Rock

Eastern Stream Falls

Emerald Falls

Falls Creek Falls

Falls on Little Falls Creek

Faris Falls

Firewater Falls

Jones Gap Falls

Last Falls on Slickum Creek

Little Gilder Creek Falls

Mashbox Falls

Misty Cavern Falls

Misty Falls

Moonshine Falls

New Millennium Falls—Lower

New Millennium Falls—Middle

New Millennium Falls—Upper

Oil Camp Falls

Pelham Falls

Pleasant Ridge Falls

Rainbow Falls

Raven Cliff Falls

Reedy River Falls

Reedy River Falls—Lower

Rock Quarry Falls

Rockcliff Falls

Shower Bath Falls

Slickum Falls

Sweet Thing on Slickum

Walking Fern Falls

Wildcat Falls—Lower

Wildcat Falls—Middle

Wildcat Falls—Upper

Waterfalls of North Carolina and Georgia

Eastatoe Falls, NC

Toccoa Falls, GA

Whitewater Falls—Upper, NC

Appendices

Appendix A: Important Addresses and Telephone Numbers

Appendix B: Waterfall Hubs

Appendix C: Popular Waterfalls on Lake Jocassee

Bibliography

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Introduction

In the January 17, 2006, edition of the Greenville News, an article titled The Waterfall Experience explains that a waterfall is not just a beautiful sight to be viewed and appreciated; it is an experience. The article divides this experience into two categories: a physical experience and a spiritual experience.

This author desires that individuals have both a physical experience and their own personal spiritual experience while visiting the appealing waterfalls of the South Carolina region.

Waterfalls, flowing water, and quiet mountain trails calm and refresh the inner spirit. The loud crashing sound of water falling over a cliff and the quiet babbling sound of slow-moving shallow water in a creek evoke different emotions and reflections within each observer. The Cherokee believed that the sounds of the falls and rivers were the voice of Long Man, the god of the river. Only the most spiritually aware, whose hearts and minds were attuned to Nature, could understand his language and discern his message within the sounds of the waters.

Waterfalls in South Carolina are concentrated in the mountain counties of Oconee, Pickens, and Greenville. This area, along with a few other counties, is known as the Upstate. This book gives detailed information about waterfalls and trails leading to waterfalls in Upstate South Carolina.

I have been hiking the trails of Upstate South Carolina and western North Carolina since the 1960s. I have found significant variations among trail guides with regard to trail lengths, waterfall names, waterfall heights, and hike descriptions. For example, Opossum Creek Falls is listed as 150 feet high in one publication, with the trail listed as moderate. In another publication, the same falls are listed as being 50 feet high, with the trail listed as difficult. This book reconciles conflicting data from several guidebooks. It also includes historical, geological, and geographical information for Upstate South Carolina, along with technical data about trails and waterfalls.

This revised edition includes 25 previously unlisted waterfall hikes rated from easy to strenuous. Many of these falls are located off established trails, and the hikes are rated difficult to strenuous, with bushwhacking and water crossings necessary. However, the reward is worth the effort. Heights of these newly listed falls range from 10 feet to 200 feet, with most averaging 40 to 60 feet. Although the appearance of waterfalls is always subject to change, the data presented in this book are current and accurate to the best of my knowledge. I hiked to all of the waterfalls listed in the previous edition during 2006, 2007, and 2008. The 25 additional falls were visited between 2018 and early 2021.

I have not included GPS coordinates for some waterfalls because the portable GPS units I’ve tried could not receive the necessary satellite signals due to overgrowth along the trails and at the waterfalls. Many GPS coordinates have been determined as closely as possible using Google Maps. GPS coordinates for the more popular waterfalls are given as they appear in trail guide publications and maps and on many websites; I can only trust that these coordinates are accurate.

The purpose of this book is to encourage individuals, groups, and families to enjoy the South Carolina region’s trails and waterfalls. It features many easy-to-access waterfalls; some can even be observed and photographed from the comfort of your vehicle while you are parked on the roadside or in a parking lot. What could be easier?

Additionally, this book is intended to provide a compilation of many unrecorded waterfalls of the Upstate in the form of a catalog. Therefore, several waterfalls are listed that are on private property and are not accessible to hikers. They are listed as catalog items because they exist; however, some property owners have explicitly requested that the location of a waterfall on their property not be published.

T.E.K.

June, 2021

Purpose of This Book

Waterfall Hikes of Upstate South Carolina serves three purposes:

1.It encourages families, novice hikers, and weekend walkers to visit the easy-to-reach waterfalls of Upstate South Carolina. Most of these falls are within the ability of the average hiker to reach on a day hike. Families with young children and mature adults are encouraged to visit the falls that our gracious Creator has placed here for our enjoyment.

2.It contains the most recent trail directions and waterfall locations available to the public.

3.It lists and catalogs many remote or hard-to-find waterfalls, as well as waterfalls that Nature has reclaimed because the trails are no longer maintained.

Some data presented in this book are intended to help more advanced hikers and waterfall enthusiasts understand waterfalls and trails in more detail; therefore, I’ve listed some of the more hard-to-find waterfalls. In some instances in which there is no trail to a waterfall, the USDA Forest Service, the SC State Park Service, and other individuals and organizations feel it is best not to have an established trail and caution against bushwhacking to the stream or waterfall. Such excursions off established trails encourage erosion, damage wildlife habitat, and harm rare and endangered plants, and they could endanger hikers’ safety. Waterfalls that are on private property or that would require extensive bushwhacking to reach are listed primarily to catalog their presence. I would not want to see our pristine wilderness damaged by fellow hikers and waterfall enthusiasts just because they read about a remote waterfall in this book and feel they must see it.

Several falls, shoals, and rapids that were open to the public years ago are now privately owned and are no longer open to the public. Because of private development, we have lost access to many Upstate waterfalls.

Last, I was given access to a number of spectacular waterfalls that concerned residents/developers want to keep pristine and unspoiled by not-so-caring hikers. I have honored requests not to list these specific falls, or I have listed incomplete directions.

Preparing for Your Hike

Using This Book

Each listing includes the following components:

Waterfall Class indicates the type, or structure, of the waterfall listed—for example: fan, block, or plunge. For more on waterfall structure classification, see p. 25.

You’ll find the Height listed in each waterfall entry. For more on measuring waterfalls, see Measuring Waterfalls on p. 27.

Although rating the appeal of a waterfall is subjective, waterfalls have a Rating system for that as well. Each waterfall in this book is rated nice, fair, good, excellent, or spectacular according to the rating system on p. 26.

Every waterfall has a source. Stream gives the body of water that forms the falls.

Hike Length is the distance you’ll need to walk from your car to view the falls. Some distances are as little as 10 feet. Remember to double the distance for a round trip. Distance from Dock is provided for the waterfalls on Lake Jocassee since they are accessible only by boat.

Hike Difficulty indicates whether the trail is easy, moderate, or more difficult. For detailed trail rating descriptions, see p. 29.

Estimated Hiking Time is based on a one-way trip to the falls. You’ll have to double the estimated time—and sometimes allow even more time—for a round trip. See p. 31 for more on estimated hiking times.

USGS Quad gives the name of the U.S. Geological Survey topographical map on which the waterfall is located.

If a Fee is charged to view a waterfall, it will be given here.

Abbreviations used in this book are as follows:

DNR—Department of Natural Resources

FS—Forest Service Road

N/A—Not applicable

SP—State Park

USDA—United States Department of Agriculture

USGS—United States Geological Survey

Minimum Hiking Equipment

Here is a checklist of the most common items recommended for a half-day warm-weather hike.

Footwear

comfortable hiking boots

woolen or synthetic socks

Outerwear

synthetic long pants and long-sleeved shirt

waterproof/breathable jacket

cap or wide-brimmed hat

poncho or other rain gear

Food and Drink

lunch/snacks

water (32 oz. per person)

Miscellaneous

insect repellent

compass and maps

whistle

walking stick

pocket knife or multi-tool

personal first-aid kit

sunscreen and lip balm (SPF 15+)

camera

toilet paper

day pack or fanny pack

plastic bags to pack out trash

Waterfall Dangers

Waterfalls themselves present specific dangers. Rocks, roots, and fallen trees are wet and slippery. One inadvertent slip can result in an injury or a fatality. Several years ago a friend of mine slipped and fell over a section of Upper Whitewater Falls. He was fortunate to suffer only a broken leg and to have fellow hikers along to help him out of the falls, back up the trail, and to the hospital. Two weeks following that incident, a Clemson college student lost his life there. A sign at the viewing deck for Upper Whitewater Falls states that 26 people have died there. At other falls—Wildcat Falls, Reedy Branch Falls, and Little Brasstown Falls—there are crosses or memorial markers indicating lost lives. In 2005 a hiker fell and was killed near Misty Cavern Falls on the Ishi Trail. The same year another hiker was seriously injured at Wildcat Falls. In 2021 a hiker fell 70 feet at Wildcat Falls and was rescued. In April 2006 a 43-year-old man fell to his death at Twin Falls. Always exercise extra caution and common sense around all waterfalls.

Trail Cautions

All trails pose differing degrees of danger. It takes only one twist of the ankle on a small rock to ruin a hike. Days or weeks can be involved in recovering from a serious fall.

Plants

The most common plant dangers are poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac. These vines have leaves in groups of three. Heed the adage, leaves of three, let it be. Stinging nettle contains thousands of fine needles all over its leaves and stems, so beware of letting your skin come in contact with this plant.

Insects

Hornets and yellow jackets are the most frequently encountered stinging insects. Yellow jackets build nests in the ground beside trails, or sometimes in the middle of a trail, and are easily irritated. The hiker who passes first and disturbs the nest is usually the lucky one; the hikers who follow are more likely to be attacked by the angry yellow jackets. A hornet’s nest hanging from a tree limb can be an interesting and tempting item to try to knock down, but leave it alone. Various species of seemingly harmless bees can be fatal if a hiker is allergic to bee venom. Someone in the hiking party should carry a first-aid kit that contains the antidote to bee venom. Ticks are dangerous because they can carry Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Avoid both ticks and mosquitoes by using insect repellents and/or wearing long sleeves and long pants.

Snakes

Snakes usually pose little danger because they are more interested in getting out of your way than getting at you. The poisonous snakes in the Upstate region are rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths (water moccasins), and coral snakes. If you see any kind of snake, just leave it alone, and it will leave you alone.

Bears

Bears are seldom seen during the day, though they are present. If you are camping and do not store your food properly, they may sneak into the campsite at night and deprive you of your food for the next several days. The noise made by hikers is usually sufficient to scare bears away from the trail. An October 2005 bear hunt organized by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources harvested 34 bears. The largest bear taken was in Pickens County and weighed 400 pounds; the average weight was 180 pounds. Several more bears were treed but not taken. The 2003 hunt yielded 55 bears, and the 2000 hunt yielded 42 bears.

If you are confronted by an aggressive bear, most advice says not to run. Stand your ground and raise your arms to appear larger than you are; shout or throw rocks at the bear. Some backpackers carry firecrackers or small guns that fire caps. Loud noises such as these will usually scare a bear away.

Weather

Always be prepared with rain gear, and wear synthetic, water-resistant clothing that wicks moisture away from the body. Avoid cotton clothing, since it is chilling when wet. When hiking around waterfalls, the water spray can wet clothing, and even in the warm weather of the Upstate the temperature can drop unexpectedly and cause a hiker to experience hypothermia, the sudden loss of core body heat. On a warm day, of course, a misty breeze caused by a waterfall can be wonderfully cooling.

If you are caught in a lightning storm—and there are many in the Upstate during the spring and summer—find shelter at the lowest possible elevation on or off the trail. Remove metal pack frames and stay away from streams and open areas.

Hunting

Hunting is allowed in many hiking areas. Be aware of the hunting seasons, and wear international orange vests and hats or other brightly colored clothing and packs.

Water

Avoid drinking any water from streams or springs unless you treat the water with a purifier or filtering device. Ground water, no matter how clear or inviting, can be infected with many forms of bacteria that can make life miserable. Carry enough potable water—at least 2 liters per person for a day hike—to keep yourself properly hydrated, even in winter. Drink the water slowly