15 Beautiful Waterfall Hikes in South Carolina

There are tons of waterfall hikes in upstate South Carolina.

In fact, there are so many waterfalls in the Palmetto State that it can be overwhelming to narrow down which waterfall hike to do!

I’ve put together this list of waterfall hikes so you can spend less time scouring the internet and more time out on the trail.

These hikes range from nearly-flat trails under a mile long to moderate day hikes. There’s a waterfall hike on this list for every hiker.

Ready to hit the trail? Here are 15 beautiful waterfall hikes in South Carolina.

15 Beautiful Waterfall Hikes in South Carolina

1. Twin Falls

Distance: 0.7 miles roundtrip
Elevation gain: 72 feet

The trail to Twin Falls is one of the easier waterfall hikes in South Carolina.

These falls can be found near Sunset, SC.

If you’re familiar with South Carolina’s waterfalls, you may have heard of Twin Falls referred to as Reedy Cove Falls, Rock Falls, or Eastatoe Falls.

Whatever you call them, the Twin Falls are two side-by-side waterfalls that are 75 feet tall. One 75-foot waterfall alone is stunning, but two tall waterfalls at once is a real treat to see.

There is an observation deck at the end of this short trail so you can enjoy the view of Twin Falls from a comfortable spot.

The trail to Twin Falls makes for an excellent waterfall hike for hikers of all ages. Although the trail may sound too easy for avid hikers, all hikers can appreciate that it is an easier waterfall hike to navigate in terms of trail maintenance and obstacles like stream crossings.

Read recent reviews and trail conditions for Twin Falls on AllTrails.

2. Brasstown Falls

Distance: 0.8 miles roundtrip
Elevation gain: 78 feet

Brasstown Falls is in Sumter National Forest near the westernmost tip of South Carolina.

Hiking to Brasstown Falls makes for an excellent outing because you’ll see multiple waterfalls on a short hike. This makes it one of the best “bang for your buck” waterfall hikes in the state.

When the trail comes to a fork, you will have the option to turn left to see Little Brasstown Falls before returning to the fork and heading to the 3 cascades of Brasstown Falls.

Brasstown Falls drops 120 feet over the course of its 3 cascades. The 3 sections that make up Brasstown Falls are spread along Brasstown Creek, so you will continue to have beautiful falls to look forward to throughout your hike.

This waterfall is extra beautiful to see during the fall when the leaves that frame the waterfall are changing colors.

The short, easy hike to Brasstown Falls is an excellent choice for families since pets are allowed on the trail, as long as they’re on a leash.

Read recent reviews and trail conditions for Brasstown Falls on AllTrails.

3. Wildcat Branch Falls

Distance: 1 mile roundtrip
Elevation gain: 154 feet

Wildcat Branch Falls is about 30 minutes north of Greenville, SC along the Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway.

Although this isn’t the most epic hike in terms of the hike or the falls, this trail offers another excellent opportunity to hike to multiple waterfalls.

The first waterfall – lower Wildcat Branch Falls – is actually visible from the road. Lower Wildcat Branch Falls is about 20 feet high but beautiful nonetheless on account of its volume.

To see more waterfalls, take the one-mile loop trail that is well-marked with blazes.

Hikers will be rewarded for getting on the trail by seeing the 100-foot tall upper Wildcat Branch Falls as well as an unnamed waterfall.

The hike at Wildcat Branch Falls is a great place to chase waterfalls with the whole family since it’s one of the shorter waterfall hikes in South Carolina and allows pets (as long as they’re leashed).

Read recent reviews and trail conditions for Wildcat Branch Falls on AllTrails.

4. King Creek Falls

Distance: 1.4 miles roundtrip
Elevation gain: 216 feet

The trail to King Creek Falls is one of the best waterfall hikes in South Carolina.

The combination of an easy hike ending with a stunning waterfall makes this a classic waterfall hike that attracts both beginner and seasoned hikers.

King Creek Falls is located near Mountain Rest, SC in Sumter National Forest.

To hike to Kings Creek Falls, you’ll start out on the Foothills Trail until it approaches King Creek. At that point it intersects with the Kings Creek Trail, which is a rougher stretch of trail but well worth navigating to reach the waterfall.

Although the trail itself is short, factor in plenty of time to soak in the view of the 70-foot King Creek Falls. It’s arguably one of the most beautiful waterfalls in South Carolina so you don’t want to rush the experience.

The trail to King Creek Falls is a great option for hikers with kids and/or pets.

It’s a must-do waterfall hike if you’re in South Carolina!

Read recent reviews and trail conditions for King Creek Falls on AllTrails.

5. Spoonauger Falls

Distance: 0.6 miles roundtrip
Elevation gain: 111 feet

The trail to Spoonauger Falls is pretty short if you’re looking for a waterfall hike, but it’s close enough to King Creek Falls that it’s worth tacking on to see two waterfalls in one day.

So if you want to see this picturesque waterfall but don’t live nearby, it’s still worth the drive since you can combine it with King Creek Falls for a longer afternoon of hiking.

To find Spoonauger Falls, head to the parking area for the Chattooga Trail trailhead along Burrells Ford Road.

If you try to see this 50-foot waterfall when it’s flowing well after rain, be prepared with good waterproof shoes for the trail. The trail crosses a creek and can become flooded itself during a strong rain.

The short hike to Spoonauger Falls is a great choice for all hikers, including those with pets (if they remain leashed).

Keep in mind that Spoonauger Falls is a popular hike so it has higher traffic than some other waterfall hikes in South Carolina. But since it’s such a short hike, you won’t have to put up with the crowds for too long.

Read recent reviews and trail conditions for Spoonauger Falls on AllTrails.

6. Station Cove Falls

Distance: 1.6 miles roundtrip
Elevation gain: 98 feet

The trail to Station Cove Falls is another one of South Carolina’s waterfall hikes that offers a huge payout for minimal effort.

Station Cove Falls is one hour west of Greenville, SC near the Oconee Station State Historic Site.

This trail cuts through an area with hundreds of species of plants. This includes lots of wildflowers, so try hiking to Station Cove Falls in the spring for an extra beautiful experience.

After strolling along this well-maintained trail with minimal elevation gain, you’ll be rewarded with a view of the 60-foot Station Cove Falls.

Between the trail conditions and the scenery it grants hikers, this is a perfect waterfall hike for beginners.

Read recent reviews and trail conditions for Station Cove Falls on AllTrails.

7. Beech Bottom Falls

Distance: 1.7 miles roundtrip
Elevation gain: 305 feet

The trail to Beech Bottom Falls is a short and sweet waterfall hike in South Carolina’s Jocassee Gorges Management Area.

This pet-friendly hike begins on Abner Creek Road, a forest service road found along the F. Van Clayton Memorial Highway.

This forest service road eventually intersects with several trails. The trail to Beech Bottom Falls is well marked with signs.

Several beautifully designed bridges add novelty and visual interest to this hike.

There is a new trail and an old trail which take you to opposite sides of Beech Bottom Falls, so even if you’ve hiked to Beech Bottom Falls (formerly called Pinnacle Falls) before, you may want to return for a new and improved hiking experience.

The new trail meanders along the south side of Abner Creek, guiding hikers to an observation deck on the right side of the waterfall.

Read recent reviews and trail conditions for Beech Bottom Falls on AllTrails.

8. Riley Moore Falls

Distance: 1.9 miles roundtrip
Elevation gain: 357 feet

Riley Moore Falls is in Sumter National Forest near Westminster, SC.

The falls are named for a man who operated a grist mill at the top of the waterfall.

This waterfall is different from the tall, plunging waterfalls that get most people’s attention. Riley Moore Falls is a short but wide waterfall that spans 100 feet across the width of the Chauga River.

This puts it in a wide open area, with plenty of space along the riverbank to view the falls from.

Unlike other waterfalls which may dry up during parts of the year, Riley Moore Falls makes for a great waterfall hike to choose any time of year.

The trailhead to Riley Moore Falls is along Forest Service road 748C. However, this primitive road is not suitable for most vehicles.

The Forest Service recommends parking along 748 at the sign for road 748C and walking in to the trailhead. Keep this in mind since Google Maps directions may try to take you directly to the trailhead.

Read recent reviews and trail conditions for Riley Moore Falls on AllTrails.

9. Yellow Branch Falls

Distance: 3 miles roundtrip
Elevation gain: 465 feet

Yellow Branch Falls is a beautiful, popular waterfall in Sumter National Forest near Walhalla, SC.

This waterfall trickles down 50 feet over a pile of rocks in delicate, branching streams.

To find Yellow Branch Falls, head to the trailhead at the Yellow Branch Picnic Area.

Be prepared to get wet on this trail. The trail passes by deep ravines and requires walking along logs or rocks to cross streams 4 or 5 times.

This popular waterfall hike can be crowded even on weekdays. That may deter some people, but I say any hike that gets busy is worth trying at least once to see what all the hype is about.

After you hike to Yellow Branch Falls, head to Issaqueena Falls on the other side of Highway 28. It takes less than half a mile of walking to see this second waterfall, so it’s easy to tack on to Yellow Branch Falls to see two waterfalls in one trip.

Read recent reviews and trail conditions for Yellow Branch Falls on AllTrails.

10. Long Creek Falls

Distance: 3.2 miles roundtrip
Elevation gain: 551 feet

The hike to Long Creek Falls is one of the more difficult waterfall hikes on this list, not because of steepness or length but because of the challenges on the trail. However, it is a worthwhile hike if you’re prepared for what you’ll be getting into.

Long Creek Falls is in Sumter National Forest, but the trail to the waterfall is not an official forest service trail.

This means it isn’t as well-maintained as other trails. It isn’t well-marked and gets overgrown. If you’re going to hike to Long Creek Falls, I suggest being prepared with a map like AllTrails+.

Additionally, the final descent to Long Creek Falls is very steep with lots of roots. It is not an ideal trail for hikers who need better footing.

As long as you’re prepared to hike this trail with confidence, you will be rewarded with a great waterfall hike. It’s not a busy trail since it’s poorly maintained and it has lots of wildlife and summertime wildflowers.

When you arrive at Long Creek Falls, you’ll get to witness Long Creek dropping 50 feet as it meets the Chattooga River, which marks the border between South Carolina and Georgia.

Most people will want to park at the end of Turkey Ridge Road and begin hiking on the primitive road that leads to the official trailhead. You may consider driving closer to the trailhead if you have 4-wheel drive, but walking on the dirt road only adds about a mile roundtrip to this already short hike.

I recommend starting with a different waterfall hike if you’re a beginner hiker.

Read recent reviews and trail conditions for Long Creek Falls on AllTrails.

11. Jones Gap Falls

Distance: 3.5 miles roundtrip
Elevation gain: 479 feet

Jones Gap Falls is not the most dramatic waterfall in South Carolina, but if you’re looking for a less strenuous and less crowded hike than Rainbow Falls (later on this list), it’s still worth your while.

You’ll find this waterfall in Jones Gap State Park, located along the border with North Carolina.

The trail starts out rocky, but is otherwise a very pleasant path to the falls. It follows the Middle Saluda River and is very gentle in elevation gain.

Jones Gap Falls is a pretty sight at the end of the trail. Here, a smaller tributary slides 50 feet down a rugged rock wall before joining the Middle Saluda River.

Try hiking to Jones Gap Falls in the spring or summer to see the falls surrounded in lush greenery.

The trail to Jones Gap Falls is a great waterfall hike for hikers of all skill levels and hikers with pets.

Read recent reviews and trail conditions for Jones Gap Falls on AllTrails.

12. Raven Cliff Falls

Distance: 4 miles roundtrip
Elevation gain: 695 feet

Raven Cliff Falls is a must-see waterfall. That’s because it’s the tallest waterfall in South Carolina!

If you think the 70-foot and 80-foot tall waterfalls on this list are beautiful, wait until you see Raven Cliff Falls. It is absolutely jaw-dropping at 420 feet tall!

Raven Cliff Falls can be found an hour north of Greenville, SC in Caesars Head State Park. This hike to the waterfall’s observation deck is the most popular hike in the park.

Parking for this pet-friendly trail is located about a mile past the park’s visitor center on the opposite side of the street from the trailhead.

Note that the observation deck at the end of this trail is decently far away from Raven Cliff Falls, but because the waterfall is so large you will still be able to see it fairly well.

If you’re up for a more strenuous hike, you can get up closer to Raven Cliff Falls and access the suspension bridge that crosses over the top of the waterfall.

Read recent reviews and trail conditions for Raven Cliff Falls on AllTrails.

13. Lower Whitewater Falls

Distance: 4.2 miles roundtrip
Elevation gain: 935 feet

The 6 waterfalls in the Whitewater Falls chain of waterfalls make up the highest series of falls east of the Rocky Mountains.

This chain of waterfalls spans across the border between North and South Carolina.

Lower Whitewater Falls is one of the taller waterfalls in South Carolina at around 200 feet tall.

It’s located north of Salem, SC in the Jocassee Gorges Management Area.

Several trails lead to Lower Whitewater Falls, but this 4-mile route is one of the shortest options. (If you’re up for a longer hike, you could double your distance and add on the trail that connects to Upper Whitewater Falls across the border in North Carolina).

This well-marked trail meanders through the forest to an observation deck with a view of Lower Whitewater Falls. Here, you’ll witness where the Whitewater River plunges dramatically over a rock face before entering Lake Jocassee.

Lower Whitewater falls is one of my favorite waterfall hikes in South Carolina!

Read recent reviews and trail conditions for Lower Whitewater Falls on AllTrails.

14. Rainbow Falls

Distance: 4.4 miles roundtrip
Elevation gain: 1,181 feet

If most of the waterfall hikes on this list don’t sound challenging enough for you, check out the trail to Rainbow Falls.

The elevation gain on this trail really puts the “hike” in “waterfall hike”.

Rainbow Falls is in Jones Gap State Park, which is 45 minutes north of Greenville, SC.

Start out on the Jones Gap Trail until you arrive at the junction to the Rainbow Falls Trail. Make sure to wear proper shoes on this one since parts of the trail have a good amount of rocks and roots.

Your reward for this hike is a view of Rainbow Falls, a narrow stream of water which plunges over a cliff before fanning out in a lower cascade of water for a total drop of 100 feet. The cliff has alternating layers of black and tan rock which make for an interesting backdrop to the waterfall.

The hike to Rainbow Falls is one of South Carolina’s very popular waterfall hikes. While I think there are prettier waterfalls in the state, I still highly recommend this waterfall hike for the trail itself.

Just try to take this trail at a less popular time if you want more solitude on your hike. Or, consider taking the less strenuous trail to Jones Gap Falls (listed above).

Read recent reviews and trail conditions for Rainbow Falls on AllTrails.

15. Opossum Creek Falls

Distance: 4.6 miles roundtrip
Elevation gain: 839 feet

Opossum Creek Falls is another lovely waterfall in Sumter National Forest.

The trail begins just up the road from Long Creek Falls (earlier on this list).

Like the trail to Long Creek Falls, this waterfall hike requires a bit more effort than others and is recommended for more adventurous hikers.

Most of the trail is surrounded by shade and wildflowers when they’re in bloom. But once you arrive at the Chattooga River, the rest of the path to Opossum Creek Falls is filled with rocks, logs, and streams that you have to scramble around.

But if you’re up for the adventure, a view of the 50-foot waterfall is worthwhile.

Keep an eye out for lots of ticks and other bugs on this trail, especially if you’re hiking it with pets.

Read recent reviews and trail conditions for Opossum Creek Falls on AllTrails.

Know Before You Go

Now that you have some waterfall hikes to choose from, here are a few tips and things to keep in mind before you head to the trail.

The time of year and recent weather will affect how full the falls are flowing. If it hasn’t rained in a while, some of these waterfalls may be dried up.
I’ve included a link to the AllTrails listing for each hike. Read recent reviews to see the latest conditions and determine whether the trail sounds appropriate for your needs.
Waterfalls are beautiful, but can also be dangerous. Be cautious walking and swimming around waterfalls.
New to hiking? Here’s what I bring on every hike.
Learn the leave no trace seven principles to avoid harming the local ecosystem and fellow visitors during your hike.

More Adventures in the Carolinas

As always, enjoy the outdoors responsibly. Leave no trace on all of your adventures.