South Carolina Waterfalls - Day 3

Issaqueena, Station Cove, Twin (or Eastatoe) and Wildcat Branch Falls

Today, 7/30/2015, we are heading to waterfalls that are north and east of us.  The first falls we will visit is called Issaqueena Falls.  The brochure indicates an easy 5 minute hike to the base of the falls.  Well, it is an easy 5 minute walk to the observation deck overlooking the top portion of the falls, as you can see here.

But, if you want to get to the base of the falls, to see all of it, you must traverse the very steep (70°) rock and root trail.  Quite a contrast to the additional description "descend path to foot of falls."  In any case if you come here, try getting to the base as the full view of the falls are spectacular. 

The falls were named for the Indian maiden who hid on the ledge to avoid capture as she fled to warn her English lover of an Indian attack. 

 

Next we traveled to the Station Cove Falls.  To get to this falls we had to hike about 30 minutes, but along a path without rocks and roots.  Again we are impressed with the falls in the western corner of South Carolina.

These falls simply put are impressive even with little water for the falls. 

Like I said before, a beautiful waterfall from the base in its entirety or in smaller parts.

And a final parting shot of a part of Station Cove Falls before moving on to other falls.

 

Next, we continued our drive along route 11 (Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway) crossing from Oconee into Pickens County and after taking a detour come to our next waterfall Twin Falls. 

Twin Falls (or Eastatoe Falls) is seventy feet of bare granite. 

As you can see there are two falls here, hence the name Twin Falls.  The right falls cascades down several steps.

We did have to hike about a half mile to get to the falls, but at least this time it was over an old roadbed. 

Again the full falls, with both sides in one view.

While returning to the car, I found the water quite in this deeper section of the stream.  Taking a long exposure, I did not notice until I actually looked at the picture that there was a whirlpool in the stream.

We stopped here for lunch, not by the waterfall, but in the car.  After all it was 96° out and the cool breeze from the air conditioner was refreshing.

Finishing lunch we again headed east along route 11 making our last waterfall stop of the day.  The falls is along the road, which we passed because it was hidden and we had to turn back.  So, after backtracking we came to Wildcat Branch Falls.  Interesting place, the falls are not big and very little water coming down along the brook, but the pool at the bottom of the falls brings many families with their kids.  Anyplace with water to cool off is a good place.

There were suppose to be other falls further up the trail and we did begin to hike, but after 10 minutes of hiking (the other falls were suppose to be only ¼ mile away) we lost the brook and could not hear any water at all, so we turned back.  We were both too hot to continue at that point.

Today is our last day hiking in South Carolina as tomorrow we begin our drive to Maine.  See you in our next trip.

South Carolina Waterfalls - Day 2

Chau Ram Falls, Brasstown Falls, and Bull Sluice Falls.

Today, 7/29/2015, began sunny and around 78 degrees.  We headed west along route 123 to Westminster where we then took route 76 west.  About two miles along 76 we turned into Chau Ram County Park where we found the Chau Ram Falls.  The falls were conveniently located right next to the parking lot in the park, so we did not need to hike too far.

Leaving Chau Ram Park we continued west along route 76 looking for the Riley Moore Falls.  After driving along the fire road as indicated, the road became impassable for our car, so we turned around.  Back on 76 we again headed west looking for the Brasstown falls.  This road was more easily found and passable.  A short hike along a root covered trail, we came to the Brasstown Falls. 

The upper falls were very nice, but the lower falls had a 30 foot drop,  straight down, very impressive. 

Getting below the lower falls section  was along a steep and difficult root and rock trail.  As you can see, when I got to a good place to take a picture, I was facing into the sun and there was a lot of spray from the falls giving a "fog" overlooking the falls.  Still the falls were impressive and would have liked to stay until the sun was in a different location, but it was getting late and we did have other falls to see.

Leaving the falls and while we were still on the gravel road, we came across a turkey.  It couldn't figure out which way to go so it ran down the middle of the road.  Racing in front of us, we got a couple of pictures before it decided to fly away.  Looks like Thanksgiving to me!

Back on 76 we continued west until we reached to South Carolina/Georgia border were the Chattooga River and the Bull Sluice Falls is located.  This falls is more rapids with a 14 foot drop at one point. 

We just missed a group of rubber rafts that just past the rapids as they were already through while we were walking to the falls.  You can see someone with goggles on in the middle of the falls, on the rock; must be looking for dropped items.

As we arrived at the car it started to rain so we called it a day and will continue on our waterfall quest tomorrow.  All the roads and surrounding lands are rolling hills and we are in the southern end of the Smokey mountains.  Tomorrow we will travel on the Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway (route 11) heading north to more water falls.

South Carolina Waterfalls - Day 1

Whitewater Falls, Lower -7/28/2015

Arriving from Florida, we spent the night in Seneca, South Carolina, which we will use as our central location for the next several days while we visit the area waterfalls. 

For our first full day in South Carolina we traveled to Whitewater Falls, both lower and upper falls.  Whitewater Falls is the highest falls in the Eastern US (or East of the Rockies by one account) with upper falls at 411 feet and the lower around 400 feet.  It was also a 2.4 mile hike to the lower Whitewater falls overlook platform.  Billed as a moderate hike, for us now as Floridian sea level flatlanders it was more like a difficult hike.  However, there were parts of the trail that were interesting, like this section that I caught Carmen in. 

Most of the flowers along the trail, including the numerous wild rhododendrons, were past their blooms.  But, there was one flower that decided to stay in bloom for our benefit.

Once we reached the falls overlook, we had a great view of the falls.  Though we were almost a half mile away, you could get a good look at most of the falls height.

On our return hike to the car, as we reached half-way, it started to thunder then began raining.  By the time we got to the car we were thoroughly wet. 

I don't think we will go on any more 4-hour round trip hikes in the near future.  Although we had a great view of the falls, the weeks forecast calls for more possible thunder showers and we do not want to get caught in another one.

As we were leaving the side road to the falls, the rain stopped.  We then drove up to the parking lot for the upper Whitewater Falls.  After parking and starting our hike, by the time we were leaving the parking lot it was thundering again, so we decided enough rain was enough.  There are plenty of waterfalls around and we will see more tomorrow.