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.