Waterfalls in South Carolina

Overview of waterfalls in South Carolina

Yellow Branch Falls is a 50-foot cascade at the end of a moderately difficult trail, per the USFS. Station Cove Falls is a stepped 60-foot falls reached by what the USFS calls "an easy, 30-minute hike."

Spoonauger Falls is a 50-foot falls off Burrells Ford Road. The USFS calls the walk from the Chattooga Trail parking an easy 20-minute hike, with one creek crossing.

Raven Cliff Falls at Caesars Head State Park is a 420-foot cascading waterfall, per SC State Parks. SC State Parks calls the trail to the overlook a four-mile round trip, and trail access costs $3 for adults.

Issaqueena Falls is in Stumphouse Mountain Park, where the city charges $5 per car. As far as we can tell, Issaqueena, Yellow Branch and Station Cove were open on Nov 8, 2026, and Spoonauger and Raven Cliff on Nov 11, 2026.

Heights, trails and fees by source

Heights, trails and fees come from each falls page and the sources it cites.

Yellow Branch Falls (Sumter National Forest)

The USFS route to Yellow Branch Falls starts at Yellow Branch Picnic Area, 6.8 miles west of Walhalla on SC Highway 28. It runs 0.2 mile on the Yellow Branch Nature Trail, then 1.3 miles on the Yellow Branch Falls Trail.

The USFS calls it moderately difficult and warns that the trail skirts the edges of deep ravines. After a dry spell, it says, the falls may be just a trickle over a series of ledges. Potable water is not available, and cell service is unavailable at the parking area.

Station Cove Falls (Sumter National Forest)

Station Cove Falls is off Oconee Station Road (County S-95). The USFS says parking is limited to four cars, and the 0.5-mile hike begins behind the bulletin board.

The USFS says countless wildflowers bloom along the trail in spring and summer, including may apple, pink lady's slipper orchids, bloodroot and redbud. The Oconee Connector links the Station Cove Falls Trail to Oconee State Park.

Spoonauger Falls (Sumter National Forest)

The USFS says Spoonauger Falls "runs down a stepped rock face in a broad sheet," with a lower 10-foot falls on the way. To get there, park at the Chattooga Trail lot on Burrells Ford Road (FS 708), about three miles from SC 107, and look for the bulletin board.

The hike goes 0.25 mile north on the Chattooga Trail, across Spoonauger Creek, then up a short side trail. The USFS rates the last 0.1 mile moderate and warns of dead trees. There is no cell service or potable water.

Raven Cliff Falls (Caesars Head State Park)

SC State Parks says the four-mile round trip trail leads to a scenic overlook of Raven Cliff Falls. A 6.6-mile round trip reaches a suspension bridge over the creek above the falls. All park trails are rated advanced.

There is no roadside parking, and the park says its lots often fill on weekends in October and November. Trail access is $3 for adults, and hikers must be off trails one hour before sunset.

Issaqueena Falls (Stumphouse Mountain Park)

Issaqueena Falls is in Stumphouse Mountain Park, a City of Walhalla park that also holds Stumphouse Tunnel. Visit Oconee describes a short walk through the woods and across a covered bridge to a viewing platform.

The city lists $5 per car and $15 per passenger van. It closes the park in icy weather, so check city news before a winter trip.

When to see South Carolina waterfalls: rain, flowers, hawks and ice

The USFS page for Spoonauger calls the falls "picturesque, especially in the summer when foliage is leafed out." The other sources note what changes with the season and the weather.

The USFS says Yellow Branch Falls may be just a trickle over a series of ledges after a dry spell. At Station Cove, it says countless wildflowers bloom along the trail in spring and summer.

The City of Walhalla closes Stumphouse Mountain Park in icy weather, and it lists shorter winter hours. Our waterfall safety guide has general tips for wet trails.

At Caesars Head, SC State Parks says thousands of hawks migrate through the park from September 1 to November 30. It also says parking often fills on weekends in October and November, so it suggests weekdays.

Fees, dogs and status checks

The three Forest Service falls list no fee in the USFS page text we read. Stumphouse Mountain Park charges $5 per car, and Caesars Head State Park charges $3 per adult for trail access.

SC State Parks allows pets on a leash no longer than six feet at Caesars Head. We found no official dog rule for the other four in the text we read. The Yellow Branch and Station Cove USFS pages have Pet Information headings with no text. For Sumter National Forest closures, check the Francis Marion and Sumter alerts page, or call the Call Before You Haul hotline at 803-561-4025 for trail status.

A USFS order caps hiking groups at 12 in the upper Chattooga corridor until April 22, 2027. It exempts hikers within a quarter mile of Burrells Ford Road.

For Raven Cliff Falls trail status, call Caesars Head State Park at 864-836-6115.

For more falls in this part of the state, see our waterfalls near Greenville, SC page.

South Carolina waterfalls FAQ