Y'all, those Blue Ridge Mountains are filled with wonders to behold. Small towns with distinct personalities thrive in the hills, trails traverse the rugged ridges, and sparkling waterfalls adorn the mountainsides. Today, I want to tell you all about 5 great waterfalls in the Appalachian Mountains that are worth a visit! Join me on a little journey (figuratively of course... please stay seated) as we explore these incredible falls!
Fall Creek Falls
Fall Creek Falls is a gorgeous waterfall near Mountain Rest, South Carolina. Not many folks know about this one, so for those of y'all that like to flex your knowledge of lesser-known spots to your friends, this is a good pick! The trail is about 1.5 miles each way, and is moderate to difficult, depending on how comfortable you are with hiking. If you find yourself exploring the South Carolina mountains, you'll definitely want to check this one out!
Long Creek Falls
You'll find Long Creek Falls in... you guessed it... Long Creek South Carolina. I hear that the creek is indeed quite long! But I digress, this waterfall is an absolute beauty. The trail to get there is about 2 miles long and has a gradual slope most of the way, so for the average hiker it would be a moderate hike. This waterfall flows directly into the Wild and Scenic Chattooga River, so you'll get waterfall views and rushing river views all in the same trip! So whether you like your water flowing vertically or horizontally, this should be a pretty exciting hike.
Schoolhouse Falls
Schoolhouse Falls is tucked into the network of trails known as Panthertown Valley near Cashiers, North Carolina. The mileage of your adventure here varies since this is a network of trails. Because there are so many trails here, it's important to have a map to know where you are going! Schoolhouse cascades into a large pool that would be very refreshing to jump into on a hot day. Or, it would be very unpleasant to jump into on a frigid day in the middle of Winter, but hey, if that's your prerogative, I'm not here to judge!
Tallulah Gorge Falls
Tallulah Gorge Falls, located in Tallulah Gorge State Park in Georgia, is part of another network of trails like Panthertown. However, unlike Panthertown, this network is filled with literally hundreds of stairs. There are enough stairs on the way down and back to this waterfall that even a body builder may wince slightly as they make their way back up. However, the view to see this waterfall is worth every step that you will take, promise!
Lee Falls
Lee Falls is an otherworldly looking waterfall near Tamassee, South Carolina. The trail leading to this falls is about 1.5 miles each way and passes through beautiful meadows with tall grass. It's the kind of scene where a princess might sing and attract wildlife. If you try your hand at being a princess with creature friends, I cannot guarentee it will be successful, but if it works... get in touch with me. I must see this in person.
Anyway, this waterfall looks like it's flowing from a cliff in the middle of Costa Rica. The sheer, rocky mountain that it falls from is incredibly vibrant and green, which makes for an amazing treat at the end of a lovely hike.
For more photos and explorations, be sure to follow The Wandering Appalachian on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest!
Be sure that when you're discovering new places to practice Leave No Trace principles. Take only pictures, and leave only footprints. Happy wandering, y'all!
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