Tucked away off the campus of Clemson on a vast plot of land is the South Carolina Botanical…read moreGardens. Like some other college-affiliated gardens, this one is free of charge to all visitors. It's a bit tough to get your bearings at first since the property is really spread out, and requires quite a bit of driving to get from place to place, where first time visitors (like me) are sure to get lost along the way, even with a map of the property. I recommend starting your visit with the visitors center, carriage house, and geology museum, which are adjacent to the desert and Jurassic gardens. I tried to get intel on best places to see blooms at the visitors center, but staff weren't overly helpful in assisting where to explore, so I basically grabbed the map and drove off meandering around the back roads, winding up at the Hanover House (super friendly staff here) and the Caboose and President's gardens (some blooms in this area). Despite feeling a bit lost while exploring and encountering very few blooms, I did overall enjoy my visit to the South Carolina Botanical Gardens. I would rate it as a 3.5 out of 5 experience overall, as much of the land on property seemed not to serve much of a purpose, and you really have to spend time exploring (and getting lost) to find interesting blooms.

I took my 88 yr old neighbor with me. We walked around the circle near the bell. Just so special…read moreand peaceful.

This is the best waterfall we got to visit in SC this far. After we left Reedy Branch Falls we…read moredrove here. Well, as close as we could get. I didn't realize that we couldn't drive all the way to the trailhead so we had a long hike in store due to me having to carry my toddler most of the time. I should have re-read the previous reviews before coming. My friend did help me carry her as well and for that I was very thankful. So definitely don't recommend this hike with a little one unless strapped in a carrier. Also, I don't recommend it for the elderly either. It's definitely a wilderness hike deal with roots and elevation change. In fact, it's mostly downhill on the way to the falls, but on the way back it's pretty much all uphill, which was not fun with aforementioned young child. It's about a half mile to the actual trailhead and then another 0.7 mile to the falls. That's about 2.4 miles round trip. The reason of course that my boys absolutely became enamored with this place is the large swimming hole. It is wonderful and has plenty of space. The waterfall itself is beautiful and although it's not as tall as others, its width is quite impressive. I was trying to get as close as I could and even noticed a hidden part of the falls inside of the rock structure. That was so cool!! The sand at the base and shore give it a beachy vibe. We definitely packed it in and out making sure not to leave anything behind as to preserve the area as best as possible. Needless to say we were wiped by the time we made it back to our vehicles, but we're still glad we decided to venture here. Coming back with my hubby and boys in the very near future. Happy yelping!

I just wanted to update my 3/15/20 review below to add I've now done this hike several times, but…read moreTHIS time I had the chance to hike it with a friend who is directly related to the namesake of the waterfall... Riley Moore. Sandie is a church friend of mine and Riley Moore was her Great Great Uncle (I believe that's right). He once upon a time operated a grist mill here at the top of the falls. She's been trying to get here to see the waterfall, but couldn't find it and wanted to join us (along with her family) since I knew the way. Upon further research I discovered there are actually still remnants of the mill including visible drill holes, spikes and bolts. Thought that was pretty cool info to share! [ [ [ PREVIOUS REVIEW ] ] ] Riley Moore Falls is small in height but HUGE in personality. It's located off State Road S37-748, which is a nicely maintained gravel road where cars and trucks alike can comfortably traverse. ~~~ DIRECTIONS From Westminster, SC - DO NOT turn onto Cobb Bridge Road from Long Creek Hwy (Hwy 76) where you will see the brown & white sign pointing you in the direction of Riley Moore Falls. Our GPS had us go this way, then left onto State Road S37-748, but the road was CLOSED during our visit! INSTEAD, turn onto PU-32 also known as Rocky Fork Road. Turn left onto a gravel road near Rocky Fork Baptist Church and follow that until it dead ends @ State Road S37-748 (also known as Spy Rock Road). Turn right and drive approx. 1.4 miles (4 minutes) to 748c (aka Riley Moore Shoals Road). Park at the intersection of State Road S37-748 and 748c. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE 748c in a car or minivan. Low clearance vehicles will find the terrain on this road to be VERY difficult to navigate without bottoming out or getting stuck. I'd also recommend 4x4 capability on wet days! There can be several deep-pocketed muddy areas after heavy rains. ~~~ THE TRAIL Once you reach the intersection of Spy Rock Rd (S37-748) and 748c, park roadside on Spy Rock, secure your vehicle and begin your hike approx. 1/2 mile down the "primitive road." IF you have a high ground clearance SUV or truck, you can drive the primitive road another half mile or so to a second parking area near the trailhead. The primitive road is VERY BUMPY  and can be muddy in spots after heavy rains, so a 4x4 is best. After reaching the second parking area, follow the marked trail on the left!!! The trail is a little over a 1/2 mile to the falls from here. The trail is fairly straightforward and easy to follow. ~~~ THE FALLS Once you reach the Chauga River, you will notice a large sandy area with plenty of room for an entire horde of hikers!!! Riley Moore Falls is not very tall (only about 12 feet), but it is very wide and has a deep base pool. PRO TIP - Bring swimwear, towels and a picnic, but be sure to pack it in and pack it out. ~~~ THINGS TO KNOW Hiking Distance: 2 miles (round trip to falls from S37-748) Difficulty of hiking 748c: All downhill to trailhead (moderate return) Difficulty of hiking trail to falls: EASY Creek Crossings: NO Elevation Gain: 357 feet Waterfall Height: Approx 12 feet Access to top of falls: NO - not without getting wet Access to base of falls: YES Pool of water @ base of Falls: YES Sitting areas @ base: YES + sandy beach RESTROOMS: NO PARKING: YES (along road) + secondary parking area closer to trailhead for trucks and high ground clearance vehicles with room for about 6 cars. ~~~ [ FINAL THOUGHTS ] A lovely waterfall in any season, but also a great spot for a summer swim. While we had the waterfall practically to ourselves during our Mid-March expedition, be advised other trail website reviews say it gets trashy & crowded in summer months. What a shame if that is true because it truly is a treasure. ENJOY! 2022 / 74 #UPDATE 178

Nice little playground for getting our kids' energy out on a long car trip. There's a shaded…read morepavilion in the back of the park, which is a nice respite from the otherwise unshaded playground. Well maintained bathrooms.

I love this place! It is my favorite county park! The trails are well kept, and there are a few…read moreto choose from depending on how ambitious you feel. Or sometimes it's nice to just sit on the giant rock and look at the beautiful waterfall. There is a very nice little playground that my grandkids had a blast playing on. As well as a couple of nice adult swings for the grownups to sit on and watch the kids. There are also places for the kids, and adults too, to get in the water. . As a bonus, the bathrooms are kept very clean and are nicer than any park bathroom I have ever been in. If you haven't been here yet, just do it!

We love this place but after today they will never get another cent from me this place has racist…read moreworker who follow you around like you are stealing then yells at a 15 year old cause she accidentally dropped a candy bar rapper then screamed at my family for parking "illegally "while we were trying to load our cars we told him and he proceeded to tell us to get in our cars and leave the park now and went over and dug in the trash and found an empty alcoholic can and said it was ours and to leave even though there were other people that just left those tables he said we were lying and to get out then proceeded to call in our car tags I spent $50 to rent for my daughters party plus $3.00 only for them to treat me and my guess like crap also got mad cause we used all the bags they gave us and because we didn't put any bags in the empty cans after today hartwell lake will always get my money never again this place by the way the name of the "park ranger "who done this is Patrick if you can't be friendly then don't be a ranger no need to be rude and mean and to follow my group around like we are thieves while at the swimming /bridge area

We circled the entire garden from the outside once to try to find an access point without stairs…read moreand found none. Hence, 4 stars. I ended up leaving the stroller on top and climbed down the stairs with my toddler. It is a beautiful, quaint place. I'm sure it can be very peaceful when coming at the right time. I visited in the evening, but with children, so not exactly peaceful and quiet. I can see why this location has so many photo sessions. It can also be rented for weddings, although I wouldn't know where the guests would park since there is no actual parking area. Happy yelping!

Just off of the creek and its long greenway trail, this quieter spit of land does offer an…read moreartificial waterfall, and the small stream is surrounded by rocks. There are stairs to the top of a waterfall and some constructed seating areas and plant displays, but it is overall a natural and unfussy area. Not the kind of attraction that the main falls are, but a nice little area for those who have some time.

Spending time along the Reedy River in Greenville is such a special experience. There are several…read morebeautiful spots to sit and relax, especially near the Grand Bohemian Lodge Greenville, and the bridge is a wonderful place to stroll while enjoying the soothing sound of the river and waterfall. What makes it even more meaningful is the history behind it. Beginning in the late 1700s, water-powered industries clustered along the Reedy River, including trading posts, grist and corn mills, a sawmill, an ironworks, the Gower, Cox and Markley Coach Factory, a paper-making factory, and an armory. A century later, textile and apparel mills were established along its banks. Unfortunately, the mills discharged waste and excess dyes into the river, and the Reedy began to suffer from the spoils of progress. By the mid-20th century, downtown Greenville's stretch of the river was so severely polluted by upstream textile mills that the once pristine and popular falls became desolate and unsafe. Seeing how beautiful and vibrant the area is today makes you truly appreciate the restoration and revitalization efforts. It's peaceful, scenic, and rich with history -- definitely a must-visit when you're in Greenville. Cheers!

Walking through Falls Park was an amazing experience. The sweet sounds of the waterfalls was very…read morenice especially right in the heart down town Greenville. I enjoyed walking on the suspension bridge overlooking sites.

I was enjoying a walk at the botanical gardens and saw the sign near where I'd parked. It's a…read moresteady, mild incline 1/2 mile up and down a gravel road to the viewpoints. Not by any means the prettiest trek, but lovely views at the top of course. I did encounter sections of monster mosquitos about 3/4 the way up and around the rocky viewing areas. I didn't arrive at sunset or rise, so I can't account for that aspect. But I found some of the other viewpoints in the area equally pretty, so I probably wouldn't go out of my way for these. And, I enjoyed the setting of the botanical preserve trails below much better. Still yet, I'm sure it would've been a different experience during the right time of day.

Loved this place! It's a half mile walk in a gravel road but to be able to watch the sunset was so…read morebeautiful!! Will definitely be back.

Love this park one of the top 5 I been to in the area . Big playground super safe bars all the way…read morearound the higher structure. A little kid gated area below, clean bathrooms and a huge playground to play on. A must go for the kids. They will have so much fun

My camp went here and everyone loved it .To me it looked like tiger river park (which is great) but…read moreway better. We all liked the zip lines and playground equipment. PS I am 9 years old and my grandma let me write a review!

This place is an absolute blast! We cliff jumped and slid down a smooth rock waterfall. It gets…read morebusy on the weekends, but not too bad during the week. Be sure to wear a more athletic swimsuit bc I saw some disturbing bikini fails with several lads on their way down the sliding rock.

Beautiful park with a decent size sliding rock and a small body of water to take a quick dip…read more Please don't jump from the rocks. If you miss the small patch of water that has some dept you will hurt yourself. And if you hurt yourself getting your butt up the hill to the parking lot will be extremely painful as there is no easy way to climb.

The tunnel is cool, but very short. The trails make up for it and the waterfalls are a great sight…read more No wait time, no reservations recommended, price to entry $1-5. But make sure you have a flashlight with you to go into the tunnels and the waterfalls is so pretty. I recommend this to anyone who want to adventure.

Short experience but worth going to. The entrance is $5 a car. You can walk the short tunnel, just…read morebe careful it gets dark and there's puddles. The waterfall is beautiful and it can be viewed from the top and from the side on the observatory deck.