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.

Yellow Branch Falls was the last waterfall we went to on the last Hiking Yelp Event hosted by…read moreRichard and Jamarcus which was also my first one. Not only my first Hiking Event but also my first time hiking. This time these guys took us to chase waterfalls to Walhalla, South Carolina. Definitely a great choice with beautiful views (which is why I live for, great views). The itinerary consisted on the following waterfalls: Station Cove Falls King Creek Falls Spoonauger Falls Issaqueena Falls *Yellow Branch Falls Yellow Branch was one of my favorites too. I was told the hike was about 1.5 round trip but it happened to be 3 miles total! I was exhausted but I have to say it was worth it. The trail is super easy, very spacious too so I felt free LOL. Yellow Branch was great and definitely one of my favorites places we visited on the trip. I think it's great for everyone including children. I didn't realize how easy hiking can be. There are indications and marks all over the place to help people follow the right way. My group was super experimented but I feel it would be totally fine for beginners too. No worries. I had so much fun on this event and I discovered what can be my new passion. Shoutout to Richard and his wife Dani for being so helpful and awesome. Every single person at the group was super nice too and willing to wait for me when i was getting too slow. LOL. Thanks y'all. Can't wait for the nexts events coming up. Thanks Richard for the great pictures you took of me!! :D ESPAÑOL Yellow Branch Falls fue la última cascada a la que asistimos en el último Evento de Yelp de Senderismo organizado por Richard y Jamarcus, que también fue el primero. No solo mi primer evento de senderismo, sino también mi primera vez. Esta vez, estos muchachos nos llevaron a cazar cascadas a Walhalla, Carolina del Sur. Definitivamente una gran elección con hermosas vistas (por lo que vivo por, excelentes vistas). El itinerario consistió en las siguientes cataratas: Estación Cove Falls King Creek Falls Spoonauger Falls Issaqueena Falls * Yellow Branch Falls Yellow Branch fue uno de mis favoritos también. Me dijeron que la caminata era de alrededor de 1.5 ida y vuelta, ¡pero resultó ser 3 millas en total! Estaba agotada pero tengo que decir que valió la pena. El sendero es muy fácil, muy espacioso también, así que me sentí libre LOL. Yellow Branch fue genial y, sin duda, uno de mis lugares favoritos que visitamos en el viaje. Creo que es genial para todos, incluidos los niños. No me di cuenta de lo fácil que puede ser el senderismo. Hay indicaciones y marcas por todo el lugar para ayudar a las personas a seguir el camino correcto. Mi grupo fue súper experimentado, pero creo que también estaría bien para los principiantes. Sin preocupaciones. Me divertí mucho en este evento y descubrí cuál puede ser mi nueva pasión. Grita a Richard y su esposa Dani por ser tan serviciales e increíbles. Cada persona del grupo también era súper agradable y estaba dispuesta a esperarme cuando me estaba volviendo demasiado lento. Jajaja Gracias a todos. No puedo esperar a los próximos eventos.

Today I spent the entire day with my wife (of 21 years this month) hiking 5 waterfalls, a 1850's…read moreincomplete railroad tunnel, and a historic park. We logged approximately 8 miles and our award for favorite destination of the day goes to Yellow Branch Falls. Here's what we loved: + It is a popular waterfall for both people and pets! Plenty of cute doggies to play with along the trail. + Because it's popular, it didn't feel remote and dangerous, making my non-hiker wife feel more comfortable. + Parking was plentiful + Restroom facility + Wide & spacious trail for the most part and easy to follow + Woods were not dense with foliage and lines of sight were sometimes well over 100 yards. + Creek crossings were easy as the trail made use of bridges, stepping stones and even downed trees. ++ And the biggest reason of all, A STUNNING WATERFALL as a reward for your 1.5 mile efforts. YELLOW BRANCH FALLS is only 50 feet tall, but feels so much larger because its multi-tiered face is about 80 feet wide! It is a magnificent specimen of a waterfall due to the fact that you can not only see ALL of it head on, but it also has an easy to photograph side profile. The reward of a gorgeous waterfall coupled with a pleasant trail that feel like Red Riding Hood's walk to grandma's house makes this our top hike of the day! Our other hikes today included nearby: - Lick Log Falls - Pigpen Falls - Issaqueena Falls - Station Cove Falls (2nd favorite of the day) - Oconee Station Historic Site - Stumphouse Tunnel Be sure to stop by King Taco in Walhalla as a reward for all the calories you will burn on these hikes. Great tacos and burritos! 2019/22

The ranger was full of information. We enjoyed his history of story telling. There is also a clean…read morerestroom near by

The history of this place is very interesting and provides a glimpse into post Colonial life in the…read moreUpcountry. In the late 1700s, this area was truly the wilderness and the two structures provide an interesting look into important historic events and culture. The settlement was originally an encampment and fort to protect against Indian attacks in 1760. The fort provided some protection to the settlers and served as a trading post. The site marks the furthest west point of Colonial settlement in South Carolina. By 1799, the Soldiers left and Cherokee Indians used the blockhouse to store furs and to trade. An 1805 brick house is also on site. The area served as a stagecoach stop throughout the 1800s. The park itself is quite beautiful. You can tour the buildings on Saturday when they open them up, or you can visit them anytime the park is open. There are two trails that lead to the Palmetto Trail. A 1.5 mile hike from the station or a .6 mile hike from the parking area just up the road leads to Falls, a 60 foot waterfall that is easy and kid friendly. It's also quite stunning. There are restrooms and picnic tables at the site. The Ranger is very nice and helpful. There is no fee, but donations are accepted (and I recommend people donate).

Rhonda was our tour guide. So friendly and helpful. The house was very interesting to walk through,…read moreand so much we could actually see up close and personal. We also got to see Mr. Calhoun's office, which is not attached to the house. We enjoyed our time here and didn't feel rushed at all. And it was FREE!

From the owner: Thomas Green Clemson's bequest led to the creation of Clemson University and the establishment of…read moreFort Hill, the antebellum plantation of American politician John C. Calhoun, as an historic house museum first opened to the public in 1893. In accordance with T. G. Clemson's will, Fort Hill dwelling house "shall always be open for the inspection of visitors" with official hours of operation seven days a week, with the exception of University holidays and home football games. Fort Hill interprets the history of all who lived here from the Calhoun and Clemson families to the enslaved African-Americans whose sheer determination, resilience, and resistance are much of our story. Prior to the American Revolution, the land that now makes up Clemson University's campus was part of the Cherokee's Lower Town of Esseneca.

Beautiful example of a southern plantation house. The house and grounds have a rich history. Our…read moretour guide was very knowledgeable and gave interesting details as we went through each room. Pictures are not allowed inside the house. Some families that once lived here donated furniture that was in the house at the time. The pieces of furniture and accents are gorgeous! The design of some of the tables and even some door hinges was ingenious. This is well worth the stop if you're nearby!

Big thanks to Richard R. for adding this one that did not come up in the usual searches and yet, it…read morewas the main reason I passed through the DuPont Forest. I love bridges and I love covered bridges even more! And wow, thanks for the amazing writeup of all the drama on this property that was an eye-opener. I parked the van at the High Falls Trailhead (there are restrooms and even a wifi here!) and made my way along the trail to the bridge. It's about 0.75 of a mile on a path through the woods. I am apparently not as delicious as usual as I earned zero mosquito bites despite sweating a lot in the humidity. I'd call this walk "easy plus." The bridge itself is impressive and quite modern. And I would suggest not missing the nearby Falls though I was simply too tired and it was getting too late for me. I'll need to plan better next time! The walk back was much easier as I opted to take the gravel road that is easy and smooth, but only open for emergency vehicles and the forest rangers. I would rate the hike as "easy" for 0.6 miles though not wheelchairable. You can ask the rangers for access by vehicle for handicapped but they're only open regular hours. [Review 20030 overall - 3463 in North Carolina - 1005 of 2023.]

High Falls Covered Bridge (also known as Buck Forest Covered Bridge) is one of my favorite bridges…read morein the Southern United States. It is a modern structure that has an interesting history. It is an example of the power of the people versus the dollar power of a developer. HISTORY In 1999, Sterling Diagnostic Imaging decided to sell their interest in the land that holds Triple Falls and High Falls, two of the most gorgeous waterfalls you will ever visit this side of the Mississippi. For reasons still unknown, the company decided to use an unusual bidding method by choosing to keep the bidding private and secretive. The State offered up a bid in efforts to save the land for public use, but Sterling announced a developer by the name of Jim Anthony won with a bid of 6.35 million. The developer initially announced in the Hendersonville Times News that he had no plans to develop the land, but instead wanted to use it as a private retreat. However, it soon became apparent Anthony was indeed planning a massive upscale gated community. The fact that the deed he purchased from Sterling Diagnostics stating the land could not be used for residential purposes at the Transylvania Courthouse did not seem to matter. It was later discovered the complex legal agreement between the two was unenforceable and the battle began between the state and Anthony. Anthony proceeded to begin building the roads and this gorgeous covered bridge as part of his planned community, but thankfully he was ultimately defeated. On October 23, 2000 Governor Jim Hunt and the Council of State unanimously voted to invoke eminent domain on the tract of land owned by developer Anthony. In many ways Anthony still won big, because the State paid him 24.5 million dollars in an out of court settlement. WOW! The Falls opened to the public on December 17, 2000. Since then, the entire 2200 acres has been integrated into Dupont State Forest. [History Reference: Romantic Asheville - "How Dupont State Forest was saved"] FINAL THOUGHTS Aside from being one of the most beautiful covered bridges you will ever see, it also is part of a trail system that includes arguably the most beautiful waterfalls in the South. If that is not enough of a reason to come here, let me give you movie fans one more reason. Many scenes from the 1st Hunger Games were filmed right here in this forest. The scene were Katniss finds Peeta camouflaged in the ground at the waterfall is located on the second tier of Triple Falls... just a half mile downstream of High Falls Covered Bridge. Movie scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxvyMiwhJWw Year Built: 2000 Obvious materials: Wood, stone, concrete Spans over: Little River at the top of High Falls Location: Dupont State Forest @ Buck Forest Road

Stopped in on a whim and just caught a guided tour heading out...so glad we did. Faye was our tour…read moreguide and she moved at a good pace and had some interesting history to share. The house is preserved to it's original state as much as they could (they've added electric lighting, etc) and there's lots of art and personal items to check out. Great way to spend an hour or two if in the area on a nice day. You will walk outside for a good portion of the tour so dress appropriately! There is a lovely gift shop that I'll keep in mind if I'm ever in the area and need a little present or hostess gift :)

Hardman Farm was a nice walk from my hotel. There is a gift shop however, they do not allow pets…read moreand walking I had my dog with me. So that was disappointing that I couldn't go in and explore. we could walk around the grounds and explore the barns and areas of the farm. There are some fantastic views. The main house is gorgeous. The barns are cool. I liked seeing the dairy barn. The land is one of my dreams. The walk back to the hotel was just as nice under the shade of trees following the river.

Maxie Lee Wright Duke was an avid waterfall hunter and good friend to Sidney Holmes Ballenger, Jr.,…read morea man who loved waterfalls so much that he literally wrote the pioneering book on finding them in Oconee County, South Carolina. When he died @ age 73, Maxie wanted to honor him by petitioning the U. S. Department of the Interior in hopes of naming an UNNAMED local waterfall in his honor. While her 1993 petition was denied, the effort didn't end. In late 2014, Renee Hattenstein reapplied to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names to have the falls officially named Sid's Falls and in April of 2016, the name Sid's Falls was accepted by the board. Sadly I found an online obituary stating Maxie Lee Wright Duke passed away in December of 2020. But Oconee County residence wanted to honor her by unofficially naming a waterfall after her in close proximity to Sid's Falls. As a matter of fact, Maxie Duke Falls shares most of the same trail and parking that you would use to visit Sid's Falls. [ THE EXPERIENCE ] I WANT TO GIVE FAIR WARNING right up front that while 95% of this trail is super easy, the final leg of the trail to the base of the falls is NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART or anyone not capable of using BOTH HANDS during the descent. You will absolutely need to posses basic skills in climbing and some upper body and leg strength. The trail to the bottom at minimum fits the CLASS 3 hike rating and the breakoff trail to Maxie Duke is practically CLASS 4 as ropes are available to assist climbers on the steep, steep terrain. PARK at the small area off Damascus Church Road between Damascus Baptist Church and Cool Springs Road (State Route S-37-797). Walk around the gate and enjoy approx. 1.4 miles of easy hiking on a wide old road that passes two open grassy fields along the way. The grade varies, but typically stays within a 5% differential. However, once the trail enters into the woods and narrows, it becomes steeper. You will reach a point where the trail forks right or left. RIGHT is to Sid's Falls and LEFT is to Maxie Duke Falls. Here is where either trail gets noticeable difficult as the grade to Sid's can exceed -34% (according to AllTrails). Maxie Duke's trail is even steeper and may require the assistance of a preinstalled rope for most of the descent. Once you reach the creek you will need to wet cross over to the right side in order to achieve the best view of the falls. I ducked under a large fallen tree and discovered a dry trail leading to the base of the falls. I walked right out onto the stone ledge of the falls through the water and did not find the stones to be particularly slippery. In fact, I had good grip but I still remained very cautious. [ FINAL THOUGHTS ] When returning, you could also continue your adventure and follow the trail right of the split to Sid's Falls. But again, BE FOREWARNED the trail to Sid's is only slightly less steep, and you will absolutely need both hands and a lower center of gravity to remain balanced! Plan on getting your feet wet @ both falls to attain the best vantage for photos. Proceed with caution, respect the power of nature and know your own ability. It took us about 2 hours 20 minutes to hike from parking to both falls and back, which included rests and about 25 minutes of picture taking. ~ Round trip length to both: 3.3 miles ~ Elevation Gain: UNKNOWN (but probably 600+ feet) OVERALL this is a wonderful hike that will fool you into thinking it's easy for its majority... But do not choose to visit this trail casually! You're gonna get dirty, you're gonna be very tired, but the payoff is well worth the effort to see these two 50 foot beauties! NOT RECOMMENDED for young children, dogs, anyone with balance issues or solo hikers because it is not a popular trail (yet) and injuring yourself would make the return ascent very difficult. 2022 / 73

No "shadows of a bear" for me, I passed through Highlands in order to see this famed covered…read morebridge. There really aren't many of them left in the US and very few remain in North Carolina! The bridge is the entrance to the Bascom Center, a six-acre campus of indoor and outdoor artworks. It was named for artist Will Henry Stevens (1881-1949) who lived and painted and taught here in Highlands. The bridge dates back about 200 years when it was originally build in New Hampshire over the Warner River. Disassembled rather than destroyed, it was put into storage in 1966. And then purchased and moved here to Highlands forty years later. Now it's been recreated as an Ithiel Town lattice using traditional techniques and materials including 1100 tree-nails, towels and trunnels with no metal fasteners! Unfortunately, when I arrived it was closed for reconstruction and repair. Blocked off on both sides and surrounded by piles of rough-hewn beams and planks. I'll need to come back when it's all fixed up. [Review 20018 overall - 3458 in North Carolina - 993 of 2023.]

I came to Highlands, NC in search of a bear, or more accurately the "shadow of a bear". A natural…read morephenomenon that happens from mid-October through early November when the setting sun casts a shadow onto the valley below Whiteside Mountain. The shadow takes on the appearance of a bear and I simply could not not miss this one-of-a kind opportunity. The shadow begins at 5:30 p.m. I arrived in town super early (around 1pm) so I decided to do a little exploring. There was a waterfall here I wanted to visit, but I discovered The Bascom Visual Arts Center and decided to make that my first stop. To know me is to know I have a profoundly deep love for old structures, particularly covered bridges. So to discover a covered bridge I was not aware of (that was also historic) in a gorgeous mountain setting was almost orgasmic... and I mean that literally. When I get super excited about something, it makes me wanna go poop! TMI right?, but it's true. There is no greater laxative for me than showing me a picture of someplace gorgeous that I've never been. It's why I keep travel magazines in a woven basket in our bathroom. The excitement for new adventures twists my stomach into knots. So, actually realizing I'm live on location of a place I would have seen in the pages of a magazine brings on a different excitement! LOL --- THE BRIDGE You simply can't get more picturesque than Will Henry Stevens Covered Bridge. A little research revealed this bridge was once considered the oldest covered bridge in New Hampshire. It was named Bagley Covered Bridge and it crossed the Warner River, until it was considered a hazard from its aging condition. The bridge was scheduled to be destroy until Milton & Arnold Graton, lovers of historic bridges, purchased it in 1966 and placed it in storage for the next 42 years. The bridge was built in approximately 1807 out of old growth pine. It is around 14 feet wide and almost 88 feet long. In February of 2008 it was gifted to the Bascom Art Center as a perfect entrance to their facility and reconstruction completed in 2009. This bridge looks like a totally new structure, but in fact is now over 200 years old. The design is Town lattice and uses over 1,100 wooden fasteners in keeping with the original 1800's bridge building traditions. I'm guessing the flares at the bottom were not original to the bridge, but are characteristic of Carolina-style covered bridges. SIDE NOTE: Famous people said to have once crossed this bridge are General Lafayette, President Theodore Roosevelt & President Franklin Pierce. --- FINAL THOUGHTS I am in awe of the dedication to conservation that led this bridge from New Hampshire to the Mountains of North Carolina. What love and genuine concern for the preservation of such an important artifact from a dying era! It truly brings a mist to my eyes to know that someone loved this bridge so much that they saved it, carefully dismantled it, stored it, nurtured it for 4 decades, and rebuilt it once they found it the perfect home. In Georgia, there were once over 600 covered bridges, but only 15 historic ones remain. Most met their end by arson or neglect. So I am very proud to see one of these beauties survived by being blanketed with a great deal of love. I wish we all honored such important structures & relationships in our lives and were less quick to deem things that were once important as antiquated and useless. I read an article about the father and son who saved the bridge, the Grafton's. It highlighted a quote which stated: "To me, to write-off the remaining usefulness of so faithful an old bridge... is like sentencing [someone] without hearing [their] witness. Should not this old bridge have a chance to be heard even through an interpreter?" AMEN 2016/119

I found out about an event going on at The Haywood Mill threw the Meetup app. A group of retirees…read morewere going to "meet up" there. My hubby and I decided to give the event a try...boy, am I glad we did! Wonderful entertainment with banjo's playing, singing and the mill was open! Wow! How cool to see them making grits powered from a water mill! Explored the other structures to. Small tents were set up with artisan's selling their merchandise. Loved the museum where a rock is that was discovered to have Cherokee Indian writings on them. Wow! What a treasure! My hubby and I enjoyed it so much! Would have never known this place existed without the Meetup Group! Can't wait to go back for more events!

Great family area, history, hiking Just a good place to…read moreexperience the outdoors Bring the dogs play in the creek/ explore