I didn't realize just how massive Gorges State Park was until I read more about it. It spans over…read more8,000 acres and has 26 waterfalls. We hiked to Rainbow Falls and Turtleback Falls, both of which were well worth the effort. Unfortunately, we didn't make it to Drift Falls (I'll blame the IPAs from the night before and my hiking attire). It's located on private property, but from what I've read, the views are still good. The hike is moderately challenging, so come prepared with proper footwear and plenty of water. The trails can be demanding, but the waterfalls and scenery make every step worth it.

We wanted to see waterfalls during our mini vacation in the mountains and this was one of the parks…read moreon a handout about places to see them. I think it said rainbow falls was about 1-1/2 miles out but it felt longer than that due to the terrain. It got a little steep and rocky at times. We went to Dupont State Park the next day and those trails were much flatter. We did make it to rainbow falls and then a little bit farther to turtleback falls. Some people went down to the waters' edge of both falls but that did not seem safe. PSA: if you're visiting any park or natural place, don't be loud and distracting. There was a group behind us yakking on and on and I actually faked tying my shoelaces so they would pass us. That's not good behavior, and they should have known better.

Its a long hot hike in the summer, but when you finally make it to the falls, the water is cold!…read more The climbing rope is not very safe, I slipped due to so many people being there and the rock being so slippery and had massive bruises on my knees for weeks. A little overcrowded in the summer.

Turtleback Falls was always so much fun. Everything in this area is spectacular. It is a giant…read morefalls shaped like a turtle's back and you can slide off of it! The rock surface is so smooth and when you slide off the turtle's back you fall 10-15 feet into freezing cold water. There is a hole on turtle back that you can slide into and lean your head back to find an air pocket. You can also swim behind the waterfall and just chill. On the opposite side of the catch pool (natural), you find a giant rock that you can jump off of. I'd say it's roughly 15-20 feet so you may want to wear shoes to assuage the impact on your feet.

The Chattooga River is simply one of the most stunning natural places in all the South, and because…read moreof its designation as a Wild and Scenic River, it will stay that way for generations to come! Haven't heard of it? It forms the squiggly border on your map between northern Georgia and South Carolina. Its headwaters begin just northwest of Whiteside Mountain @ spring-fed Cashiers Lake, North Carolina. Chattooga was also a location when filming the movie "Deliverance". Whiteside Mountain is a gorgeous protrusion that rises from its surroundings so sharply that two sides of it have white cliffs with sheer drops! Views from this mountain are incredible and a natural phenomenon happens every October around 5:30 pm. As the sun sets, the mountain casts a shadow onto the valley below in the shape of a bear (although I personally think it looks more like a mouse). This is known as The Shadow of the Bear, and people come from all around to see it. By the time Chattooga River reaches the intersection of North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, it is a full-scale raging wonder as several tributaries add to its volume along the way! Chattooga River cuts such a deep gorge though the Blue Ridge Mountains that almost every creek that flows into it has one or more gorgeous waterfalls. Some of the waterfalls drop directly into the river such as Dicks Creek Falls and Licklog Falls while others are not far from the shoreline, such as King Falls, Spoonauger Falls and Opossum Falls. { ADVENTURE } Kayakers love this river for its Class IV rapids. It is known as the CROWN JEWEL of Southern white water. The river drops from 3,000 feet to 950 feet over a 50-mile journey, creating some wild and dangerous rapids, particularly near the Hwy 76 Bridge in an area known as Bulls Sluice. The heart-pounding Class IV rapids are strung together over a 1/4 mile gorge, where the river drops more than 75 feet through what has been dubbed the FAMOUS FIVE FALLS... Entrance, Corkscrew, Crack-In-the-Rock, Jawbone, and Sock'em Dog. See Famous Five rapids: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NrjHi_k-AA The Chattooga River ends @ Lake Tugaloo, where the water flows into the Tugaloo River, then into Lake Hartwell and eventually continues south as the Savannah River. It falls under the management of the U.S. Forest Service to keep it protected for future generations as one of the Southeasts only remaining untouched & untamed rivers. There are plenty of places to enjoy the river. Aside from Whitewater Rafting tours, you can also hike the river using the 19 mile Chattooga River Trail or visit locations such as Low Water Campground, Beaver Lane river access road, Burrell's Ford Campground, Earl's Ford Put-In, Bulls Sluice or from the Georgia side follow Sandy Ford Road (near Clayton GA) all the way to the river (truck or SUV advised). Google Maps will show the road ending just before Dicks Creek, but I promise you it actually goes all the way to the river. It even has a beach and nice sized parking area. { FINAL THOUGHTS } The Appalachian Mountains where this gorgeous river is located are the result of continental collision over 350 million years ago when the Eastern United States was once part of Northern Africa. Evidence of this same mountain chain (resulting from said collision) continues in Morocco as the Atlas Mountains after the continents drifted apart. Isn't nature and geology fascinating? No matter where you access the river, it is truly worth your time to visit and see nature in its raw beauty! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND the short hike to Dicks Creek from Clayton, Georgia. This is a gorgeous access point where not only does the river cascade and bend, but you have a beautiful waterfall for even more ambiance and beauty. 2019/46

I went for a trail ride here a few weeks ago and it was a blast. Not only were the horses…read morewell-cared for, but I was impressed by how much our guide knew about the area. It's clear that everyone working here is passionate about what they do and that is reflected on the positive experiences they provide their visitors. There was a child in my trail ride group and the guide was kind and gentle with him, making sure he felt comfortable the whole time. At the end, he even got a surprise - I think it was a gem from the local mine. I would recommend it to anyone visiting the area!

Awesome guided tour on horseback. Expert guides. Beautiful, gentle horses. If you don't ride, sit…read morein the porch and chew the fat with Hinkle who has a repertoire of stories he will gladly share. An hour on horseback before or after your visit to the falls is perfect.

It is cool children's playground. Twin castles entrance. Big play house set. Several swings set…read more Wooden bridge connection between castle. Slide for younger kid and twisted slide for the older kid. There are a lot to offer. I can see mom bring their kid here in the morning, midday or evening. It has climb area for monkey of the day. This park locate at the village park - may be the only park in Cashier. The park is beautiful with flowers and blooming around the park. This is a nice green space. It has Dance wooden platform that can host county dance. This place can be county festival area. I wonder how it will look with low lid light and the atmosphere must be good. There are several monuments or statues in the park. Garden is located at the middle of the park with nice sitting area.

The Village Green is a wonderful green space in the center of Cashiers. It has a "wooden park", as…read moremy granddaughter calls it, for children to swing, climb and run around. Great dog walking area through garden and wetlands. They sponsor numerous festivals, flower shows, antique shows, art shows in their new air conditioned building. Outside they sponsor Easter egg hunts, 4th of July celebrations, Turkey runs, etc. This area draws our community together and is open to the public!!

IF you want a challenging hike and are looking to score a bunch of amazing waterfalls on the SAME…read moreTRAIL, the Thompson River Waterfalls trail is your Huckleberry!!! Google maps has labeled the trailhead HIGH FALLS TRAIL HEAD just off Whitewater Road. As you turn onto Brewer Road, you will see a wide trail entrance on the corner. We parked along the side of the road near the entrance. There are multiple waterfalls along the trail as Thompson River makes its run down the mountain, dropping approx. 1,900 feet over 5 miles as it makes is way to beautiful Lake Jocassee. There are seven names waterfalls along the trail and 3 that absolutely should not be missed: HIGH FALLS, RICH FALLS & BIG FALLS aka THOMPSON FALLS. THE TRAIL The trail initially ascends about 60 feet but remains at a fairly consistent decline of about 500 feet along the entirety of the main trail. First up was REID FALLS at around .9 miles, but we decided to skip it. A split in the trail at around 1.1 miles leads to HIGH FALLS, a gorgeous 50 foot sliding ribbon waterfall. There really is no way to get an excellent picture of the falls without getting wet. The best vantage of the falls is across the river and a scramble over some large boulders to a beach like area. The pool in front of the falls is better than 6 feet deep, but most of the shallow areas were only ankle or calf deep. Back along the main trail we continued our descent down the mountain and next came to SIMON FALLS, which we also opted to skip. All of the falls (except High Falls) require a scramble downhill to view. Reid and Simon Falls have the least steep scrambles, but we wanted to conserve our legs for Big Falls, the steepest of the scrambles. We also bypassed Rich Falls around the 3.8 mile mark as we decided it would be best to see how we feel after tackling Big Falls. BIG FALLS Listen, however easy the trail seemed up until this point was about to SEVERELY change! The descent to the falls is about 535 feet in less that a quarter of a mile. IT IS VERY STEEP and some areas require sitting on your butt and sliding, other require holding on to low branches or roots and one area in particular requires mild vertical rock climbing. NOT KIDDING! But all of it is doable if you take your time and don't have any serious physical or health challenges. All of the MAIN trail is very easy to follow, but I would highly recommend downloading the ALLTRAILS map because it shows the exact entry points for the side trails to each of the falls. The side trail to Big Falls is easy to follow, but can be very faint in some areas. Once you make it down to the river, look for a side trail just before the final descent to the riverbank. It will lead you through a thicket of vegetation that leads to a boulder entrance to the falls. Navigate them as best you can to get to a great vantage point to view the falls. If you are not skilled at boulder hopping, this area will be very intimidating! But you MUST do it in order to view the Big Falls, which is not visible otherwise. NOTES / TIPS ~ Download ALLTRAILS MAP prior to your drive to the trailhead ~ There are 3 river crossings and yes you will get wet ~ Most of the falls require getting wet for best view ~ No restroom facilities at the trailhead ~ BRING PLENTY OF WATER & SNACKS FINAL THOUGHTS On our return, we were just too exhausted to attempt to see Rich Falls, so instead we used every ounce of energy we had remaining to make it back to the car. I was thoroughly exhausted. The 3.5 miles back seemed more like 10 and we'd run out of drinking water during our time at Big Falls. I recommend a minimum of five 16oz bottles to do this hike and more if you bring salty snacks. I'd also recommend you chug one bottle at the parking area before you begin. All in all this is an amazing trail full of gorgeous waterfalls. Big Falls easily has become one of my top 5 favorite southern waterfalls... but it is a beast of a hike! ALLTRAILS LINK: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/north-carolina/thompson-river-waterfalls?mobileMap=false&ref=sidebar-static-map 2023 / 12

A series of gorgeous waterfalls along beautiful Thompson River as it makes its way from the higher…read moremountain elevations down to the Jocassee River. The trail offers a great experience for anyone at any hiking level. If you are like me and prefer more leisurely hikes, The first three waterfalls (Reid Branch, High Falls & Simon Falls) are fairly easy to reach. High Falls in particular is great for families with small children and has a wading pool of water at its base of different depths. There is even a small beach like area to relax and have a picnic. Just know you must get wet in order to reach the beach area, which also has the best view of the falls since High Falls kind of sits recessed into a little nook making it difficult to see in its entirety. But for those who are more like my husband and don't mind a more difficult hike, Rich Falls and Big Falls further downstream will give you plenty of challenge. Although I must say, my husband was sore several days after his hike and while he thought Big Falls was stunning, he was miserable on the return. He said the side trail to Big Falls was extremely steep and challenging, both on the way down and especially on the climb back out. It drained him completely at age 54 and he still had to endure a 3.5 mile hike back to the car running on empty. Knowing him he'll do it again! MEN... LOL Also near the parking area is a trail leading to White Owl Falls. A very short hike to a beautiful 20 foot waterfall. Walk west on Whitewater Road from the parking area and look for an opening with a pink ribbon tied to a tree branch about 900 feet from the trailhead.

Came on a weekday morning, not many cars parked, only went to Rainbow Falls. Pretty short hike to…read moreit, although downhill there so uphill on the way back, not too steep. Slightly slippery from rain, lots of dead trees and leaves on the ground. Not a bad hike, would recommend if you're in the area!

What a fun hike! You hike down to the falls and the hike back up to your car. The falls are…read moreamazing. And there are many spots to get off the trail and climb around on the boulders.

Big Bend Falls is said to be the largest waterfall on the Scenic Chattooga River and can be reached…read morevia a 3.2 mile one way Hike from Burrell's Ford Campground. You can go directly to the falls via the trail at the end of the parking lot near the gate, OR take the trail directly across from the restroom facilities, which I would recommend! THAT trail leads you to Kings Creek, where you will find a stunning 70 foot waterfall. Once you've seen the falls, backtrack in the same direction you came until you see a side trail leading you to the Foothills Trail (white blazes). Eventually it will connect with another trail (green blazes) and you will follow it for approx. 2.8 miles. The Foothill Trail mostly follows the Chattooga River, but there will be a few sections of the trail that cut across higher elevations where the river is far below you or not visible at all. However, there are also several areas where you can walk out onto the river banks and take absolutely stunning pictures. It is no wonder the Chattooga is considered one of the most beautiful wild & scenic rivers in the southeastern United States! I would recommend using a satellite GPS trail tracking system that does not rely on the internet to find the falls. We ran across several backpack hikers that could not find the falls, which had us worried. However, ya' boy and his crew go t it done and found the elusive side trail that leads to the falls from the main trail. ~ INSIDER TIP: Once you cross the one-rail footbridge and see the signs that says Big Bend Falls [.8 miles], you will hike a number of switchbacks and sections with timber steps. The falls are not visible from the main trail, but you CAN hear them. The audible level of the falls is only slightly louder than the roar of the rivers rapids. However, once you are on the side trail down to the falls, you will hear the deep base tone of the falls much better. The trail down to the falls is just beyond a long set of timber stairs after the third or forth switchback. Immediately after the stairs is small a rock outcrop you must climb down and directly to your right after that will be a narrow opening in the thicket. The side trail entrance is here. ~ WARNING: The side trail is VERY STEEP and tight in some areas. You need both hands and feet to get down safely and it will require you to hold onto branches, roots or anything you can to keep from slipping. I would NOT RECOMMEND bringing small children on this hike. As a matter of fact, I would even go as far as to say it would be difficult (not impossible) for anyone shorter than 5 feet. There were some sections I needed my entire 5'11" frame to find the ground below me as I held onto a branch. ~ TRAIL DETAILS * PARKING AREA: YES [Burrell's Ford Campground] * RESTOOMS: YES * LENGTH: 3.2 miles ONE WAY to falls * DIFFICULTY: 5 out of 10 [main trail] / 9 out of 10 [side trail to falls] * ELEVATION GAIN: 785+ feet (one way) * WATERFALL ATTRACTIVENESS: 10 out of 10 | Kings Creek 6 out of 10 | Big Bend (mostly because of volume) * WATERFALL HEIGHT: 70 feet | Kings Creek 30 feet | Big Bend (but looks smaller) ~ FINAL TOUGHTS Some trail guide rate this trail as strenuous and others moderate. I would say it is mostly moderate, but the side trail climb down to the falls is no joke! It's not very long, but it requires great effort. Still, to those who risk it, there is a marvelous reward! Even without going down to Big Bend Falls it is a very rewarding trail, particularly in the fall season. The trail affords some seriously stunning views and photo ops of the Chattooga River, and Kings Creek Falls simply should not be missed! Also nearby are Spoonauger Falls, Licklog Falls and Pigpen Falls if you have the extra energy. ENJOY!!! 2020 / 80

JOHN'S JUMP & DEW FALLS are both located on the same river that crosses under NC-281, but on…read moreopposite sides of the road. ALLTRAILS labels it Mill Creek while another website called it Gumbottom Creek. Map coordinates are 35.067993, -83.007686 [ HIKING ] JOHN'S JUMP is a 35 foot waterfall on the eastern side of the road and is accessed via a very short yet steep trail to the base of the falls. The trail begins at the northern end of a grassy pullover. Look for an orange ribbon tied to a tree about 25 feet to the right of the beginning of a guard railing marking the trailhead. If the orange ribbon is not visible, the narrow trail leading into the woods should be fairly obvious. You will encounter a side view of the falls within a minute of being on the trail. John's Jump Falls are surprisingly large and the crest is within view from the roadside. Very pleasant waterfall that is fairly easy to access. To reach D.E.W. FALLS, walk safely along NC-281 near the guard railing. Once on the other side of the creek, cross over the road and you will see a small dirt pull-off large enough for two cars. Walk past the gate along an old road. In about 300 feet you will encounter a small elevation gain of about 15 feet. Take the dirt trail to the left of the main trail at the top of the small hill, which will lead you to D.E.W. Falls, named so after a student @ a South Carolina school by the name of Dorothy Ehlrich Walker, whom died in a car accident the summer before her senior year began. Reportedly the students helped build the trail and were given the honor of naming the waterfall by the Forest Services. NOTES: Our hike was within a few day of recent rains. [ THINGS TO KNOW ] Total Hiking Distance: .6 miles Difficulty: Easy and family/pet friendly Creek Crossings: YES (1 bridge) Elevation Gain: 135 feet Waterfall Height: 35 feet (John's Jump) Waterfall Height: 12 feet (D.E.W.) WATERFALL ATTRACTIVENESS * DEW Falls - 3 out of 10 * John's Jump - 6 out of 10 Access to top of falls: NO Access to base of falls: YES Pool of water @ base of Falls: YES Sitting areas @ base: YES RESTROOMS: NO PARKING: YES (limited) [ FINAL THOUGHTS ] The hike to both falls is about half a mile combined. DEW falls is less impressive, but still a worthy road trip pit stop if you are planning to visit other waterfalls in the area such as the magnificent triple waterfall combo trail @ nearby Gorges State Park which features 125' Rainbow Falls, Turtleback Falls and Drift Falls as well as an overlook to the 270' Bearwallow Falls. If you are feeling adventurous, there is a THIRD waterfall upstream of DEW Falls that is much taller and practically roadside. Topography maps indicate the waterfalls is approx. 70' tall, but it is unclear on how to reach the base from Upper Whitewater Road (1152). 2021 / 50

Beautiful falls! You can find the trail head near the entrance of the campground parking lot. Then…read morefollow the white paint marks to the falls!

Second on the list was Kings Creek Fall on the last Hiking Yelp Event hosted by Richard and…read moreJamarcus which was also my first one. Not only my first Hiking Event but also my first time hiking. This time this 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 This trail was a little more tricky than the one before. First of all. The GPS would make you turn left right before the actual parking lot of this trail and it'll take you somewhere else. Right ahead you'll see the parking lot which it is where it actually starts. Everything was well signaled and mark for everyone to follow the directions but trail was full of roots making it a little harder. Even though I was already exhausted when I got to the waterfall once I saw it, it refreshed me and gave me energy to keep going. This waterfall is about 70 ft and it is absolutely majestic. I brought my chacos to this event so I was able to get inside the river and closer to the waterfall and I believe here is where I got better pictures. I think I was pretty brave to do that too. LOL. 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. ESPAÑOL El segundo lugar de la lista fue Kings Creek Fall 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 Rama amarilla Falls Este camino fue un poco más complicado que el anterior. Ante todo. El GPS te haría girar a la izquierda antes del estacionamiento real de esta ruta y te llevará a otro lugar. Justo delante verá el estacionamiento, que es donde realmente comienza. Todo estaba bien señalado y marcó para que todos siguieran las instrucciones, pero el camino estaba lleno de raíces, lo que lo hacía un poco más difícil. Aunque ya estaba agotado cuando llegué a la cascada una vez que lo vi, me refrescó y me dio energía para seguir adelante. Esta cascada es de unos 70 pies y es absolutamente majestuosa. Traje mis chacos a este evento, así que pude entrar al río y acercarme a la cascada, y creo que aquí es donde obtuve mejores fotos. Creo que también fui muy valiente para hacer eso. Jajaja 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.