Waterfall Trail

Waterfall Trail
Big Bend Falls

(Oconee County)

Description: Big Bend Falls is an abrupt, roaring 30-foot drop on the Chattooga River only accessed by a demanding hike along the Chattooga Trail. Its energy is infectious though, so you’ll quickly spring back to life after the two-hour trek and your first glimpse of the largest drop on this Wild and Scenic River.

Height: Cascades 15 feet at a 30-degree slope, then makes 15-foot vertical drop.

Length of hike: 3.4 miles on Chattooga Trail

Time to hike: 2 hours

Difficulty: Strenuous

Creek or river: Chattooga River

USGS Quadrangle: Tamassee

Directions to falls:

1. From Walhalla, drive northwest on SC 28 for approximately 8 miles and bear right (north) onto SC 107.

2. Drive 10.4 miles and turn left (west) onto Burrells Ford Road (FS 708, which is paved for first 0.3 mile).

3. Drive approximately 3 miles to the parking area on the left.

4. From the southern end of the parking area, hike on the Chattooga Trail (black blazes) and the Foothills Trail (white blazes), which run concurrently along this stretch of the river.

5. At 2.5 miles the Big Bend Trail intersects the other two from the east. Approximately, 0.5 mile beyond this intersection, you will hear the roar of the falls. Here are several rugged paths that drop along laurel shrouded banks that are steep and slippery. Use extreme caution to reach the falls.

Information: Sumter National Forest, Andrew Pickens Ranger District, 112 Andrew Pickens Circle, Mountain Rest, SC, 29664. Telephone: 864-638-9568