Twin Falls
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This is two for the price of one on Reedy Creek. The creek splits into two, with the higher of the cascades measuring 75 feet as it falls off a huge slab of granite. The second is not so high but still makes an impressive sight as it sends water at 45 degrees to the larger falls. It is a very easy walk of mere minutes to reach the falls and the views are excellent. You can get closer than the trail but, in fact, the views don’t get much better and the rocks are slippery – even dangerous. If you want to cool off in the creek, it is best to do it elsewhere.
Laurel Fork Falls
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You have to enjoy hiking to see these falls because you can expect to be walking for more than five hours along the Foothills Trail to reach them. The trail involves several sets of wooden steps, both up and down. You are talking overnight camping to see them this way. The alternative is much more relaxing – see them from a boat on Jocasse Lake. You will enjoy the crescent-shaped grotto and the water that falls 80 feet directly into the lake. They are at their best after periods of heavy rain.
Falls Creek Falls
Denton Rumsey / shutterstock
At 125 feet high, these falls are among the very best in South Carolina. Access is not straightforward and you will have to make a real effort whichever trail you select. The Falls Creek Trail is the shorter of the two, under a couple of miles long but with several steep portions and a 600 foot ascent in all. Hospital Rock Trail is just over five miles of rugged hiking which ends up at the other side of the falls. A number of flat rock ledges offer great views of the falls and the chance of memorable photographs.
Opossum Creek Falls
Karen and Scott Wightwick / shutterstock
The trail that allows you to see Opossum Creek Falls is four miles long and family-friendly if the kids don’t mind walking. You can take your dog on a leash. In hot weather, the creek is a great place to cool off, though don’t swim during the winter – it is cold! You have to cross the creek twice on the way to the falls, which drop around 50 feet in a series of cascades. The trail actually takes you down to the creek, which is regularly used by kayakers. Continue and you will get to the base of the falls.
Licklog Falls
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Licklog Falls are a series of cascades dropping down in two tiers. If you continue on the trail beyond Pigpen Falls, you will reach the top of Licklog Falls very quickly. The top tier is around 30 feet, with the water dropping into a basin; the second is larger, with the flow going directly into the Chattooga River. You can get down to the base of the falls, although the descent is fairly steep. Armed with a wide-angle lens, you should be able to capture the whole cascade in a single photograph.