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Upstate Waterfalls Loop

Itineraries › Upstate Waterfalls Loop

Upstate Waterfalls Loop: a 3-day plan with 9 stops, each with hours, costs and closed days copied from the operator's page. 1 list free entry and 0 are indoors. We give no drive times we cannot source; each day links a map route.

  • Days3plan, then adjust
  • Stops9each with a source
  • Free1as the operator states
  • Indoors0for a rainy slot

Trip Kit

Plan It With Your People

Pick a start date, then send the plan to your group chat, put every day in your calendar, or open each day as a route in Google Maps.

 
  1. Day 1 The Blue Ridge EscarpmentCaesars Head State Park (Raven Cliff Falls overlook) Jones Gap State Park (Rainbow Falls) Table Rock State Park (Carrick Creek Falls)Route
  2. Day 2 Lake JocasseeKeowee-Toxaway State Park Devils Fork State Park (Lake Jocassee)Route
  3. Day 3 Oconee County fallsIssaqueena Falls and Stumphouse Tunnel (Stumphouse Park) Yellow Branch Falls Oconee State Park Whitewater Falls (Upper Falls overlook in NC; Lower Falls in SC)Route
Whole Trip on One Map

Day 1 The Blue Ridge Escarpment

Caesars Head and Jones Gap are neighboring state parks on the escarpment.

  1. Caesars Head State Park (Raven Cliff Falls Overlook)

    Park page: Raven Cliff Falls trail is four miles round trip to a scenic overlook of the 420-foot Raven Cliff Falls; a 6.6-mile round trip hike reaches a suspension bridge above the falls. All trails are rated advanced and in a wilderness setting. Parking is limited and often reaches capacity on weekends in October-November; highway parking and walk-ins are not allowed. source

    Hours
    9AM to 6PM daily (9AM to sunset during Daylight Saving Time); trails close one hour before dark year-round. Office 9:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
    Cost
    Trail access cost: $3 adults; $1.50 SC seniors; $1 children age 6-15; age 5 & younger free
    Dogs
    Pets allowed in most outdoor areas on a leash no longer than six feet.
    Where
    8155 Geer Hwy, Cleveland, SC 29635

  2. Jones Gap State Park (Rainbow Falls)

    Visitor survey on park page: Rainbow Falls is reached by a 2.2-mile, 1,200-foot climb to the base of a 120-foot falls. All trails are considered advanced; hikers fill out a registration card at the trailhead; phone service is unavailable at the park. Roadside parking not allowed. source

    Hours
    9AM to sunset daily year-round; trails close one hour before dark. Office 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
    Cost
    $6 adults; $3.75 SC seniors (65+); $3.50 children 6-15; ages 5 and under free.
    Dogs
    Pets allowed in most outdoor areas on a leash no longer than six feet.
    Where
    303 Jones Gap Rd, Marietta, SC 29661

  3. Table Rock State Park (Carrick Creek Falls)

    Trails take hikers past mountain streams and waterfalls to the tops of Pinnacle and Table Rock mountains; park page notes Carrick Creek Falls. Notice on page: construction on the Nature Center deck and Carrick Creek Falls access improvements began 7-27-2026; Nature Center and trailhead restrooms closed to the public. source

    Hours
    Su-Th 7 a.m.-7 p.m. (extended to 9 p.m. F and Sa); Su-Th 7 a.m.-9 p.m. (10 p.m. F and Sa) during Daylight Saving Time. Office M-Su 8 a.m.-6 p.m. (winter 9-5).
    Cost
    $6 adults; $3.75 SC seniors; $3.50 children 6-15; ages 5 and under free.
    Dogs
    All pets must remain leashed, including on trails; not allowed in indoor areas, most cabins, or on the swim beach.
    Where
    158 Ellison Ln, Pickens, SC 29671

Day 2 Lake Jocassee

Two state parks on the lake and its gorges.

  1. Keowee-Toxaway State Park

    Free

    Visitor center exhibits; two hiking trails cross a natural bridge and foothills of the Blue Ridge, and a half-mile trail leads to Lake Keowee. Park page does not name a waterfall. source

    Hours
    9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily (to 9 p.m. during Daylight Saving Time); office 11 a.m.-12 p.m. and 4-5 p.m. daily
    Cost
    Free admission
    Dogs
    Not allowed in the cabin area; leash no longer than six feet elsewhere outdoors.
    Where
    108 Residence Dr, Sunset, SC 29685

  2. Devils Fork State Park (Lake Jocassee)

    Park page: the only public access point to Lake Jocassee; four mountain streams and several waterfalls feed the lake; waterfalls are accessible only by boat. Heavy weekend and holiday visitation, long entry lines 11am-4pm. source

    Hours
    Late spring to mid-fall 7am-9pm daily; late fall to mid-spring 7am-6pm daily. Office 9am-5pm daily.
    Cost
    $8 adults; $5 SC seniors (65+); $4 children 6-15; ages 5 and under free. Free admission each Tuesday.
    Dogs
    Pets allowed in villas 1-5; allowed in most outdoor areas on a leash no longer than six feet.
    Where
    161 Holcombe Cir, Salem, SC 29676

Day 3 Oconee County Falls

The Walhalla area packs several falls into a short drive.

  1. Issaqueena Falls and Stumphouse Tunnel (Stumphouse Park)

    Run by the City of Walhalla. Discover South Carolina (state tourism): Stumphouse Tunnel was begun in the 1850s as a railroad tunnel (1,600 feet, stays about 50 degrees year round); Issaqueena Falls is a 200-foot drop reached by a wide dirt and gravel path. source

    Hours
    stumphousepark.com (City of Walhalla): 'Park is open daily from dawn to dusk.' Discover South Carolina article says 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily except Christmas; the two pages disagree.
    Cost
    $5 per vehicle and $15 per bus to enter; annual passes $50 and $60 (stumphousepark.com). State and county park passes are not valid there.
    Where
    Off SC 28, Walhalla (street address not on pages)

  2. Yellow Branch Falls

    Forest Service: moderately difficult out-and-back trail to the base of a 50-foot vertical cascade. From Walhalla drive west 6.8 miles on SC Highway 28, turn left into Yellow Branch Picnic Area; hike 0.2 mile on the Yellow Branch Nature Trail to the Yellow Branch Falls Trail, then 1.3 miles to the waterfall. Creek crossed up to four times. Waterfalls can be very dangerous; do not climb on the rocks. Cellular service unavailable at the parking area and unreliable on the trails. source

    Dogs
    Leashed pets are welcome (USFS)

  3. Oconee State Park

    Lake with boat rentals (pedal boats, kayaks, canoes, stand-up paddleboards, jon boats), Lake Trail around the lake, historic cabins. Park page does not name a waterfall. source

    Hours
    Su-Th 7am-7pm; Fri-Sa 7am-9pm (7am-9pm daily during Daylight Savings Time); store and office 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. daily
    Cost
    $5 adult; $3.25 SC seniors; $3 child 6-15; ages 5 & under free
    Dogs
    Pets allowed in cabins 14-20; allowed in most outdoor areas on a leash no longer than six feet.
    Where
    624 State Park Rd, Mountain Rest, SC 29664

  4. Whitewater Falls (Upper Falls Overlook in NC; Lower Falls in SC)

    USFS (National Forests in North Carolina): Upper Whitewater Falls in North Carolina drops 411 feet; South Carolina's Lower Whitewater Falls falls another 400 feet. The Forest Service overlook and fee area are on the North Carolina side. Visitor volume is very high mid-day and on holidays; morning or evening recommended. Lower Whitewater Falls is a separate hike (see unverified). source

    Hours
    Dawn to Dusk
    Cost
    $3 per vehicle per day; $15 annual pass (usable at Dry Falls, Whiteside Mountain, and Whitewater Falls)

FAQ

How many days do I need?

This plan is built for 3 days. Stops are listed in a sensible order, not a promise that every one fits.

Are the hours current?

Hours and prices are copied from each operator’s page on October 26, 2026 and change by season. Use the source link before you go.

What We Could Not Confirm

Not confirmed: we looked for these on official pages and did not find them. Check with the town or operator before you rely on them.

  • Falls Park on the Reedy (greenvillesc.gov): read pages were navigation shells with no hours, address or rules; stop omitted. Not read: hours, dog rule.
  • Angel Oak Park hours, Folly Beach County Park hours and parking fee, Charleston Tea Garden trolley price and street address, White Point Garden hours, Rainbow Row (residential street, no visitor hours): not found on official pages read.
  • Reconstruction Era NHP visitor center hours (Beaufort, Penn Center, Camp Saxton): hours table did not render. an unofficial summary mentioned Tue-Sat 9-5 but this was not read on the page.
  • Lower Whitewater Falls access in SC (Foothills Trail, Bad Creek): Discover South Carolina article mentions a 4.8-mile round trip to the overlook but not a fee or hours; USFS overlook and $3 fee are on the NC side. Whitewater Falls: the NC Upper Falls overlook is in North Carolina, not SC.
  • Stumphouse Park: stumphousepark.com (City of Walhalla) says dawn to dusk, Discover South Carolina says 10 a.m.-5 p.m. except Christmas; conflict not resolved. Street address not found. Issaqueena Falls 200-foot drop figure is from Discover South Carolina article only.

Sources

  1. Caesars Head State Park (Raven Cliff Falls overlook)
  2. Jones Gap State Park (Rainbow Falls)
  3. Table Rock State Park (Carrick Creek Falls)
  4. Keowee-Toxaway State Park
  5. Devils Fork State Park (Lake Jocassee)
  6. Issaqueena Falls and Stumphouse Tunnel (Stumphouse Park)
  7. Yellow Branch Falls
  8. Oconee State Park
  9. Whitewater Falls (Upper Falls overlook in NC; Lower Falls in SC)

Read on October 26, 2026. How we check: editorial standards; spot a mistake? Tell us.

Cite this page: It's South Carolina, “Upstate Waterfalls Loop”, itssouthcarolina.com/itineraries/upstate-waterfalls-loop/ (updated ). By the It's South Carolina editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.