The best waterfalls near Columbia, South Carolina are Gordons Mill Falls, Great Falls, Great Falls of Catawba and 3 more, ranked by visitor ratings and distance from the city. The closest is Great Falls of Catawba, about 41 miles north of Columbia.
For more waterfalls around Columbia, browse the nearest towns: Great Falls, Kershaw, Whitmire, Clinton, Ware Shoals, Cheraw, Five Forks, Bennettsville. You can also see every waterfall on the South Carolina waterfalls page.
How we picked: We looked at the 6 publicly accessible South Carolina waterfalls within 100 straight-line miles of Columbia that have at least five Google reviews, then ranked them by a weighted rating with a small penalty for distance, so a great waterfall close to town edges out an equally rated one far away.
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1. Gordons Mill Falls
62 miles northwest of Columbia. Our top pick near the city 4.9 out of 5 from 9 reviews.
Laurens County, SC 29325 (GPS 34.5935, -81.8548)
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Gordons Mill Falls is about 62 miles northwest of Columbia, near Clinton. Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 9 Google reviews.
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2. Great Falls
74 miles west of Columbia. Rated 4.1 out of 5 from 24 reviews.
Laurens County, SC 29692 (GPS 34.4035, -82.2379)
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Great Falls is about 74 miles west of Columbia, near Ware Shoals. Visitors rate it 4.1 stars across 24 Google reviews, and 67% of them give it five stars. Reviews most often mention picnic and river.
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3. Great Falls of Catawba
41 miles north of Columbia. Rated 2.8 out of 5 from 27 reviews.
Chester County, SC 29058 (GPS 34.5790, -80.8779)
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Great Falls of Catawba is about 41 miles north of Columbia, near Great Falls. Visitors rate it 2.8 stars across 27 Google reviews, and 37% of them give it five stars.
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4. Cedar Falls
42 miles northeast of Columbia. Rated 2.3 out of 5 from 6 reviews.
Kershaw County, SC 29058 (GPS 34.5404, -80.6854)
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Cedar Falls is about 42 miles northeast of Columbia, near Kershaw. Visitors rate it 2.3 stars across 6 Google reviews.
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5. Gordons Falls
83 miles northeast of Columbia. Rated 1.7 out of 5 from 6 reviews.
Chesterfield County, SC 29596 (GPS 34.7510, -79.9026)
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Gordons Falls is about 83 miles northeast of Columbia, near Cheraw. Visitors rate it 1.7 stars across 6 Google reviews.
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6. Pelham Falls
90 miles northwest of Columbia. Rated 1.8 out of 5 from 16 reviews.
Greenville County, SC 29651 (GPS 34.8537, -82.2209)
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Pelham Falls is about 90 miles northwest of Columbia, near Five Forks. Visitors rate it 1.8 stars across 16 Google reviews.
Waterfall Day Trips From Columbia
| Waterfall | Distance | Nearest town | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Falls of Catawba | 41 mi north | Great Falls | 2.8 |
| Cedar Falls | 42 mi northeast | Kershaw | 2.3 |
| Gordons Mill Falls | 62 mi northwest | Clinton | 4.9 |
| Great Falls | 74 mi west | Ware Shoals | 4.1 |
| Gordons Falls | 83 mi northeast | Cheraw | 1.7 |
| Pelham Falls | 90 mi northwest | Five Forks | 1.8 |
Straight-line distances from downtown Columbia. Driving distances are longer, especially in the mountains.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best waterfall near Columbia?
Gordons Mill Falls tops our 2026 list. It is about 62 miles northwest of Columbia and rated 4.9 stars from 9 Google reviews.
What is the closest waterfall to Columbia?
Of the waterfalls on this list, Great Falls of Catawba is the closest, about 41 straight-line miles north of the city, near Great Falls.
How many waterfalls are near Columbia?
We track 6 publicly accessible, reviewed waterfalls in South Carolina within 100 miles of Columbia, 2 of this list's picks within 50 miles. See every waterfall in the state on the South Carolina waterfalls page.
How was this list made?
We looked at the 6 publicly accessible South Carolina waterfalls within 100 straight-line miles of Columbia that have at least five Google reviews, then ranked them by a weighted rating with a small penalty for distance, so a great waterfall close to town edges out an equally rated one far away.
Where are most of South Carolina's waterfalls?
Most are in Greenville, Oconee and Pickens counties along the Blue Ridge Escarpment in the state's northwestern corner. Greenville County has the most, followed by Oconee County.
Summary
Gordons Mill Falls is our top waterfall pick near Columbia, rated 4.9 out of 5 and about 62 miles from the city. Ratings and review counts reflect public data at the time of writing and can change, and trail access and water levels vary through the year, so confirm conditions before you go.
Upstate South Carolina has a long waterfall season. Late winter through spring, roughly February to May, typically brings the strongest flow and the most consistent rainfall, along with wildflowers in the coves and blooming mountain laurel and rhododendron along streams from late spring into early summer. Summer is hot and humid, but frequent afternoon thunderstorms keep many escarpment falls running, and popular trailheads see heavy weekend traffic. Fall foliage usually peaks from late October into early November and draws crowds to Caesars Head and Table Rock. Dry spells in late summer and fall can reduce smaller falls. Winters are generally mild, though occasional cold snaps can leave ice on rocks and trails at higher elevations. Tropical systems occasionally bring flooding in late summer and fall.
For more South Carolina waterfalls, see the full South Carolina waterfalls page, or read 15 Best Waterfalls in South Carolina, 10 Most Beautiful Waterfalls in South Carolina and 5 Must-See Waterfalls in South Carolina.