State guide

Waterfalls in South Carolina

27 waterfalls across 10 counties, ranked 26th nationally. The main waterfall regions are Oconee Escarpment and Jocassee Gorges, Mountain Bridge and the Greenville Highlands, and Piedmont and the Fall Line.

Source: USGS Geographic Names Information System, with visitor ratings from Google Maps listings.

Best Waterfalls Most Beautiful Waterfalls Must-See Waterfalls Best Waterfall Hikes

Photo of Isaqueena Falls in Oconee County, South Carolina — Pictured: Isaqueena Falls, SC

Why South Carolina Has So Many Waterfalls

South Carolina's waterfalls are crowded into its far northwestern corner, where the Blue Ridge Mountains break off abruptly along a feature known as the Blue Ridge Escarpment. Here the land drops steeply from the mountains of North Carolina to the Piedmont over a remarkably short distance, and every stream crossing that edge must descend in a hurry. The resulting falls slide and plunge over hard granite and gneiss. Greenville, Oconee and Pickens counties together hold most of the 27 named waterfalls in our directory, which ranks the state 26th nationally.

This corner of the state, sometimes called the Upstate or the mountain region, is also very wet. Moist air from the Gulf and Atlantic rises against the escarpment, and the Jocassee Gorges area receives some of the highest rainfall totals in the eastern United States, keeping streams lively for much of the year. Southeast of the mountains, the Piedmont rolls gently to the fall line, where rivers such as the Catawba once dropped over rocky shoals onto the coastal plain. Beyond that, flat sandhills and coastal lowlands leave little room for waterfalls.

South Carolina Waterfall Regions

Oconee Escarpment and Jocassee Gorges

7 waterfalls · Oconee County

Oconee County, in the state's westernmost corner, contains many of the most visited falls. Isaqueena Falls near Walhalla is a cascading fall with an observation deck, and Lower Whitewater Falls is reached by a trail of about 1.9 miles to a viewing platform facing the Whitewater River's dramatic cascade. Kings Creek Falls and Spoonauger Falls lie in the Sumter National Forest near the Chattooga River, and Hidden Falls is tucked on a stream near Oconee State Park. The Jocassee Gorges, where several rivers cut deep valleys into the escarpment on their way into Lake Jocassee, hold many more remote falls.

Start with: Isaqueena Falls, Kings Creek Falls, Hidden Falls, Lower Falls, Spoonauger Falls

Mountain Bridge and the Greenville Highlands

12 waterfalls · Greenville County and Pickens County

North of Greenville, the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area links Caesars Head and Jones Gap state parks across rugged, forested terrain. Raven Cliff Falls, one of the tallest in the state, plunges off a cliff and is viewed from a platform reached by a wooded trail. Rainbow Falls and Wildcat Branch Lower Falls are also in Greenville County, which holds more falls than any other county in South Carolina. In Pickens County, Reedy Cove Falls is a twin waterfall reached by a short, flat walk, making it one of the most accessible in the region.

Start with: Reedy Cove Falls, Raven Cliff Falls, Rainbow Falls, Wildcat Branch Lower Falls, Pelham Falls

Piedmont and the Fall Line

8 waterfalls · Laurens County, Chester County, Union County, Kershaw County, Chesterfield County, Darlington County, and Marion County

Away from the mountains, South Carolina's falls are mostly river shoals and small drops along the Piedmont and fall line. The Great Falls of the Catawba in Chester County was once a significant series of rapids on the Catawba River, now heavily altered by hydroelectric development. Laurens County has a Great Falls of its own, and Union, Kershaw and Chesterfield counties each have one listed fall. Darlington and Marion counties, on the coastal plain, each have one listed fall, an unusual feature in such low country. These sites are modest but reflect the state's geologic transition from mountains to coast.

Start with: Great Falls of Catawba, Great Falls, Gordons Mill Falls, The Falls, Gordons Falls

25 Featured Waterfalls in South Carolina

Ordered by Google rating and review volume, then by documented USGS history.

Isaqueena Falls

Walhalla, SC · Oconee County

4.7 (230 reviews)

Tranquil spot featuring a cascading waterfall with an observation deck & hiking trails.

Rating
4.7 (230 Google reviews)
Address
Oconee County, SC 29691 (GPS 34.8062, -83.1210)
Nearest town
Walhalla, SC (4.3 mi)
USGS topo
Walhalla quad

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Reedy Cove Falls

Pickens, SC · Pickens County

4.8 (133 reviews)

Scenic spot with a twin waterfall, accessed by a short, flat walk to a viewing platform.

Rating
4.8 (133 Google reviews)
Address
Pickens County, SC 29685 (GPS 35.0137, -82.8187)
Nearest town
Pickens, SC (11 mi)
USGS topo
Eastatoe Gap quad

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Kings Creek Falls

Walhalla, SC · Oconee County

4.9 (68 reviews)

Kings Creek Falls is a waterfall in Oconee County, South Carolina, about 14 miles north of Walhalla. It appears on the USGS Tamassee topographic map.

Rating
4.9 (68 Google reviews)
Address
Oconee County, SC 29664 (GPS 34.9662, -83.1113)
Nearest town
Walhalla, SC (14 mi)
USGS topo
Tamassee quad

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Raven Cliff Falls

Slater-Marietta, SC · Greenville County

4.7 (67 reviews)

Towering waterfall plunging off a cliff, with views from a platform reached via a wooded trail.

Rating
4.7 (67 Google reviews)
Address
Greenville County, SC 29635 (GPS 35.1057, -82.6610)
Nearest town
Slater-Marietta, SC (11 mi)
USGS topo
Table Rock quad

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Rainbow Falls

Slater-Marietta, SC · Greenville County

4.9 (51 reviews)

Rainbow Falls is a waterfall in Greenville County, South Carolina, about 8.8 miles northwest of Slater-Marietta. It appears on the USGS Standingstone Mountain topographic map.

Rating
4.9 (51 Google reviews)
Address
Greenville County, SC 29635 (GPS 35.1346, -82.5882)
Nearest town
Slater-Marietta, SC (8.8 mi)
USGS topo
Standingstone Mountain quad

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Hidden Falls

Walhalla, SC · Oconee County

4.4 (35 reviews)

Hidden Falls is a waterfall in Oconee County, South Carolina, about 8.1 miles north of Walhalla. USGS notes: Located on an unnamed stream which flows into Tamassee Creek, 1.6 km (1 mi) E of Oconee State Park and 6.4 km (4 mi) W of the community of Tamassee.

Rating
4.4 (35 Google reviews)
Address
Oconee County, SC 29691 (GPS 34.8795, -83.0907)
Nearest town
Walhalla, SC (8.1 mi)
USGS topo
Tamassee quad

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Lower Falls

Walhalla, SC · Oconee County

4.3 (32 reviews)

Dramatic cascade on the Whitewater River with a 1.9-mile hiking trail to a viewing platform.

Rating
4.3 (32 Google reviews)
Address
Oconee County, SC 29676 (GPS 35.0165, -82.9938)
Nearest town
Walhalla, SC (18 mi)
USGS topo
Reid quad

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Spoonauger Falls

Walhalla, SC · Oconee County

4.8 (23 reviews)

Spoonauger Falls is a waterfall in Oconee County, South Carolina, about 15 miles north of Walhalla. It appears on the USGS Tamassee topographic map.

Rating
4.8 (23 Google reviews)
Address
Oconee County, SC 29664 (GPS 34.9745, -83.1096)
Nearest town
Walhalla, SC (15 mi)
USGS topo
Tamassee quad

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Wildcat Branch Lower Falls

Slater-Marietta, SC · Greenville County

4.5 (22 reviews)

Wildcat Branch Lower Falls is a waterfall in Greenville County, South Carolina, about 6.5 miles northwest of Slater-Marietta.

Rating
4.5 (22 Google reviews)
Address
Greenville County, SC 29635 (GPS 35.0741, -82.5968)
Nearest town
Slater-Marietta, SC (6.5 mi)

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Great Falls

Ware Shoals, SC · Laurens County

4.1 (24 reviews)

Great Falls is a waterfall in Laurens County, South Carolina, about 0.6 miles northeast of Ware Shoals. It appears on the USGS Ware Shoals East topographic map.

Rating
4.1 (24 Google reviews)
Address
Laurens County, SC 29692 (GPS 34.4035, -82.2379)
Known for
picnic, river
Nearest town
Ware Shoals, SC (0.6 mi)
USGS topo
Ware Shoals East quad

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Gordons Mill Falls

Clinton, SC · Laurens County

4.9 (9 reviews)

Gordons Mill Falls is a waterfall in Laurens County, South Carolina, about 8.5 miles north of Clinton. It appears on the USGS Philson Crossroads topographic map.

Rating
4.9 (9 Google reviews)
Address
Laurens County, SC 29325 (GPS 34.5935, -81.8548)
Nearest town
Clinton, SC (8.5 mi)
USGS topo
Philson Crossroads quad

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Great Falls of Catawba

Great Falls, SC · Chester County

2.8 (27 reviews)

Great Falls of Catawba is a waterfall in Chester County, South Carolina, about 1.4 miles east of Great Falls. It appears on the USGS Great Falls topographic map.

Rating
2.8 (27 Google reviews)
Address
Chester County, SC 29058 (GPS 34.5790, -80.8779)
Nearest town
Great Falls, SC (1.4 mi)
USGS topo
Great Falls quad

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Wildcat Branch Upper Falls

Slater-Marietta, SC · Greenville County

4.1 (7 reviews)

Wildcat Branch Upper Falls is a waterfall in Greenville County, South Carolina, about 6.6 miles northwest of Slater-Marietta.

Rating
4.1 (7 Google reviews)
Address
Greenville County, SC 29635 (GPS 35.0792, -82.5968)
Nearest town
Slater-Marietta, SC (6.6 mi)

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High Falls

Walhalla, SC · Oconee County

2.9 (13 reviews)

High Falls is a waterfall in Oconee County, South Carolina, about 8.6 miles east of Walhalla. It appears on the USGS Old Pickens topographic map.

Rating
2.9 (13 Google reviews)
Address
Keowee Key, SC 29672
Nearest town
Walhalla, SC (8.6 mi)
USGS topo
Old Pickens quad

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Slicking Falls

Slater-Marietta, SC · Greenville County

5.0 (3 reviews)

Slicking Falls is a waterfall in Greenville County, South Carolina, about 12 miles west of Slater-Marietta. It appears on the USGS Table Rock topographic map.

Rating
5.0 (3 Google reviews)
Address
Greenville County, SC 29635 (GPS 35.0751, -82.7040)
Nearest town
Slater-Marietta, SC (12 mi)
USGS topo
Table Rock quad

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The Falls

Red Hill, SC · Marion County

3.1 (9 reviews)

The Falls is a waterfall in Marion County, South Carolina, about 3.3 miles northwest of Red Hill. It appears on the USGS Centenary topographic map.

Rating
3.1 (9 Google reviews)
Address
Marion County, SC 29571 (GPS 34.0424, -79.2853)
Known for
hike
Nearest town
Red Hill, SC (3.3 mi)
USGS topo
Centenary quad

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Gordons Falls

Cheraw, SC · Chesterfield County

1.7 (6 reviews)

Gordons Falls is a waterfall in Chesterfield County, South Carolina, about 3.8 miles north of Cheraw. It appears on the USGS Morven East topographic map.

Rating
1.7 (6 Google reviews)
Address
Chesterfield County, SC 29596 (GPS 34.7510, -79.9026)
Nearest town
Cheraw, SC (3.8 mi)
USGS topo
Morven East quad

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Clearwater Falls

Pickens, SC · Pickens County

2.3 (3 reviews)

Clearwater Falls is a waterfall in Pickens County, South Carolina, about 10 miles west of Pickens. It appears on the USGS Salem topographic map.

Rating
2.3 (3 Google reviews)
Address
Pickens County, SC 29685 (GPS 34.9204, -82.8810)
Nearest town
Pickens, SC (10 mi)
USGS topo
Salem quad

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Pelham Falls

Five Forks, SC · Greenville County

1.8 (16 reviews)

Pelham Falls is a waterfall in Greenville County, South Carolina, about 3.4 miles north of Five Forks. It appears on the USGS Pelham topographic map.

Rating
1.8 (16 Google reviews)
Address
Greenville County, SC 29651 (GPS 34.8537, -82.2209)
Nearest town
Five Forks, SC (3.4 mi)
USGS topo
Pelham quad

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Cedar Falls

Kershaw, SC · Kershaw County

2.3 (6 reviews)

Cedar Falls is a waterfall in Kershaw County, South Carolina, about 5.8 miles west of Kershaw. It appears on the USGS Heath Springs topographic map.

Rating
2.3 (6 Google reviews)
Address
Kershaw County, SC 29058 (GPS 34.5404, -80.6854)
Nearest town
Kershaw, SC (5.8 mi)
USGS topo
Heath Springs quad

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Big Falls

Tigerville, SC · Greenville County

2.0 (5 reviews)

Big Falls is a waterfall in Greenville County, South Carolina, about 6.7 miles north of Tigerville. It appears on the USGS Zirconia topographic map.

Rating
2.0 (5 Google reviews)
Address
Greenville County, SC 29690 (GPS 35.1632, -82.3932)
Nearest town
Tigerville, SC (6.7 mi)
USGS topo
Zirconia quad

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Sids Falls

Westminster, SC · Oconee County

Sids Falls is a waterfall in Oconee County, South Carolina, about 14 miles northwest of Westminster. USGS notes: approx. 55 ft. high; in Sumter National Forest on Shoulder Bone Branch 5 mi. SSE of Hog Mountain

Address
Oconee County, SC (GPS 34.7561, -83.3078)
Nearest town
Westminster, SC (14 mi)
USGS topo
Rainy Mountain quad

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Cockers Falls

Bennettsville, SC · Darlington County

1.0 (2 reviews)

Cockers Falls is a waterfall in Darlington County, South Carolina, about 11 miles southwest of Bennettsville. It appears on the USGS Mont Clare topographic map.

Rating
1.0 (2 Google reviews)
Address
Darlington County, SC 29593 (GPS 34.4865, -79.7873)
Nearest town
Bennettsville, SC (11 mi)
USGS topo
Mont Clare quad

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Hendricks Falls

Whitmire, SC · Union County

1.0 (2 reviews)

Hendricks Falls is a waterfall in Union County, South Carolina, about 0.9 miles northeast of Whitmire. It appears on the USGS Whitmire North topographic map.

Rating
1.0 (2 Google reviews)
Address
Union County, SC 29178 (GPS 34.5090, -81.5984)
Nearest town
Whitmire, SC (0.9 mi)
USGS topo
Whitmire North quad

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Lower Falls

Greenville, SC · Greenville County

Lower Falls is a waterfall in Greenville County, South Carolina, about 0.7 miles southwest of Greenville. It appears on the USGS Greenville topographic map.

Address
Greenville County, SC (GPS 34.8441, -82.4005)
Nearest town
Greenville, SC (0.7 mi)
USGS topo
Greenville quad

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Highest Rated in South Carolina

Kings Creek Falls 4.9 from 68 reviews · Walhalla
Rainbow Falls 4.9 from 51 reviews · Slater-Marietta
Reedy Cove Falls 4.8 from 133 reviews · Pickens
Isaqueena Falls 4.7 from 230 reviews · Walhalla
Raven Cliff Falls 4.7 from 67 reviews · Slater-Marietta

Waterfalls with at least 25 Google reviews.

South Carolina Waterfalls by the Compass

The farthest-apart named falls in South Carolina are about 235 miles apart.

Names and History

The most reused names are Lower Falls (2), so check the county and town before you set out.

5 waterfalls have alternate historical names on record, such as Lower Falls (also Lower Whitewater Falls) and Slicking Falls (also Falls of Salicania).

From the USGS record for Hidden Falls: "Hidden Falls was discovered by Norman Arnold of Salem, SC in early 1994 while hiking in Sumter NF."

Best Time to See Waterfalls in South Carolina

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.

Planning a Waterfall Trip in South Carolina

Most Upstate falls are on public land in the Sumter National Forest, state parks such as Oconee, Caesars Head, Jones Gap and Devils Fork, and state-managed lands in the Jocassee Gorges. South Carolina State Parks charge admission at many parks. Trailheads can be at the end of narrow, winding roads, and parking at the most popular falls fills early on weekends. The escarpment's hazards are serious: wet granite near falls is extremely slick, and people climbing on or above falls have been seriously injured or killed. Stay on trails and behind railings. Streams can rise quickly after storms, and some falls require stream crossings that become dangerous in high water.

More: waterfall safety · packing list

Find Waterfalls Near a South Carolina Town

Waterfalls by County

County	Waterfalls	Share	Most visited
Greenville	10	37%	Raven Cliff Falls
Oconee	7	26%	Isaqueena Falls
Laurens	2	7%	Great Falls
Pickens	2	7%	Reedy Cove Falls
Chester	1	4%	Great Falls of Catawba
Chesterfield	1	4%	Gordons Falls
Darlington	1	4%	Cockers Falls
Kershaw	1	4%	Cedar Falls
Marion	1	4%	The Falls
Union	1	4%	Hendricks Falls

All South Carolina Waterfalls A to Z

Big Falls (Tigerville)
Cedar Falls (Kershaw)
Clearwater Falls (Pickens)
Cockers Falls (Bennettsville)
Gordons Falls (Cheraw)
Gordons Mill Falls (Clinton)
Great Falls (Ware Shoals)
Great Falls of Catawba (Great Falls)
Hendricks Falls (Whitmire)
Hidden Falls (Walhalla)
High Falls (Walhalla)
Isaqueena Falls (Walhalla)
Kings Creek Falls (Walhalla)
Lower Falls (Walhalla)
Lower Falls (Greenville)
Pelham Falls (Five Forks)
Rainbow Falls (Slater-Marietta)
Raven Cliff Falls (Slater-Marietta)
Reedy Cove Falls (Pickens)
Reedy River Falls (Greenville)
Sids Falls (Westminster)
Slicking Falls (Slater-Marietta)
Spoonauger Falls (Walhalla)
The Falls (Red Hill)
Upper Falls (Greenville)
Wildcat Branch Lower Falls (Slater-Marietta)
Wildcat Branch Upper Falls (Slater-Marietta)

South Carolina Waterfalls: FAQs

How many waterfalls are in South Carolina?

Our directory lists 27 waterfalls in South Carolina (25 officially named in the USGS Geographic Names Information System and 2 added from Google Maps listings), 26th among the 50 jurisdictions in our directory and 1.0% of the national total. 70% of them are in just three counties: Greenville, Oconee, and Laurens.

What is the most visited waterfall in South Carolina?

By Google review count, Isaqueena Falls in Oconee County leads with 230 reviews and a 4.7 rating. Reedy Cove Falls is next.

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.

Which South Carolina waterfall is easiest to reach?

Reedy Cove Falls in Pickens County is reached by a short, flat walk to a viewing platform, and Isaqueena Falls near Walhalla has an observation deck overlooking the cascade.

Which South Carolina town has the most waterfalls nearby?

Pickens has 51 named waterfalls within 30 miles, the most of any town in our South Carolina directory.