When we were planning the Oconee area of South Carolina, we knew this area had its share of waterfalls. The reviews said that they are beautiful but can be a bit remote. They lied, they’re a LOT remote. There were a couple of the trails where being half mountain goat would have been a distinct advantage. But they did tell the truth about them being beautiful. We even came across an added bonus, but more on that in a minute.
First up, Issaqueena Falls. These falls were super simple to find and navigate to. In fact, they were about three miles down the road from the campground we were staying in. Now, if only some of the others were that easy.
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| June enjoying Issaqueena Falls |
Right in the same little park area of the Issaqueena Falls, is the Stumphouse Tunnel. It was started in the late 1800’s and was going to be a railroad tunnel, until the work stopped right about the time of the Civil War due to the high cost of tunneling. So they just abandoned it. It’s now a tourist attraction and you can walk into it as far as a big fence about 100 yards in.
The day we were there, a group of college students was filming scenes for a movie titled ‘The Tunnel’. I think I remember them saying it was based on a Kurosawa film, but I don’t know which one. They were very nice about letting people in while they set up for different shots. The main actor guy was really cool when I asked for a pic.
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| Quiet on the set!!! |
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| Indiana Jones? He was very nice to let me take a pic |
On our way back out of the tunnel, I couldn’t resist. They had been setting up a shot right at the tunnel entrance and were getting pretty close to shooting a scene. So just as we came into the light we were pretty close to where they were setting up. So I fired off my very best pose, and loudly said “Here’s Johnny!” (in reference to the movie Shining), and they all laughed. The director guy laughingly replied that I should get over to makeup and he’d make me a star. Oh well, opportunity missed.
The next set of falls we went to is called Yellow Branch Falls. This was our first taste of challenging hiking. Three miles round trip along the sides of some pretty steep hills. But it was more than worth it. As you can see.
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| Watch Your Step! |
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| Why move it? Just cut out a section |
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| Yellow Branch Falls |
We then went to King’s Creek falls, and the trail from hell. Not all that long in distance, but pretty tough hiking. At one point we had to go over a massive log that was laying across the trail and down into a pretty deep gorge. It wouldn’t have taken much to take a really nasty fall. (It would have been very appropriate to post a “Slippery when wet” sign). But again, it was worth the work as the falls are beautiful.
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| Mountain Goat Trail! |
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| Kings Creek Falls |
Our last falls were the WhiteWater Falls. These falls are actually in North Carolina, but just by a little. It was an easy walk to get to the upper lookout, but to get the really good shots, you had to go down (and back up) 154 steps. Let me tell you, that will definitely get your heart pumping!
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| This was the easy shot! |
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| This was the Cardiac Arrest shot! |
We also tried to find a set of falls called Spoonauger Falls, but never found them. We must have hiked two miles looking all over the place for them, but with no luck. (Turn right at the falls sign after you cross the creek. Yeah, not really helpful.)
Mango
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