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Lower Whitewater Falls
August 26, 2023 @ 10:30 am - 4:30 pm
Lower Whitewater Falls Trail
Oconee County, SC
August 26, 2023 | 10:30am – 4:30pm
The mountains and foothills have been historically relevant to South Carolina history, from Native Americans to pioneer settlers to Civil War draft dodgers. The lush flora, different from the flora in the rest of the state, is a major draw for all these groups in terms of resources. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the foothills were being eyed for development, so the area was the focus of numerous environmental groups and the US Forest Service with the general goal of keeping the area natural. In the 1980s, Duke Power and its subsidiary, the Crescent Land and Timber Company, acquired the land to build the Lakes Keowee and Jocassee for power and water needs for the area. The first pump storage facility was built in the Bad Creek Area, and for a while, many groups vied to help develop hiking trails at Bad Creek. The Sierra Club planned an extension trail plan which became the basis of the Foothills Trail system. The US Forest Service (Sumter National Forest) and the Foothills Trail Conservancy manage the system.
Lower Whitewater Falls Trail is a spur trail of the Foothills Trail system. The trailhead for the Lower Whitewater Falls Trail is only accessible during hunting season, so we will explore that trail and others in the area. The Bad Creek pump storage facility has an accessible parking lot; from there, the formal trail starts with the Bad Creek Spur Trail at the back left of the lot. This trail leads up a gravel trail for a short distance before the trail takes a left turn at an intersection. It winds through disturbed land with Sawtooth Oaks then plunges uphill into a forested area. About 0.6 miles up the Bad Creek Spur Trail it nears the Whitewater River. There is an intersection near the bridges that cross the river; to continue to the Lower Whitewater Falls Trail, cross the bridges. The other route (to the left) is the Coon Branch Trail. This trail follows the west bank of the river and is an out-and-back trail to the Coon Branch Natural Area. The Natural Area is approximately 300 acres of old growth forest near the NC/SC border.
The Bad Creek Spur Trail crosses the river and ends at another intersection. The trail to the left (North, along the river) is the Foothill Trail portion that runs to the Upper Whitewater Falls in North Carolina. 6.4 miles away. The trail straight from the bridges (northeast) is the Foothills Trail portion that leads to the Lower Whitewater Falls Trail Spur and to Table Rock State Park (44 miles away).
Going towards the Lower Whitewater Spur, the trail leads to a parking lot. This parking lot is on the Musterground Road access road. This is the trailhead for the Lower Falls Trail. The trail (blue blazes) briefly follows the road and then heads right into the woods. This segment is about 0.7 miles and leads to a ridge that ends in a decline to the observation deck for Lower Whitewater Falls. The falls will be visible, but the deck is not near the falls itself. The Lower Whitewater Falls is approximately 400ft in height. It is considered to be the highest falls in SC.
The trail to Lower Whitewater Falls is an out-and-back trail. However, back at Musterground Road, the road itself can be followed back to the parking lot – making a sort of loop trail.
Trail difficulty rated at moderate or easy-moderate. There are numerous inclines and declines. Some are supported with steps. Average grade is 7% with maximum grade at 15%. Overall elevation change is 400
feet.
Location:
Sumter National Forest
Salem, SC 29676
35.01219° N, 82.99926° W
on Duke Power property
Directions:
This area is off SC Highway 11 in the Salem area, in between Devils Fork State Park/Lake Jocassee and Oconee State Park. If you are traveling West on SC 11, SC 130/Whitewater Falls Rd will be on the right about a mile past the road to Devils Fork SP. If you are traveling East on SC 11, SC 130 towards the trailhead will be a left turn; if you are coming up through Salem, W Main St is SC 130, so go straight at the intersection of SC 11.
Follow SC 130/Whitewater Falls Rd for about 10 miles. On the right there will be a building with a small parking lot and a motorized fence gate just beyond it. The gate is the entrance to Duke Power Property- Bad Creek Road and should be open between 6am and 6pm. (If you are inside the gate after hours, the gate will open to let you leave.) Once you enter the Duke Energy gate, drive 2.1 miles before turning left to follow the sign to the Foothills Trail. The trailhead is at the end of the large parking lot.
If you continue a short distance past the left turn to the Lower Whitewater Falls turn, there is a parking lot on the left side of the road where you can get out and overlook the portion of Lake Jocassee where the Whitewater River enters. Lower Whitewater Falls can be seen in the distance halfway to the top of the hills.
Amenities:
Two porta-potties are located at the Bad Creek Spur Trailhead in the parking lot. These are relatively well maintained.
Websites:
Topography:
https://www.hikethesouth.com/hikes/lower-whitewater-falls
History of the Foothills Trail System
Flora and Fauna of the Foothills Trail Area
NOTES:
• There are a few flying/biting insects, so might want to bring bug repellant (most likely will not be needed).
• There are ups and downs in these trails.
• Even though this area is in the mountains of SC (well, foothills), it is still hot and humid up here this summer, so heat precautions are highly recommended.
• Much, but not all, of the trails are in deep woods. Sun protection still recommended.
Post-soodle/wondle prandium suggestion:
Big D’s House of BBQ
246 Burnt Tanyard Rd
West Union, SC 29696
864-718-3223
Map:
https://www.hikingproject.com/trail/7089552/lower-whitewater-falls-hike
Lee Morris
Western Regional Director