Hiking Trails in Ocoee County South Carolina Up Country Mountains
Big Bend Trail
Starting from the Cherry Hill Recreation Area, a moderate 2.7 mile trail affords views of the biggest drop on the Chattooga River, a rumbling 30 foot hydraulic known as Big Bend Falls. Even though this is a mountainous locale, you will find the hiking on this trail is fairly straightforward. Red blazes guide you through a predominantly hardwood forest of hemlocks, white oaks, mountain laurel, and galaxy. The Big Bend Trail runs parallel to Big Bend Road (FS 709) for some distance and eventually ends at a junction with the Foothills Trail. You need to hike approximately .6 mile south on the Foothills/Chattooga Trails (the Foothills and Chattooga Trails run concurrent in this area) for a nice view of Big Bend Falls from a ridge overlooking the river.
Directions: From Walhalla, drive west on SC 28 for 7.5 miles and veer right onto SC 107. Drive 8.8 miles to the Cherry Hill Recreation Area on the right. The trailhead is just south of the entrance to the recreation area.
Bull Sluice Trail
This Chattooga River access trail provides a moderately step .2-mile paved route to flat water, or a moderately difficult .2-mile graveled path to the Bull Sluice rapids rushing over jutting boulders. Begin the trail at the left if the stone pavilion near the parking lot. You will walk beneath a cool canopy of mixed pine and hardwood trees. At 290 feet, you may turn left and descend on the paved trail to the sandy riverbank. Or you may turn right and follow the rugged graveled trail along the mountainside to a wooden railing overlooking the rapids. The trail is not maintained beyond this point
Directions: From Westminster, follow Route 76 northwest. The trail is on the right just before the Chattooga River on the Georgia Border.
Chattooga Trail
Many habitats are covered by this extensive trail. It runs along the Chattooga Wild and Scenic River and connects with the extensive trail systems of two other national forests and privately owned land. This trail provides hikers with a chance to leave civilization and rely on their own strength and skill. 18.3 miles.
Directions: Major access point is near highway 76 at the South Carolina/Georgia state line parking lot (on the Georgia side).
Earls Ford Trail
To reach the mini rapids and broad flat water of the scenic Chattooga River, follow this gently sloping .3-mile hike. You will descend trough mixed hardwood and pine forest in the quiet, fresh mountain air. A number of small foot paths divert from the easy to follow main trail. just before you reach the river, go left at the boulder and you will reach riverbank. Watch for deer, snakes, and other wildlife. 3 miles.
Directions: From Walhalla, drive northwest on SC 28 and turn left onto Whetstone Road (193). Drive 5 miles and cross Chattooga Ridge Road. Continue another 4 miles to the parking area at the end of the Earls Ford Road. The trail is at the end of the parking area.
East Fork Trail
The East Fork Trail has 2 trailheads: one at the Chattooga Picnic Area adjacent to the Walhalla Fish Hatchery and one at Burrells Ford. Starting at the picnic area, East Fork Trail is an easy 2.5-mile hike along the north bank of the scenic, fast moving east fork of the Chattooga River. You will pass through the lush, East Fork Gorge into the Elliot Rock Wilderness Area, which provides a backdrop for most of this trail. It meanders to a junction with the Chattooga Trail, where you can backtrack or hike to Ellicott Rock, which is 1.9 miles north on the Chattooga Trail. If you start from the west trailhead, you will need to hike 2.1 miles on the Chattooga Trail from Burrells Ford.
Directions: Chattooga Picnic Area: From Walhalla, drive west on SC 28 for 7.5 miles and bear right onto SC 107. Drive 12 miles and turn left onto Fish Hatchery Road (Oconee County S-325) and continue to the Fish Hatchery and picnic area. The east trailhead is st the bridge.
Directions: Burrells Ford: From Walhalla, drive west on SC 28 for 7.5 miles and bear right onto SC 107. Drive approximately 10 miles and turn left onto Burrells Ford Road to a sign that indicates the way to Ellicott Rock Wilderness Area on the Chattooga Trail. Hike for 2.1 miles on the Chattooga trail to the west trailhead of the East Fork Trail.
Foothills National Recreational Trail
This trail covers about 100 miles, including spur and loop trail linking Oconee State Park with Table Rock State Park via Whitewater Falls, the highest waterfall in the east. The trail crosses numerous rivers. The terrain varies drastically from extremely steep ravens to relatively moderate positions. 100 miles, 16.6 on the Sumter National Forest
Directions: Many easy access points exist. A popular one on the Andrew Pickens District is at Winding Stairs Road. Take Highway 107 north of the ranger station for about 10 miles. At the parking lot pull off and enter the trail at the stairs (to go east) or across the highway (to the west).
Fork Mountain Trail
This moderately difficult 6.4 mile trail starts in South Carolina st the Sloan Bridge Picnic Area and ends in North Carolina where it joins the Bad Creek Trail in Ellicott Rock Wilderness Area. From here, the trail eventually becomes the Chattooga Trail and continues southwest to Burrells Ford. The hike plunges almost immediately into a dense canopy of mountain laurel and rhododendron, where you'll stay cool and shady most of the way. The trail also weaves along the northern flanks of Fork Mountain, ascending and descending through numerous coves and ravines. Rust Blazes guide you from the trailhead at Sloan Bridge, but be aware that some trail markers are some distance apart.
Directions: From Walhalla, drive north northwest on SC 28 for 7.5 miles and bear right onto SC 107. Continue on SC 107 for 14.5 miles to the junction of Oconee County S-413. The Sloan Bridge Picnic Area is approximately .5 mile ahead on the left. From the parking lot, walk north across the highway culvert that crosses East Fork Creek.
Rocky Gap/Willis Knob Horse Trail
The Rocky gap trail in South Carolina and the Willis Knob Trail combine to offer some of the most scenic horseback riding in the Southern Blue Ridge mountains. Winding across deeply dissected ridges, the trails descend into the beautiful Chattooga Wild and Scenic River corridor. The rocky Gap has several loops, while the Willis Knob Trail is designed as one large continuous loop. Each Trail crosses several gravel roads.
The Whetstone Horse Camp in South Carolina serves as a base camp for many users of both trails. There is a fee for the Whetstone Horse Camp.
Directions: From Walhalla go north 6 miles on State highway 28. Turn left onto Whetstone Road for about 5 miles. Go straight at the four-way stop and drive about 1.5 miles. The pavement will end and a gravel road will begin. The day-use parking area and trail head are on the right.
Sandy Ford Trail
From the sign at the parking area, descend on this moderately steep .3 mile trail to reach the gentle rapids of the Chattooga River. Walk across several footbridges over cool mountain steams amid hardwood, pine and hemlock interspersed with rhododendron and fern. Watch for deer, snakes and other wildlife.
Directions: From Walhalla drive northwest on SC 28, turn left onto Whetstone Road (193). Drive 5 miles and cross Chattooga Ridge Road (196) where Whetstone becomes Earls Ford Road. Drive 3 miles and turn left onto FS road 721A. Drive another 1.5 miles. The trail is on the left in the parking area at the end of the road. (This narrow and winding dirt road may especially challenging in wet weather.)
Thrifts Ferry Trail
From the sign at the parking area, follow this 4 mile peaceful, remote trail to scenic flat shoals on the Chattooga River. Descend into a cool, pine, hemlock, and hardwood forest as you wind down the gravel trail to the riverbank. Watch for deters, snakes and other wildlife.
Directions: From Westminster, follow Route 76 northwest. drive approximately 17 miles and turn right onto FS 795. Drive .7 miles to the parking area at the end of the road.
Winding Stairs Trail
A 75 foot waterfall tucked away along this moderate, 3.5 mile trail helps make the Winding Stairs Trail one of the finest beginner trail in the northwest South Carolina. If you start at the northern trailhead at the Cherry Hill Recreation Area, this meandering path is an easy hike because it drops 1,100 feet over its length. if you are looking for a more demanding hike, start at the southern trailhead on Tamassee Road (FS 710). Either way, this is a great hike for beginners. Follow rust colored blazes through a hardwood forest, encounter a multitude of wildflowers, and cross small creeks, all within sight or hearing of the West Fork of Townes Creek. The forest is mainly oak with a under story of buckberry and blueberry; fall colors here are particularly striking. Deep Ochre, red, and yellow fill the woods and provide a gorgeous habitat for thrushes, warblers, and indigo buntings in addition to deer and wild hogs. You will enter a dry open pine grove that gives way to a smaller path that leads to Miuka Falls. oddly, just before the switchback to the falls, the Winding stairs Trail makes its sole departure from Townes Creek, possibly the only point you wont hear the water. The path to the falls is not totally obvious, especially in winter and early spring, so keep your eyes opened. Continuing from Miuka Falls, you eventually come to the southern trailhead on Tamassee Road.
Directions to the northern trailhead: From Walhalla, drive west on SC 28 for 7.5 miles and bear right onto SC 107. Drive 8.8 miles to Cherry Hill Recreation Center on the right. The trailhead is on the right (east) side of the highway, just south of the entrance to the recreation area.
Directions to the southern trailhead: From Walhalla, drive west on SC 28 for 7.5 miles and bear right onto SC 107. Drive 5.8 miles and turn right onto Tamassee Road (FS 710). Drive 2.5 miles to a small parking area and the trailhead is on the left, just before a bridge crossing Townes Creek.
Woodall Shoals Trail
The trail head is on the left of the bulletin board near the entrance to the parking area. Follow this moderately steep .2 mile trail down a rocky slope through a lush green forest in intermingled with rhododendron. Decent steep steps to the river's edge where rushing water fills a cool mountain pool. You may see birds, deer, snakes, and other wildlife.
Directions: From Westminster, follow Route 76 northwest. Drive approximately 16 miles and turn left onto Orchard Road. Turn right onto Woodall Shoals Road (757) and drive 2 miles on the dirt road. (The narrow road may be especially slippery in wet weather.) The parking area is at the end of the road.
Yellow Branch Nature Trail
From the road at the main picnic area, begin this rolling, and occasionally steep, .4 mile loop. Step across a crevice where a narrow creek flows through the flat rock to a sandy path under a canopy of tulip trees, oaks, and hickories, then along a ridge knotted with rhododendron and mountain laurel . Watch your step as you descend to a rushing creek, where you will navigate stone steps and cross several rocky fords. Watch for pickerel frogs, salamanders, snakes, and other wildlife in this area. About midway, you will see a sign that marks the 1.3 mile spur to Yellow Branch Falls if you want to extend your hike to complete the .4 mile loop, turn left at the trail and follow the road to the parking area. Surrounding Area: The Stumphouse Ranger Station (district office for the Andrew Pickens Ranger District) is located 1/4 mile north of the picnic area. A wide variety of information is available here. items such as maps, field guides, and Smoky Bear items may be purchased.
Directions: From Walhalla, drive west 6.8 miles on SC Highway 28 and turn left into Yellow Branch Picnic Area.
For more information:
Andrew Pickens Ranger District
112 Andrew Pickens Circle
Mountain Rest, SC 29664
864-638-9568
864-638-2659
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