Yellow Branch Falls — Attraction in Walhalla

Yellow Branch Falls is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in South Carolina, in my opinion. We visited as part of a marathon hiking trip to hit 15 watefalls in SC over a long weekend. This was definitely one of my favorites. It's a fifty-foot tall vertical cascade over black rock and is absolutely gorgeous. The white water contrasting with the dark rock in hundreds of various cascades makes a wonderful sight. The hike to the falls is about 1.5 miles and moderate in difficulty. Given the length, there's a chance you won't have the falls to yourself, but it's not going to be crowded either. From Walhalla, take SC-28 north about 7 miles and turn into the the Yellow Branch Picnic Area in Sumter National Forest. Take the Yellow Branch Nature Trail and turn onto the Yellow Branch Falls Trail to the falls. This is a moderate hike through a beautiful hardwood forest with not much elevation change until you approach the falls. In warmer weather, there is ample opportunity to cool off in the cold water from the falls. Even if there are no other people at the falls, you will likely not be alone. There are a ton of blackbelly salamanders that live in the rocks and logs at the base of the waterfall. They're very cute and not shy around people, but be careful not to...

The trailhead is just off of highway 28 right before you get to the Stumphouse tunnel park, just outside of Mountain Rest, SC. It is a. 1.5 mile out and back trail to the falls (3 miles round trip). The path is of moderate difficulty. It is easy to follow but is narrow and hilly, with many roots and rocks as you walk. It meanders through many different types of flora, including hardwoods, and rhododendron, crossing a small creek several times along the way. It is a pleasant, picturesque walk in the woods all the way there. The walk itself takes about 40 minutes to an hour to reach Yellow Branch Falls, depending on how fast you walk. Yellow Branch Falls is in a beautiful ravine, with the creek falling approximately 50 feet, haphazardly down over many layers of rock that jut out from the cliff face, making for a cascading effect. If it hasn’t rained recently, the Falls will be a slight trickle over the rocks but still very pretty. If it has rained recentlyC then the falls can be quite dramatic. We took the hike with all six of our kids and didn’t have any difficult. It is well worth it and is a refreshing way to spend...

Me and my son love this hike. It's just the perfect amount of activity. It's not too hard! It's around 3.5 miles out and back. The falls are beautiful. Make sure you wear water shoes or are willing to take your shoes off and walk around. When you get to the falls they have a nice beachy area. But if you get back to the waterfall, there is another beachy area.

We take our dogs. Be weary the trail is a bit narrow in some areas. Everyone has been respectful of our dogs when we bring them. We always ask everyone to keep their dogs to themselves and let them know we are training. And no issues!

You can allow your dog off leash while at the falls. I did our older husky last summer, when it was just us at the falls. I wouldn't recommend it if other people are there, or your dog has no recall. There are plenty of places for them to get stuck.

But it's a beautiful waterfall, great for a family hike. Be sure to take plenty of water, and even pack a lunch for the walk out there.

I still take my hiking pack. No trekking poles are needed, unless you want assistance with some roots/steps. There are a few,...