Final Falls
- Height: 24 feet
- Type: Cascade
- Stream: Fall Creek
- River Basin: Savannah River
- Elevation: 1,286 feet
- Landowner: United States Department of Agriculture
- Recreational Area: Sumter National Forest, Andrew Pickens Ranger District
- State: South Carolina
- County: Oconee
- USGS Map: Rainy Mountain
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Accessibility: Trail, logging road, steep scramble
- Trail Blaze: None
- Admission Fee: None
- Hike Length: 2.85 miles
- Waterfall GPS: 34.82019 -83.26859
- Parking GPS: 34.82090 -83.24984
Overview
Final Falls is the last waterfall on Fall Creek and pours directly into the Chattooga River.
Driving Directions
From Walhalla, South Carolina. From the intersection of SC-183, head west on SC-28 for 6.1 miles and turn left onto Whetstone Road. Drive 4.9 miles and turn left onto Chattooga Ridge Road. Drive 3.8 miles and turn right onto Fall Creek Road (FS-722). Drive 0.3 miles and turn left to stay on Fall Creek Road (FS-722). Drive 0.5 miles and park on the left side of the road in a small pull-off, just past the large culvert that runs beneath the road.
From Westminster, South Carolina. From the intersection of US-123, head north on US-76 for 15.4 miles and turn right onto Chattooga Ridge Road. Drive 2.1 miles and turn left onto Fall Creek Road (FS-722). Drive 0.3 miles and turn left to stay on Fall Creek Road (FS-722). Drive 0.5 miles and park on the left side of the road in a small pull-off, just past the large culvert that runs beneath the road.
From Clayton, Georgia. From the intersection of US-441, head east on US-76 for 10.3 miles and turn left onto Chattooga Ridge Road. Drive 2.1 miles and turn left onto Fall Creek Road (FS-722). Drive 0.3 miles and turn left to stay on Fall Creek Road (FS-722). Drive 0.5 miles and park on the left side of the road in a small pull-off, just past the large culvert that runs beneath the road.
From Westminster, South Carolina. From the intersection of US-123, head north on US-76 for 15.4 miles and turn right onto Chattooga Ridge Road. Drive 2.1 miles and turn left onto Fall Creek Road (FS-722). Drive 0.3 miles and turn left to stay on Fall Creek Road (FS-722). Drive 0.5 miles and park on the left side of the road in a small pull-off, just past the large culvert that runs beneath the road.
From Clayton, Georgia. From the intersection of US-441, head east on US-76 for 10.3 miles and turn left onto Chattooga Ridge Road. Drive 2.1 miles and turn left onto Fall Creek Road (FS-722). Drive 0.3 miles and turn left to stay on Fall Creek Road (FS-722). Drive 0.5 miles and park on the left side of the road in a small pull-off, just past the large culvert that runs beneath the road.
Hiking Directions
From the parking. Head towards the southwest corner of the parking and look for a tree with red painted bands on it and a trail heading downhill to the left of it. Follow the trail downhill for 200+ feet to a junction in the trail. (You'll pass by Andrew Ramey Falls on your way down.) Keep right to stay on the main trail and continue following the trail for 100+ feet to where it runs into an old logging road and head left. Follow the logging road downhill a short distance to where the trail splits and the main trail heads right up the hill.
Continue following the trail for 550+ feet to where it curves right and brings you to the top of a short but steep rocky area that drops down into a stream, which is North Fork Fall Creek. Carefully scramble down the steep rocky section into the stream and cross over to the other side. (You'll see Rhodo Falls to your left as you're crossing over the stream.) Continue following the trail for about 0.37 mile, and you'll come to another junction in the trail. Keep right and follow the trail for 480+ feet to the remains of an old homesite on the left side of the trail. Continue following the trail for 500+ feet to where it joins an old logging road that parallels the stream.
Continue on the trail for around 0.26 mile as it meanders through the woods, going away from the stream for a little bit and curving back to it and eventually coming to a section where the trail climbs up and skirts the hillside above the stream. Continue following the trail for 860+ feet to where it directly parallels the stream again and you have to cross a tiny stream that is flowing into the main stream, which has a giant tree in the center of the trail. Once across continue on the trail for 520+ feet to the upper section of Fall Creek Falls.
Continue following the trail as it curves to the right and away from the waterfall, precariously skirting the steep hillside above a cliff that makes up the waterfall. Once you've cleared the cliff continue on the trail for 100+ feet to the junction in the trail that drops down to Fall Creek Falls. Keep right and follow the trail downstream for 800+ feet to where the trail drops down to the river, which is Chattooga River. Once at the river you can follow it downstream to the base of the waterfall or you can bushwhack to the side of the waterfall to reach the middle section.
From the Pristine Falls Trail. Double back down Fall Creek Road (FS-722) for 0.15 mile, and park on the right side of the road in a small grassy area in the outer portion of the curve. (Parking GPS 34.82253 -83.25067.) Look for a trail on the southwest side of the road and follow it for about 300+ feet to an old logging road. Head left and follow the logging road for 650+ feet to a junction and head right. Continue following the logging road for about 0.23 mile to another junction and head left to begin heading downhill.
Continue down the logging road for 800+ feet to where the logging road changes to a trail and continue following the trail a short distance to the confluence of North Fork Fall Creek and Fall Creek. (You'll pass by Pristine Falls on your way down the logging road.) Cross over the North Fork Fall Creek and continue following the trail a short distance to a junction in the trail. Head left and follow the trail for 480+ feet to the remains of an old homesite on the left side of the trail. Continue following the trail for 500+ feet to where it joins an old logging road that parallels the stream.
Continue on the trail for around 0.26 mile as it meanders through the woods, going away from the stream for a little bit and curving back to it and eventually coming to a section where the trail climbs up and skirts the hillside above the stream. Continue following the trail for 860+ feet to where it directly parallels the stream again and you have to cross a tiny stream that is flowing into the main stream, which has a giant tree in the center of the trail. Once across continue on the trail for 520+ feet to the upper section of Fall Creek Falls.
Continue following the trail as it curves to the right and away from the waterfall, precariously skirting the steep hillside above a cliff that makes up the waterfall. Once you've cleared the cliff continue on the trail for 100+ feet to the junction in the trail that drops down to Fall Creek Falls. Keep right and follow the trail downstream for 800+ feet to where the trail drops down to the river, which is Chattooga River. Once at the river you can follow it downstream to the base of the waterfall or you can bushwhack to the side of the waterfall to reach the middle section.
My GPS track can be found below. Click on the track name to be taken to the Gaia GPS website where you can save the track to your phone or computer.
Continue following the trail for 550+ feet to where it curves right and brings you to the top of a short but steep rocky area that drops down into a stream, which is North Fork Fall Creek. Carefully scramble down the steep rocky section into the stream and cross over to the other side. (You'll see Rhodo Falls to your left as you're crossing over the stream.) Continue following the trail for about 0.37 mile, and you'll come to another junction in the trail. Keep right and follow the trail for 480+ feet to the remains of an old homesite on the left side of the trail. Continue following the trail for 500+ feet to where it joins an old logging road that parallels the stream.
Continue on the trail for around 0.26 mile as it meanders through the woods, going away from the stream for a little bit and curving back to it and eventually coming to a section where the trail climbs up and skirts the hillside above the stream. Continue following the trail for 860+ feet to where it directly parallels the stream again and you have to cross a tiny stream that is flowing into the main stream, which has a giant tree in the center of the trail. Once across continue on the trail for 520+ feet to the upper section of Fall Creek Falls.
Continue following the trail as it curves to the right and away from the waterfall, precariously skirting the steep hillside above a cliff that makes up the waterfall. Once you've cleared the cliff continue on the trail for 100+ feet to the junction in the trail that drops down to Fall Creek Falls. Keep right and follow the trail downstream for 800+ feet to where the trail drops down to the river, which is Chattooga River. Once at the river you can follow it downstream to the base of the waterfall or you can bushwhack to the side of the waterfall to reach the middle section.
From the Pristine Falls Trail. Double back down Fall Creek Road (FS-722) for 0.15 mile, and park on the right side of the road in a small grassy area in the outer portion of the curve. (Parking GPS 34.82253 -83.25067.) Look for a trail on the southwest side of the road and follow it for about 300+ feet to an old logging road. Head left and follow the logging road for 650+ feet to a junction and head right. Continue following the logging road for about 0.23 mile to another junction and head left to begin heading downhill.
Continue down the logging road for 800+ feet to where the logging road changes to a trail and continue following the trail a short distance to the confluence of North Fork Fall Creek and Fall Creek. (You'll pass by Pristine Falls on your way down the logging road.) Cross over the North Fork Fall Creek and continue following the trail a short distance to a junction in the trail. Head left and follow the trail for 480+ feet to the remains of an old homesite on the left side of the trail. Continue following the trail for 500+ feet to where it joins an old logging road that parallels the stream.
Continue on the trail for around 0.26 mile as it meanders through the woods, going away from the stream for a little bit and curving back to it and eventually coming to a section where the trail climbs up and skirts the hillside above the stream. Continue following the trail for 860+ feet to where it directly parallels the stream again and you have to cross a tiny stream that is flowing into the main stream, which has a giant tree in the center of the trail. Once across continue on the trail for 520+ feet to the upper section of Fall Creek Falls.
Continue following the trail as it curves to the right and away from the waterfall, precariously skirting the steep hillside above a cliff that makes up the waterfall. Once you've cleared the cliff continue on the trail for 100+ feet to the junction in the trail that drops down to Fall Creek Falls. Keep right and follow the trail downstream for 800+ feet to where the trail drops down to the river, which is Chattooga River. Once at the river you can follow it downstream to the base of the waterfall or you can bushwhack to the side of the waterfall to reach the middle section.
My GPS track can be found below. Click on the track name to be taken to the Gaia GPS website where you can save the track to your phone or computer.
