Pitfall Falls
Photo taken on 3/26/2018 by Christopher Cockfield.
- Height: 18 feet
- Type: Steep cascade
- Stream: Tributary of Chattooga River
- River Basin: Savannah River
- Watershed: Small
- Elevation: 1,466 feet
- Landowner: U.S. Department of Agriculture
- Forest/Park: Sumter National Forest, Andrew Pickens Ranger District
- State: South Carolina
- County: Oconee
- USGS Map: Rainy Mountain
- Difficulty: Strenuous
- Accessibility: Forest road & bushwhack
- Trail Blaze: None
- Admission Fee: None
- Hike Length: 1.2 miles
- Waterfall GPS: 34.84228 -83.25249
- Parking GPS: 34.83629 -83.25386
Overview
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. Drive 0.3 miles and turn left to stay on Fall Creek Road. Drive 2.3 miles and park on the right side of the road near the fork of Fall Creek Road (road to the right) and Turpin Branch Road (road to the left.)
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. Drive 0.3 miles and turn left to stay on Fall Creek Road. Drive 2.3 miles and park on the right side of the road near the fork of Fall Creek Road (road to the right) and Turpin Branch Road (road to the left.)
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. Drive 0.3 miles and turn left to stay onto Fall Creek Road. Drive 2.3 miles and park on the right side of the road near the fork of Fall Creek Road (road to the right) and Turpin Branch Road (road to the left.)
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. Drive 0.3 miles and turn left to stay on Fall Creek Road. Drive 2.3 miles and park on the right side of the road near the fork of Fall Creek Road (road to the right) and Turpin Branch Road (road to the left.)
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. Drive 0.3 miles and turn left to stay onto Fall Creek Road. Drive 2.3 miles and park on the right side of the road near the fork of Fall Creek Road (road to the right) and Turpin Branch Road (road to the left.)
Hiking Directions
From the parking. Follow the less maintained Fall Creek Road on the right for 0.28 miles and turn left onto a trail. Follow the trail for 800+ feet and go right, continue following the trail for 150+ feet to a creek crossing. Once across follow the trail a little and turn left to follow the creek downstream. Head downstream for 400+ feet to the side of Daniel Falls. Continue heading downstream 150+ feet and head northeast to get above the rhodo. Once above the rhodo, go about 100+ feet and drop through the rhodo towards the creek. Once through the thicket you should be downstream of the falls a little and should see a lot of deadwood piled up. Carefully head upstream to the falls.
It is a very dangerous place down here as the deadfall has made a lot of pitfalls and if you drop too soon you'll meet the steep cliff that's near the falls.
It is a very dangerous place down here as the deadfall has made a lot of pitfalls and if you drop too soon you'll meet the steep cliff that's near the falls.
