Hidden Treasures #3 – South Carolina

Welcome to the third installment of our exploration of some of the most beautiful, off-the-beaten-path places in the Central and Southern Appalachian Mountains. In this issue, we hand picked some water-related hot spots perfect for late summer days: hikes, waterfalls, swimming holes and everything in between — areas that are perfect for dipping your toes, or your whole self, into the water.

Brasstown Falls

Photo by Jeff Hammond

Sumter National Forest in South Carolina is home to a collection of stunning waterfalls, four of which are accessible from the parking area off Forest Service Road 751. An easy quarter-mile trail leads you to the first breathtaking waterfall known as Brasstown Cascades, a humbling 50-foot drop. If you’re feeling adventurous, continue downstream and clamber down the narrow, steep, rocky trail to Brasstown Veil, a wide and steep waterfall that dramatically free-falls about 20 feet into a shallow pool.

Adventure a little farther on the trail to reach the Brasstown Sluice, a long chute of water pouring into another picturesque pool. Little Brasstown Falls can be accessed from the same parking area, but you’ll have to wade through Brasstown Creek to reach it. — By Jessica Kennedy

More Info: Located in Oconee County, S.C. Visit: sctrails.net