Hidden Treasures #6: South Carolina
Yellow Branch Falls & Other Waterfalls
Sumter National Forest
(864) 638-9568
The Andrew Pickens Ranger District of Sumter National Forest in Oconee County, S.C., contains multiple gorgeous waterfalls.
Yellow Branch Falls. Photo by Mark Oleg Ozboyd, Southeast Nature Society
Yellow Branch Falls Trail, a moderately difficult three-mile round-trip path, leads to its namesake waterfall, a 50-foot scenic cascade.
The Andrew Pickens district is also home to Brasstown Falls, Big Bend Falls, King Creek Falls, Lee Falls, Long Creek Falls, Fall Creek Falls, Opossum Creek Falls, Pigpen Falls, Riley Moore Falls, Spoonauger Falls, Miuka Falls, Station Cove Falls and Station Creek Falls.
Still looking for an adventure in the area? Stumphouse Tunnel Park, which features Issaqueena Falls and Stumphouse Tunnel, is located just outside the national forest. Note that the park closes at 5 p.m.
Local legends and an 1898 poem say that the 200-foot Issaqueena Falls is named for a Cherokee woman who warned white settlers of an impending attack. To escape pursuing American Indians, she appeared to jump over the falls, but Issaqueena was actually hiding behind the falls and survived.
Great views of the cascading Issaqueena Falls can be accessed quickly through the viewing platform or a steep hike down to its base.
Related Articles
Latest News
More Stories
‘First Line of Defense’
During Hurricane Helene and its aftermath, rural fire departments and other first responder hubs played critical roles in keeping their communities safe, even without power and cut off from outside support for days or weeks after the storm. Two years later, plenty of work remains to ensure these hubs have the resources they need to operate day to day and be ready when emergencies or natural disasters strike.
The Rocky Road — and Bridge — to Recovery
Hurricane Helene is estimated to have damaged nearly 7,000 private roads and bridges in Western North Carolina. Two years later, many restoration projects are complete, but the journey hasn’t been easy — and isn’t over for others.
After 20 Years, Letcher County Prison Proposal Is Still Alive, Though Obstacles Remain
A $605 million proposal for a federal prison on a former strip mine site in Letcher County, Kentucky, championed by U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers, refuses to die, despite local opposition, a lack of support from the executive branch and numerous other obstacles.
The Washout and Rebuild
For nearly two years, residents of Unicoi County, Tennessee, have had to make do without a hospital after Hurricane Helene destroyed the rural hospital. Ballad Health, which owns the hospital, broke ground on a new location — in another floodplain — in August 2026.
The Shenandoah Salamander
The Shenandoah salamander is a woodland salamander, which has adapted to life at higher elevations away from water. This sparkling rarity lives among the dry leaves, cracked logs, and stony hillocks on the highest peaks of Shenandoah National Park.
‘Foraging Is a Way of Connecting’
Foraging has experienced a modern resurgence, partly because of social media, online groups, the pandemic and people wanting to connect with nature. It also builds community, whether in person or online.
Leave a comment
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Leave a Comment