(Keywords: Hiking, Photography - South Carolina)
Featuring,
Waterfalls in Oconee, Pickens and Greenville Counties
The
mountains of South Carolina have one of the densest concentrations of waterfalls
in the United States. There are two reasons for this: an ample supply
of water and a sudden change in elevation. The Blue Ridge escarpment
provides the sudden change in elevation, separating the gentle rolling hills
of the Piedmont and the more rugged terrain of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Most trails that traverse this narrow region change 2000 feet in elevation
over a distance of 4 miles.
The rains in the mountains - over 100 inches annually in some places - feed rivers that have cut gorges in the escarpment. Rivers and creeks flowing through and into these gorges produce spectacular displays of falling water. Some of these waterfalls are roadside attractions, other require a good hike.
Click on the binoculars to see a demonstration of ExpertGPS displaying the Oppossum Creek Falls Trail. scfalls_expert.jpg (Approx. 80 KB) opens in a new window.
GPS Map
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Download the free GPS Map in GPS eXchange (.gpx) file format, which can be read and transferred to your GPS using free GPS software. (The .gpx file will appear in a new window where you can File > Save as... on your computer)
GPS Map Details
File Name sc_waterfalls.gpx
File Size: 84 KB
Revised: 26 July 2001
Class A1 Data
Waypoints: 27
Routes/Tracks 15
Adventure Travel Tip
Weather in the South Carolina foothills can change suddenly. A brief shower or snow flurry can cause slippery conditions on the trail. Loose footing can be extremely dangerous in this rugged terrain. Always wear sturdy shoes* and I recommend you carry a portable weather alert radio*
Adventures in Print
In the fall of 2000, the Palmetto Conservation Foundation asked me to verify the trail descriptions for the second edition of The Waterfalls of South Carolina*. They got more than they bargained for when I came back with exact GPS coordinates. You will find these coordinates published in the appendix of the book, and here in this GPS map.
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