15 Best Waterfalls in South Carolina (2026 Updated)
Of the 27 named waterfalls in South Carolina, these 15 earn the strongest visitor ratings, led by Kings Creek Falls, Rainbow Falls, and Reedy Cove Falls. The list spans the Oconee Escarpment and Jocassee Gorges, Mountain Bridge and the Greenville Highlands, and Piedmont and the Fall Line.
How We Picked
We ranked the 19 publicly accessible South Carolina waterfalls with at least five Google reviews by a weighted rating that balances score against review volume, so a 4.9 from a dozen reviewers counts for less than a 4.8 from thousands. Every waterfall links to a full page with coordinates, maps and nearby falls.
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1. Kings Creek Falls
Walhalla, SC · Oconee County · Oconee Escarpment and Jocassee Gorges
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.9-star Google rating and is the 3rd most reviewed in the state, with 68 reviews. 85% of reviewers give it five stars. It is one of 7 named falls in the Oconee Escarpment and Jocassee Gorges region. Spoonauger Falls is only 0.6 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. The nearest town is Walhalla, about 14 miles to the south.
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2. Rainbow Falls
Slater-Marietta, SC · Greenville County · Mountain Bridge and the Greenville Highlands
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.9-star Google rating and is the 5th most reviewed in the state, with 51 reviews. 90% of reviewers give it five stars. It is one of 12 named falls in the Mountain Bridge and the Greenville Highlands region. The nearest town is Slater-Marietta, about 8.8 miles to the southeast.
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3. Reedy Cove Falls
Pickens, SC · Pickens County · Mountain Bridge and the Greenville Highlands
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.8-star Google rating and is the 2nd most reviewed in the state, with 133 reviews. 88% of reviewers give it five stars. Google's listing sums it up as: "Scenic spot with a twin waterfall, accessed by a short, flat walk to a viewing platform." It is one of 12 named falls in the Mountain Bridge and the Greenville Highlands region. The nearest town is Pickens, about 11 miles to the southeast.
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4. Isaqueena Falls
Walhalla, SC · Oconee County · Oconee Escarpment and Jocassee Gorges
Why it made the list
It is the most reviewed waterfall in South Carolina, holding 4.7 stars across 230 Google reviews. 83% of reviewers give it five stars. Google's listing sums it up as: "Tranquil spot featuring a cascading waterfall with an observation deck & hiking trails." It is one of 7 named falls in the Oconee Escarpment and Jocassee Gorges region. The nearest town is Walhalla, about 4.3 miles to the southeast.
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5. Raven Cliff Falls
Slater-Marietta, SC · Greenville County · Mountain Bridge and the Greenville Highlands
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.7-star Google rating and is the 4th most reviewed in the state, with 67 reviews. 82% of reviewers give it five stars. Google's listing sums it up as: "Towering waterfall plunging off a cliff, with views from a platform reached via a wooded trail." It is one of 12 named falls in the Mountain Bridge and the Greenville Highlands region. The nearest town is Slater-Marietta, about 11 miles to the southeast.
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6. Spoonauger Falls
Walhalla, SC · Oconee County · Oconee Escarpment and Jocassee Gorges
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.8-star Google rating and is the 10th most reviewed in the state, with 23 reviews. 87% of reviewers give it five stars. It is one of 7 named falls in the Oconee Escarpment and Jocassee Gorges region. Kings Creek Falls is only 0.6 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. The nearest town is Walhalla, about 15 miles to the south.
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7. Gordons Mill Falls
Clinton, SC · Laurens County · Piedmont and the Fall Line
Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 9 reviews. It is one of 8 named falls in the Piedmont and the Fall Line region. The nearest town is Clinton, about 8.5 miles to the south.
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8. Wildcat Branch Lower Falls
Slater-Marietta, SC · Greenville County · Mountain Bridge and the Greenville Highlands
Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 4.5 stars across 22 reviews. 73% of reviewers give it five stars. It is one of 12 named falls in the Mountain Bridge and the Greenville Highlands region. Wildcat Branch Upper Falls is only 0.4 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. The nearest town is Slater-Marietta, about 6.5 miles to the southeast.
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9. Hidden Falls
Walhalla, SC · Oconee County · Oconee Escarpment and Jocassee Gorges
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.4-star Google rating and is the 6th most reviewed in the state, with 35 reviews. The USGS gazetteer describes it as: Located on an unnamed stream which flows into Tamassee Creek, 1.6 km (1 mi) E of Oconee State Park and 6.4 km (4 mi) W of the community of Tamassee. Name history: Hidden Falls was discovered by Norman Arnold of Salem, SC in early 1994 while hiking in Sumter NF. It is one of 7 named falls in the Oconee Escarpment and Jocassee Gorges region. The nearest town is Walhalla, about 8.1 miles to the south.
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10. Wildcat Branch Upper Falls
Slater-Marietta, SC · Greenville County · Mountain Bridge and the Greenville Highlands
Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 4.1 stars across 7 reviews. It is one of 12 named falls in the Mountain Bridge and the Greenville Highlands region. Wildcat Branch Lower Falls is only 0.4 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. The nearest town is Slater-Marietta, about 6.6 miles to the southeast.
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11. Lower Falls
Walhalla, SC · Oconee County · Oconee Escarpment and Jocassee Gorges
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.3-star Google rating and is the 7th most reviewed in the state, with 32 reviews. Google's listing sums it up as: "Dramatic cascade on the Whitewater River with a 1.9-mile hiking trail to a viewing platform." Older records also call it Lower Whitewater Falls and White Water Falls. It is one of 7 named falls in the Oconee Escarpment and Jocassee Gorges region. Corbin Creek Falls is only 1.7 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. The nearest town is Walhalla, about 18 miles to the south.
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12. Great Falls
Ware Shoals, SC · Laurens County · Piedmont and the Fall Line
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.1-star Google rating and is the 9th most reviewed in the state, with 24 reviews. Reviews most often mention picnic and river. It is one of 8 named falls in the Piedmont and the Fall Line region. The nearest town is Ware Shoals, about 0.6 miles to the southwest.
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13. The Falls
Red Hill, SC · Marion County · Piedmont and the Fall Line
Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 3.1 stars across 9 reviews. Reviews most often mention hike. It is one of 8 named falls in the Piedmont and the Fall Line region. The nearest town is Red Hill, about 3.3 miles to the southeast.
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14. Big Falls
Tigerville, SC · Greenville County · Mountain Bridge and the Greenville Highlands
Pictured: nearby Pearsons Falls (4.8 mi) Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 2.0 stars across 5 reviews. It is one of 12 named falls in the Mountain Bridge and the Greenville Highlands region. The nearest town is Tigerville, about 6.7 miles to the south.
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15. Cedar Falls
Kershaw, SC · Kershaw County · Piedmont and the Fall Line
Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 2.3 stars across 6 reviews. It is one of 8 named falls in the Piedmont and the Fall Line region. The nearest town is Kershaw, about 5.8 miles to the east.
When to Visit South Carolina's Waterfalls
Upstate South Carolina has a long waterfall season. Late winter through spring, roughly February to May, typically brings the strongest flow and the most consistent rainfall, along with wildflowers in the coves and blooming mountain laurel and rhododendron along streams from late spring into early summer. Summer is hot and humid, but frequent afternoon thunderstorms keep many escarpment falls running, and popular trailheads see heavy weekend traffic. Fall foliage usually peaks from late October into early November and draws crowds to Caesars Head and Table Rock. Dry spells in late summer and fall can reduce smaller falls. Winters are generally mild, though occasional cold snaps can leave ice on rocks and trails at higher elevations. Tropical systems occasionally bring flooding in late summer and fall.
Before You Go
Most Upstate falls are on public land in the Sumter National Forest, state parks such as Oconee, Caesars Head, Jones Gap and Devils Fork, and state-managed lands in the Jocassee Gorges. South Carolina State Parks charge admission at many parks. Trailheads can be at the end of narrow, winding roads, and parking at the most popular falls fills early on weekends. The escarpment's hazards are serious: wet granite near falls is extremely slick, and people climbing on or above falls have been seriously injured or killed. Stay on trails and behind railings. Streams can rise quickly after storms, and some falls require stream crossings that become dangerous in high water.
Read our waterfall safety rules and packing list before heading out.
Explore More South Carolina Waterfalls
See all 27 waterfalls in the South Carolina waterfall guide, or browse by town: Walhalla, Slater-Marietta, Pickens, Clinton, Ware Shoals, Red Hill, Tigerville, Kershaw.
More South Carolina Waterfall Lists
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best waterfall in South Carolina?
Kings Creek Falls tops our 2026 list, with a 4.9-star rating from 68 Google reviews. It is near Walhalla in Oconee County.
How was this list made?
We ranked the 19 publicly accessible South Carolina waterfalls with at least five Google reviews by a weighted rating that balances score against review volume, so a 4.9 from a dozen reviewers counts for less than a 4.8 from thousands.
How many waterfalls are in South Carolina?
Our directory lists 27 named waterfalls in South Carolina. See them all, sorted by town, in the South Carolina waterfall guide.
Where are most of South Carolina's waterfalls?
Most are in Greenville, Oconee and Pickens counties along the Blue Ridge Escarpment in the state's northwestern corner. Greenville County has the most, followed by Oconee County.