Love Falls Park, but eager to have your face misted by a waterfall outside of the city? Skip town—but stay close—and find these eight cascades within two hours of downtown Greenville.
Several months post-Hurricane Helene, some popular waterfall hikes remain closed. The following hikes have been cleared, but please respect trail signage.
Short, Easy Hikes
Chau Ram Falls, Westminster, SC
60 minutes away
This accessible 40-foot waterfall, 0.2 miles from the road, is Oconee County’s best-kept secret. If you’re up for it, the park also features three miles of hiking trails, including a stunning 160-foot suspension bridge that crosses the Chauga River.
Whitewater Falls, Cashiers, NC
75 minutes away
At 811 feet, Whitewater is the tallest falls east of the Rockies. A handicap-accessible 0.3-mile paved path leads to an upper overlook, and there’s a lower overlook at the bottom of 154 wooden steps. If you’re feeling spry, take the half-mile spur trail 600 feet down (it’s steep!) to the Whitewater River and the 77-mile Foothills Trail.
Anna Ruby Falls, Helen, GA
120 minutes away
A twofer! This 0.4-mile paved path will take you to twin waterfalls, one from Curtis Creek (150 feet) and the other from York Creek (50 feet). Anna Ruby Falls is named for the daughter of Civil War veteran Colonel James Nichols, who settled nearby in 1870.
1- to 3-Mile Hikes
Station Cove Falls, Walhalla, SC
1.7 miles, 70 minutes away
A lush green trail leads you to the base of a stepped 60-foot waterfall with cool wading ponds, not far from historic Oconee Station, a military outpost developed in 1792.
Riley Moore Falls, Westminster, SC
2.5 miles, 80 minutes away
The sandy beach and easy wading make these falls the perfect swimming hole. What the cascade lacks in height, it makes up for in width: 12 feet high, but 100 feet wide.
4- to 5-Mile Hikes
Cove Creek and Tom Spring Falls, Balsam Grove, NC
4 miles, 90 minutes away
These epic waterfalls deep in Pisgah National Forest are popular rappelling destinations. A moderate, mostly shaded hike along the Cove Creek and Lanning Ridge Road trails will bring you up close and personal to both falls, with heights of 50 feet and 150 feet respectively.
Rainbow, Turtleback, and Drift Falls, Lake Toxaway, NC
4.4 miles, 90 minutes away
Walk along the Horsepasture River to three falls. First up, 150-foot Rainbow Falls roars loud and proud. Turtleback Falls is next, and if you brought your swimsuit, this natural slide will send you 20 feet down into the pool below (please exercise caution). The final chute, Drift Falls, is on private property but easy to see from the trail’s end.
Rainbow Falls, Cleveland, SC
5 miles, 45 minutes away
While it may be confusing to have two falls of the same name on our list, this Jones Gap gem merits a mention. The strenuous hike just reopened in March, thanks to hardworking cleanup crews. This 100-foot free-falling spectacle is well worth the 1,100-foot climb.
