South Carolina never fails to impress us again and again. And for those who love chasing waterfalls, it’s an endless adventure – from epic hiking trails that lead to waterfalls deep within our forests to others, like the one found at Glendale Shoals Preserve, that are barely a hike at hall. You can practically drive right up to Glendale Shoals and its waterfall – and then spend hours exploring the falls and the 13-acre park found at this Upstate preserve.
One of the first major mills in the state was found along Lawson's Fork Creek in what is now Glendale Shoals Preserve. The park showcases some astounding ruins of the old 1830s mill that eventually burned down in 2004, long after it closed.
The mill was surrounded by a small mill town that sprang up around the enormous cotton mill here and a bridge was eventually constructed over Lawson's Fork Creek connecting part of the town to the mill. It fell into great disrepair over the last several decades...
Only to bounce back at the end of August 2018, when it was restored to its full glory and reopened again to the public. Any visit to Glendale Shoals to see the waterfall and cascading falls over the shoals just won't be complete without crossing the iconic mill bridge.
The water rolling over the shoals is also a scenic wonder. It gurgles in places and roars in others and is sure to be a highlight of any visit to the preserve.
Depending upon water levels on Lawson's Fork Creek, visitors can often get out onto the shoals to explore the falls from different vantage points. Just be careful that your footing is solid and check each step to be certain you're not venturing into a slippery area.
After checking out the waterfall and the bridge, explore the rest of the park at Glendale Shoals Preserve. A one-mile loop trail through the park follows the creek for nearly half of the hike before it loops back through the park and past several historic points of interest, mostly related to the ruins that remain of the mill.
Bring a picnic and stay awhile. There are tables and plenty of other places (like the seating found within the amphitheater) to sit down, relax, and enjoy this uniquely preserved mill site and waterfall.
Glendale Shoals Preserve is free to the public and is open seven days a week from dawn to dusk. Dogs are allowed, but must remain on a leash. Find out more about the park from the official website here. And learn more in this previous article about the ghost mill town at Glendale that just refuses to die.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
