This Quaint Little Trail Is The Shortest And Sweetest Hike In South Carolina
By Robin Jarvis|Published January 31, 2018
×
Robin Jarvis
Author
Robin Jarvis began writing for OnlyInYourState.com in 2015 and quickly advanced to a Senior Editor role. She's currently the Brand Manager and has a Bachelor's degree from West Virginia University in Journalism with a minor in Marketing. Her career history includes long running appearances on radio and television. She also has served as publisher of Shades of Green Magazine and Design Lead on several print publications. Her love for travel has taken her to many parts of the world. She's lived in the Carolinas for more than three decades and currently resides in Charleston, SC. When she's not working, she loves playing guitar, painting, traveling, and spending time with family.
Contact: rjarvis@onlyinyourstate.com
South Carolina’s Upstate could easily be nicknamed ‘land of waterfalls.’ One county in the Upstate alone has at least 150 waterfalls (some are on private land). But this waterfall is special. Not only is it easily accessible, but it also involves legendary folklore involving a Native American princess. Since Native Americans don’t really name ‘princesses,’ she was likely a daughter of the chief. Keep reading to learn about her and this astounding waterfall.
Issaqueena Falls is located a few short miles outside of Walhalla, and next to another attraction known as Stumphouse Tunnel.
But look down from the viewing platform and you may feel another sensation. From here you can see where that Native American princess fooled her attackers by making them think she had jumped to her death.
As you can see from the tiny individuals at the bottom of the falls in the bottom of this photo, it's a LONG way down. But why was the princess running and who was chasing her?
Legend has it that she heard other Indians discussing attacking a white settlement nearby and quickly rode off to warn them. When her actions were discovered by her own people, they chased her and she ran to this waterfall and hid somewhere along the cascade under a ledge where they couldn't see her. Believing she had jumped to her death, the attackers rode off.
The hike to the top of Issaqueena Falls delivers beautiful long-range views and a wonderful vantage point for viewing the falls from above. Although this short and sweet hike to the top of the waterfall (shown in the photo below) is amazingly easy, getting to the bottom of the falls is another story.
You'll find the entrance to Issaqueena Falls trail clearly marked near the parking lot for Stumphouse Tunnel Park on Stumphouse Tunnel Road in Walhalla, SC.
They may not have a backstory as legendary as Issaqueena Falls, but there are seven more waterfalls you can chase in this waterfall road trip through the Sumter National Forest. Enjoy!
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
