Hiking Trail

Big Bend

(Sumter National Forest)
(Oconee County)

Description: Starting from the Cherry Hill Recreation Area, this moderate out and back, 2.7-mile trail affords views of the biggest drop on the Chattooga River, a rumbling, 30-foot hydraulic known as Big Bend Falls. Even though this is a mountainous locale, you will find the hiking on this trail is fairly straightforward. Red blazes guide you through a predominantly hardwood forest of hemlocks, white oaks, mountain laurel, and galax. The Big Bend Trail runs parallel to Big Bend Road (FS 709) for some distance, and eventually ends at a junction with the Foothills Trail. For a nice view of Big Bend Falls from a ridge overlooking the river hike approximately 0.6 mile south on the Foothills and Chattooga Trails that run concurrent in this area.

Length: 2.7 miles one-way, plus 0.6 mile if you hike to the falls.

Fees: None.

Directions: From Walhalla, drive west on SC 28 for 7.5 miles and bear right onto SC 107. Drive 8.8 miles to the Cherry Hill Recreation Area on the right. The trailhead is just south of the recreation area entrance.

Hours: Dawn to dusk.

Camping: Campsites with facilities are available at Cherry Hill Recreation Area and Oconee State Park. Oconee State Park has 19 cabins (sleep four to eight, $55-$70 per cabin, per night), 140 campsites ($15.40 per site, per night) and 10 tent sites ($7.70 per site per night). Call 864-638-5353. Primitive campsites are available at Burrells Ford Campground and camping is allowed along the trail.

Information: Sumter National Forest, Andrew Pickens Ranger District, 112 Andrew Pickens Circle, Mountain Rest, SC 29664, Telephone: 864-638-9568.

South Carolina State Trails Program
South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism
1205 Pendleton Street :: Columbia, SC 29201 :: 803-734-0173
Webmaster: bswanson@scprt.com
Updated: October 26, 2004
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