Updated July 2026
Lower Whitewater Falls
A roughly 200-foot cascade on the lower Whitewater River in the Jocassee Gorges, viewed from a wooden overlook reached via the Foothills Trail from Duke Energy's Bad Creek access near Salem.
Before you go
Waterfalls are hazardous by nature — wet rock, cold water, and unstable edges — and flow varies enormously with season and recent rain. Trail figures here describe the route as documented, not conditions today. Check USFS / SCDNR (Jocassee Gorges) for closures and current conditions, and confirm land status before setting out.
Graded lakes within 25 miles
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- AWolf Creek Reservoir · Jackson County · 14.6 mi
- BBear Creek Reservoir · Jackson County · 15.7 mi
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Frequently Asked Questions
Lower Whitewater Falls drops about 200 feet. That makes it the 80th-tallest documented waterfall in this inventory, taller than roughly 89% of the falls listed here. Height comes from published land-manager and survey records, not from our own measurement.
The Bad Creek Trailhead to Lower Whitewater Falls Observation Deck (Foothills Trail / Lower Whitewater Falls Trail) reaches it about 4.3 miles (out-and-back) with roughly 935 feet of elevation gain, rated moderate. The nearest town is Salem. That describes the route as documented, not conditions on the day — check with USFS / SCDNR (Jocassee Gorges) for closures and current conditions.
Winter and spring. Waterfall flow swings enormously with snowmelt and recent rain, so a fall that roars in spring can be a trickle by late summer.
More South Carolina waterfalls
- Big Bend Falls · 30 ft
- Brasstown Falls · 120 ft
- Issaqueena Falls · 100 ft
- King Creek Falls · 70 ft
- Lee Falls · 75 ft
- Rainbow Falls · 100 ft
- Raven Cliff Falls · 400 ft
- Riley Moore Falls · 12 ft
Sources
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