Updated July 2026
Spoonauger Falls
Spoonauger Falls is a roughly 50-foot sliding cascade reached by a short spur off the Chattooga River Trail in Sumter National Forest near the Burrells Ford area. The easy hike follows the Chattooga River before climbing briefly to the falls.
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 Sumter National Forest (USFS) for closures and current conditions, and confirm land status before setting out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Spoonauger Falls drops about 50 feet. That makes it the 417th-tallest documented waterfall in this inventory, taller than roughly 42% of the falls listed here. Height comes from published land-manager and survey records, not from our own measurement.
The Spoonauger Falls via Chattooga River Trail reaches it about 0.7 miles (out-and-back) with roughly 111 feet of elevation gain, rated easy. The nearest town is Mountain Rest. That describes the route as documented, not conditions on the day — check with Sumter National Forest (USFS) for closures and current conditions.
No best-season window is documented for Spoonauger Falls. As a general rule, waterfall flow peaks with spring snowmelt and after sustained rain, and drops sharply in 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
- Lower Whitewater Falls · 200 ft
- Rainbow Falls · 100 ft
- Raven Cliff Falls · 400 ft
Sources
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