After spending a week in a photography workshop centered on the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, and a weekend in Cherokee North Carolina – gateway to the Smoky Mountains – I had the opportunity to spend another weekend near the Blue Ridge Mountains in South Carolina. Although our activities were focused on a family wedding – a Hallowedding hosted on Halloween on the shores of Lake Keowee, SC – I took the opportunity to visit some nearby summits and waterfalls.
On Friday a few of us traveled to Whitewater Falls, North Carolina – the tallest waterfall in the eastern United States. After a brief ascent along a paved path, and a brief descent along an impressive set of wooden stairs, we had a lovely view of this four-hundred-foot cascade.
On Saturday we visited the elegant Yellow Branch Falls, following a 1.5-mile trail through a forest exhibiting the brilliant range of reds, yellows, and oranges of fall foliage. This cascade offered delicate streams of water tinkling over a series of ledges, with an opportunity for a more intimate experience directly at the base of the falls.
Finally, as we departed the region, we drove to the top of Sassafras Mountain – the highest point in South Carolina. It sits literally on the border with North Carolina, in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and offers 340º views across South and North Carolina and into Georgia. We visited on a partly cloudy day, with the sun and clouds dappling the rolling hills covered in intense fall foliage. Indeed, I’d say we hit this spot at the peak of fall foliage! The colors spanned a full spectrum from green to yellow, orange, and deep red. Spectacular, and worth the visit!
Full-res photos in the gallery.
This weekend marks the sixth weekend in a row that I’ve been out hiking, following a remarkable range of locations:
- October 26: Smoky Mountains, North Carolina
- October 18: Gile Mountain, Vermont
- October 12: Chantry Wood, England
- October 5: Ivinghoe Beacon Ridgeway, England
- September 28: Box Hill Circuit, England
Let’s see if I can keep it up!
David Kotz 
4 thoughts on “South Carolina mountain weekend”