Sumter National Forest: Big Bend Trail to Big Bend Falls (Blog Hike #639)

Trails: Big Bend and Chattooga River Trails

Hike Location: Sumter National Forest

Geographic Location: northwest of Walhalla, SC (34.94133, -83.08988)

Length: 6.6 miles

Difficulty: 6/10 (Moderate)

Date Hiked: June 2017

Overview: An out-and-back to the Chattooga River and powerful Big Bend Falls.

Trail Information: https://www.sctrails.net/trails/trail/big-bend

Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=733046
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: From Walhalla, take SR 28 west 8.2 miles to SR 107 and turn softly right on SR 107.  Drive SR 107 north 8.5 miles to an unsigned gravel pullout on the right that serves as the trailhead parking area.  The easiest way to find this pullout is to drive to Sumter National Forest’s signed Cherry Hill Recreation Area and backtrack about 500 feet.  The trail starts on the opposite side of the road from the pullout.

The hike: Cutting a 57-mile gouge along the Georgia/South Carolina border, the Chattooga River is one of the southeast’s longest free-flowing rivers.  The Chattooga rises near Cashiers, NC and flows roughly southward over many roaring rapids before ending with a whimper at the backwaters of Lake Tugaloo.  The river’s most famous moment came in 1972 when scenes from the movie Deliverance were filmed along its banks and in its rapids.  In 1974, the Chattooga was designated a National Wild and Scenic River, thus making it the first river east of the Mississippi to receive this designation.

            For most of its distance the Chattooga River’s west bank lies in Georgia’s Chattahoochee National Forest while its east bank lies in South Carolina’s Sumter National Forest.  Thus, large segments of the river are preserved in their natural state.  The hike described here does not provide the shortest or easiest Chattoga River access, but it takes you to a secluded section of the river (several miles to road access in either direction) and to Big Bend Falls, a major river waterfall.

Big Bend Trail trailhead

            The Big Bend Trail starts on the west side of SR 107 across from the gravel pullout described in the Directions to the trailhead.  The first of the Big Bend Trail’s many powder blue paint blazes marks this point, as does a warning sign stating that the trail is open only to foot travel.  A wooden sign with trail mileages also stands here, but it is located a few feet into the woods and may be harder to see.

Cascade in Cane Creek

            The trail descends moderately to reach the bank of Crane Creek, which contains some small cascades.  The cascades make great audio, but dense rhododendron makes them hard to see.  After crossing the creek on a nice wooden footbridge, the trail curves right to climb gradually away from Crane Creek.  A double powder blue blaze (two blazes on a single tree) marks this turn.  Although the trail had been cleared recently on my visit, the trail’s narrowness and lack of traffic may require you to watch the blazes to stay on the trail.

Over the next 0.7 miles the trail gains 130 feet of elevation on a grade that is mostly imperceptible.  Along the way you pass in and out of numerous ravines, all of which feed into unseen Pigpen Branch.  Gravel and seldom-used Big Bend Road (FR 709) roughly parallels this trail, and occasionally it comes into view on the right.  The entire trail passes through broadleaf forest with tulip poplars being the largest trees in the forest.

Hiking the Big Bend Trail

Near 1 mile into the hike, you reach the hike’s highest point as you round one of many finger ridges.  The next 1.6 miles are a gradual descent that loses about 250 feet of elevation in fits and starts.  A few wooden steps improved footing in the past, but they are partly overgrown now.  Three side trails branch off from the road uphill to your right and cross your path.  The dull roar of the distant Chattooga River will be one of the few sounds you hear in this area.

At 2.3 miles, the trail curves left as it drops into the ravine that will bring you to the Chattooga River.  After crossing the ravine’s stream twice in quick succession, a creekside descent brings you to the Big Bend Trail’s western end and a junction with the combined Foothills and Chattooga River Trails, which go right and straight.  A national recreation trail marker also sits here.  Continue straight to begin hiking southbound on the Chattooga River Trail.

Intersecting the Chattooga River Trail

The green blazes of the Chattooga River Trail and the white blazes of the Foothills Trail run conjointly along this section of trail.  After crossing a steep angler’s trail that comes downhill from the end of Big Bend Road, the Chattooga River comes into sight for the first time.  The trail descends a pair of switchbacks to reach a charming riverside campsite right below a big rapid in the river.  The site makes a great place to stop, have a trail snack, and enjoy the sights and sounds along this secluded slice of river paradise.

Chattooga River above Big Bend Falls

Some people think this rapid is Big Bend Falls, but in fact the falls lie further downstream.  Continuing south on the Chattooga River Trail, the trail climbs a bluff before descending another pair of switchbacks.  Due to the rugged terrain and dense rhododendron, Big Bend Falls is more easily heard than seen.  The steep unsigned spur trail to Big Bend Falls exits right at the base of some rock steps just after the second switchback.  The waterfall is only 30 feet high, and it falls in numerous stages.  Nevertheless the river’s large water volume makes Big Bend Falls a powerful sight.  After viewing (or perhaps only hearing) Big Bend Falls, retrace your steps 3.3 miles to the trailhead to complete the hike.