Sumter National Forest: Yellow Branch Falls (Blog Hike #789)

Trail: Yellow Branch Falls Trail

Hike Location: Sumter National Forest, Yellow Branch Picnic Area

Geographic Location: northwest of Walhalla, SC (34.80550, -83.12835)

Length: 3.2 miles

Difficulty: 5/10 (Moderate)

Date Hiked: March 2020

Overview: An out-and-back to interesting Yellow Branch Falls.

Trail Information: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/scnfs/recarea/?recid=47137

Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=786586

Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: 

Directions to the trailhead: From Walhalla, take SR 28 west 5.3 miles to the signed entrance for the Yellow Branch Picnic Area on the left.  Turn left and drive the short entrance road down to the picnic area parking lot.  The hike starts at the picnic area.

The hike: By some measures Yellow Branch Falls is just another of the many excellent waterfalls in upstate South Carolina, but these measures fail to tell the full story.  Yellow Branch Falls’ many cascades over irregular rock ledges give the waterfall a unique look.  Also, while some waterfalls require miles of driving on rough gravel roads, Yellow Branch Picnic Area’s location right on a major state highway makes the trailhead easily accessible.  Thus, Yellow Branch Falls is a popular destination, especially on warm weather weekends.

            Although the trail to reach Yellow Branch Falls is a national forest trail, it has a front-country feel with numerous wooden stair and railing constructions.  Nevertheless, the trail also features five unbridged creek crossings, so I recommend waterproof boots for this hike.  When I hiked here two days after a good rain, the creek crossings had only a few inches of water, but the waterfall still had enough water to make it a spectacular sight.

Yellow Branch Falls trailhead

            An information kiosk and a brown carsonite post on the south side of the picnic area identify the trailhead for the Yellow Branch Falls Trail.  Marked with orange rectangular paint blazes, the Yellow Branch Falls Trail heads downstream with Yellow Branch flowing to your left.  Some dense rhododendron grows beside Yellow Branch, but otherwise the forest is a nice open broadleaf forest.  At 0.15 miles, you reach the first creek crossing.  Stone steps take you right to the water, but the stepping stones in the creek were underwater on my visit.

First unbridged creek crossing

            Two more creek crossings come in quick fashion, and one of these crossings comes just below a small ledge-type waterfall.  At 0.3 miles, you reach a trail intersection.  As directed by another brown carsonite post, you need to turn right here to keep heading for Yellow Branch Falls.

Bridge over Yellow Branch

            Next you cross Yellow Branch on a wooden bridge, one of only two bridges on this trail.  The final Yellow Branch crossing is unbridged, but before you make this crossing look for a faint path that continues straight along the west bank of Yellow Branch.  Now blocked by limbs placed strategically across the treadway, this path is the old route to Yellow Branch Falls.  While the narrower old route was 0.2 miles shorter, it treaded precariously close to the stream and thus suffered from erosion problems. Reading some descriptions of the old trail convinced me of the current route’s advantages.

Descending into unnamed ravine

            After crossing Yellow Branch for the last time, the trail heads over a low saddle to enter a broad ravine with an unnamed watercourse.  The small stream is crossed once without the aid of a bridge, and a gradual descent continues.  1 mile into the hike, the trail curves right and begins climbing as you pass the lowest elevation on this hike.  This point is roughly 260 vertical feet below the elevation of the trailhead.

Descending over wooden steps

            The trail treads around a couple of finger ridges, and partially obstructed views of the Walhalla area can be had to the left during the leafless months.  After rounding the last finger ridge, you begin the final descent to Yellow Branch Falls via some wooden steps built into the ground.  You will hear Yellow Branch before you see the falls, and the narrow trail makes this section the hardest part of the hike.

Yellow Branch Falls

Yellow Branch Falls

            At 1.6 miles, you reach the base of Yellow Branch Falls.  The 60-foot fan-type waterfall features numerous drops over irregular rock ledges, and the odd angle gives it a distinct appearance.  Several rocks near the falls’ base beckon you to sit, rest, and enjoy a trail snack in the waterfall’s company.  The trail ends at the falls, so after enjoying the aquatic scenery you must retrace your steps more uphill than down to the picnic area to complete the hike.