What clients say about Great Falls of Catawba in North Augusta (SC)
This is a fun little walk! There’s a pretty beach area and a neat old bridge with the little waterfall. Some folks told me that you should come after a storm to see it at its best. When you turn left at the beach area to go towards the waterfall, it’s not that far and that little bridge will be hidden on the left through the woods so you need to be looking. If you get to the insane gray mud from the construction area, turn around! You will sink almost up to your knees and lose your shoes!! (They were ugly, but expensive, orthopedic slides, so I went elbow deep and dug them out lol)
This is NOT a waterfall, nor a trailhead to one. Someone has posted a misleading image of another site that is luring googlers here. From Wikipedia:
“Historically the Great Falls of the Catawba were approximately 4 miles long, with a total elevation drop of 121 feet. (The word "falls" was an 18th-century appellation, when any river rapids and vertical waterfalls alike were both referred to as falls.) The creation of the dams at Great Falls, South Carolina has resulted in the top 2 miles of it being completely dry (dewatered) except during times of very high flow. The bottom portion of historical Great Falls is drowned by Cedar Creek dam, another hydroelectric project.”
So, no waterfall and also no rapids these days. Just search for a waterfall trailhead instead.
I had the same experience that most others do with our GPS and trying to initially find these falls. However, I found a reliable hiking blog that stated the trailhead to reach some falls was only about 8 minutes away from where the GPS originally took us (which was all over ) . Trailhead was just before a bridge with parking available. It was beautiful and well worth it to stick it out and look around a little.
We travelled 1 hour and 21 minutes to the town of Great Falls. The gps took us all over and said to turn left or right when there were no turns. There are no falls readily visible or accessible. Great Falls disappointment!
Their is little in no access to Great Falls if your trying to reach them. Good alternative is 5 minutes away at Rocky Creek Trail Head in Great Falls SC. Tons of parking river access with banks to play, kid, and animal friendly. When you reach bottom go left to see water fall or right for rapids about 2 miles for rapids. The water fall to the left is about .5 miles. As for the other comments don't speed thru small towns, maybe talk to locals, and for out of state. Just treat the area with respect, remember its not your home.
I came here looking for a waterfall but I realized great falls is the name of the town there is a beautiful lake here and a river Dam and some streams that are worth viewing if you can get to them.
It sucked we didn’t see anything and the town was the most gloomy one I have ever seen my entire life. If I could, I would rate it in the negatives. Note to public: The great Falls are NOT great
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