A Guide to Visting Issaqueena Falls and Stumphouse Tunnel
If you like your hikes with a side of history, don’t miss Stumphouse Tunnel and nearby Issaqueena Falls inside Stumphouse Park in Walhalla, South Carolina.
Dating to just before the Civil War, Stumphouse Tunnel is an ambitious but unfinished transportation project, and more recently, the location where Clemson University stored its bleu cheese to age. Today, it’s a short but fun walk into a mountainside that’s great for everyone.
Just across the parking area is the beautiful Issaqueena Falls, a 100 foot cascade, that offers up both an easy viewing platform and a more strenuous climb to the base.
Whether you’d like to do just the tunnel, one of the waterfall hikes, or all three, Stumphouse Park is one that should be on every itinerary to the South Carolina Upstate!
The front of Stumphouse Tunnel in the fall
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Hike Overview
Trailhead Location: Off of Scenic Highway 28 above Walhalla, South Carolina, in Stumphouse Park
Trail length: up to 0.4 miles if you descend to the base of the falls
Trail difficulty: mostly easy, though the hike option to the base of the falls is difficult
Elevation gain: up to 100 feet with the most challenging route
Starting the Hike: Parking and Trail Information
Signs pointing to different sections of Stumphouse Park
From Walhalla, South Carolina, take Highway 28 towards the North Carolina line.
In approximately 6 miles, you’ll come around a curve to see Stumphouse Park on your right. There is a wooden sign to help you determine where to turn in.
From the highway, you’ll head down the steep approach road, passing the self-pay area. Entry to Stumphouse Park is $5 per vehicle, and, as of right now, it is on the honors system.
That is changing in short order, though, as a gate attendant booth is currently being put in and should be operational by the the latter half of 2025.
When you come to the end of Stumphouse Tunnel Road, you’ll have to either turn left to get to Stumphouse Tunnel, or turn right to get to the trailhead for Issaqueena Falls.
There’s a large parking lot that connects both, and you can easily walk from one to the other.
I prefer to park in the large, overflow parking area closer to Stumphouse Tunnel, but that’s just because it is less crowded and easier to get in and out of at peak visitation times.
How long does it take to hike Issaqueena Falls and Stumphouse Tunnel?
If you wanted to just walk into Stumphouse Tunnel and then see the falls from the wooden platform, you could easily be in and out of Stumphouse Park in less than an hour.
But what fun is that?!
In the many times that I’ve been here, we end up staying for multiple hours just because we enjoy the area so much. I spent much of my elementary school years in nearby Seneca and then came back to the area for college; we now return to this part of South Carolina several times a year, and this park is usually on the itinerary!
More reasonably, I would allot 1-2 hours here to allow for time to explore and possibly do the steeper hike down to the base of the falls. You might need a bit more if you’re also planning to picnic or wade in the stream.
Is this hike good for kids?
My then-preschooler on one of her first visits to Issaqueena Falls
Yes, we’ve taken our kids to both Issaqueena Falls hiking areas (the platform and lower falls area) and the Stumphouse Tunnel many times.
More recently, I also went with my 3- and 6-year old nieces, who also enjoyed this park.
I will note that Stumphouse Tunnel is very dark and there is no other natural light source than what comes through the mouth of the tunnel.
For this reason, some kids need some reassurance before they head in, but nearly everyone enjoys it once the adventure is underway.
The Issaqueena Falls area has both a very, very easy walk from the parking area to the platform, and a much steeper and more strenuous hike to the base.
You’ll have to use your best judgement on which is best for your family.
I will note that my kids were able to easy do the more strenuous hike to the base of the falls on our most recent trip while they were 8- and 11-years-old.
However, when we first did this hike with them, they were around 18 months and 4 years old, and we had to carry both of them down as their little legs weren’t able to deal with the scrambles and steepness of the trail.
I ended up putting my toddler son in his Tula carrier on my back, which felt like the easiest way for us to get down.
What amenities on are on-site?
The vault toilet on property
Over the years, Stumphouse Park has really upgraded its offerings.
I’m old enough to remember when there was barely a parking lot between the two attractions, much less the amenities that are here now!
Today, you can find a handful of adorable covered picnic tables with charcoal grills that make for a perfect family grilling session.
The group picnic area is also covered and has multiple picnic tables together in the same area.
There’s also a vault toilet in the overflow parking area with 2 stalls. This toilet has always been clean and well stocked.
There are 2 parking areas, both with crushed gravel.
The lot closer to Issaqueena Falls is a smaller loop, while the overflow parking area near Stumphouse Tunnel is larger with twice the space.
Issaqueena Falls Trail Guide
TIP: Before you set out on any hike, it’s a good idea to check for any recent updates, trail conditions, and level of difficulty at AllTrails!
From the smaller parking lot to the right at the end of Stumphouse Tunnel Road, you’ll find the trailhead to Issaqueena Falls (both the easier and more difficult versions) to the far right of the parking area.
You will go over a small wooden bridge, crossing Cane Creek in the process.
NOTE: If your kids are anything like mine, they will want to get into Cane Creek and splash around. It’s very slow moving and shallow here, making it an excellent wading location. Just be aware that the waterfall is downstream from this location, so you shouldn’t ever attempt to raft or float here.
Cross the small peninsula of earth on the far side of the bridge and you’ll come to a second, more substantial wooden bridge, this one covered.
On the other side of that bridge is a fairly flat dirt trail with a wooden railing on the left side. You’ll get to see incredible long range views of the mountains from here.
Even in the summer, you’ll be able to see those views, thanks to the ways that the trees grow.
Long range views from the Issaqueena Falls trail
You’ll also be able to hear Issaqueena Falls from here, though you won’t be able to see it well yet.
The trail will dip slightly and you’ll see a large wooden viewing platform to your left.
From here, you’ll be able to get excellent views of Cane Creek as it drops 100 feet, creating Issaqueena Falls.
And, if you’re wondering why it’s called Issaqueena Falls and not Cane Creek Falls, there’s local legend attributing the Issaqueena name to a Native American woman.
PIN ME!
In this lore, she supposedly hid within the falls to avoid capture.
But you know local lore and how it ends up being a game of telephone.
Some of the versions say she was Cherokee, while others have her as a Creek woman.
Some versions say she was running from an attack by another tribe, while others say she was running away after warning her English boyfriend about an attack.
Complicating matters further is that the word “Issaqueena” supposedly means “Deer Creek” (“isi-okhina”) in Choctaw.
So, in reality, no one really knows how the falls got their name or why.
But I do know that this area is beautiful and well worth a visit!
Back to the hike: if you’re simply looking for a glimpse of the falls, you can see just that from the wooden platform and then retrace your steps to the parking area or go onto Stumphouse Tunnel.
However, if you’d like to get up close to the falls, you’ll need to do the much more challenging hike down to the base.
From the wooden platform, look for the dirt trail to the right. It’s not well marked, and it can be nearly camouflaged by the trees during late spring and summer.
You’ll descend rapidly to the base of the wooden platform, and then the trail gets even steeper. From here to the base of the falls, you’ll need to scramble down the trail, going around tree roots and boulders.
My kids often resort to scooting down some of the more intense inclines, but there’s really no graceful way of getting down—so do the best you can!
Although the trail is steep, there aren’t any significant drop-offs on the sides of the trail, making this challenging without being overwhelming or scary.
Issaqueena Falls as seen from the base of the falls
Once you reach the base of the trail, you’ll want to maneuver your way around the large boulders to get to the waterfall. Cane Creek here is very shallow, making it great for splashing around.
You can also look for crayfish and salamanders, who live among the rocks in and around the waterfall. If you’d rather just soak up the sun, there are several large, flat rocks that are perfect for that.
When you’re ready to head back to your car—or onto your next adventure—you’ll need to retrace your steps back up the steep section.
I find that going up this area is much worse than going down (yay, creaky, middle aged knees!), but go slowly and you’ll be fine.
Explore more of Upstate South Carolina!
Stumphouse Tunnel Trail Guide
Don’t leave Stumphouse Park without heading over to the historic tunnel on the other side of the property!
From the trailhead to Issaqueena Falls, you’ll want to pass through the small parking lot and then the larger overflow parking area.
From there, you’ll intersect the paved, dead-end road, and you’ll see a large gate with Stumphouse Tunnel on it.
The gate up to Stumphouse Tunnel
Go through the gate and up the short but steep hill.
Heading into Stumphouse Tunnel
As soon as you get to the top of this hill, the air will drop significantly, thanks to the cooler air flowing out of the nearby tunnel entrance.
The Stumphouse Tunnel entrance is large and very dark from this angle, and many kids will find it intimidating to walk into.
However, if you keep going long enough to let your eyes adjust to the dark, it usually stops being scary and turns into a fun adventure.
The Stumphouse Tunnel, as I mentioned earlier, is an unfinished train tunnel from 1851.
It’s actually one of three tunnels in this same area, but this first one is by far the biggest and most interesting. (It’s also the easiest to get to.)
As you walk through the tunnel, you’ll see the ridges on the sides and ceiling where the dynamite was used to blast out pieces of the mountain.
The flooring has been smoothed over so it’s easy to walk on, but the rest of the tunnel remains largely unfinished.
My family heads deeper into the tunnel
At the end of the walkable area of the tunnel is a metal gate embedded into the brick wall. If you peer through the gate, you’ll be able to see a second room.
When I was a kid, you used to be able to walk through this second section of the tunnel, which I thought was even more thrilling. However, there was a cave in years ago that wasn’t ever repaired. Because of this, the metal gate between the sections is kept locked.
When you’ve reached the metal gate, peek through the grate to see the second section of tunnel and the cave-in, and then retrace your steps to the entrance.
When you get back to the entrance, be sure to check out the train car parked back to your left. This train car is a reminder that this unfinished tunnel was meant to link Charleston, SC, and its ports with cities elsewhere in the U.S.
This ambitious project was halted by the loss of work force during the Confederacy and the stumbling infrastructure of the South during and after the war. It was simply left and never finished, and what you see today is what’s been there for over 170 years.
You’re welcome to climb and walk on the train car if you’d like.
My kids, nieces, sister, and brother-in-law on the old railcar
What to Bring to Issaqueena Falls and Stumphouse Tunnel
Food
One of the picnic tables near Stumphouse Tunnel’s parking area
There are no on-site food vendors, so you’ll want to bring your own snacks and sandwiches.
The park is close enough to Walhalla if you wanted a sit down meal, but there are also many covered picnic tables if you’d prefer to bring a lunch!
Some of the prettiest tables are near Stumphouse Tunnel, which have charcoal grills next to them. These are right by one of the small tributaries to Cane Creek.
Another picnic table with a great view is next to the trailhead for Issaqueena Falls. Look for the table directly beside Cane Creek before you cross the first footbridge.
Water
Likewise, there aren’t any water bottle stations or potable water spouts on property, so come prepared.
Neither of the activities at the park are very long, but you’ll still get thirsty, especially in the heat of the summer.
Flashlight
While you could do Stumphouse Tunnel without a flashlight, there’s not enough light after a few paces to see well.
You’ll also feel as if you’re getting ready to stumble over something in the dark, which isn’t a fun feeling.
A phone flashlight will do in a pinch, but I’d recommend bringing a more powerful flashlight for the best experience.
Towel
Typically, there’s water on either side of the stone walkway in Stumphouse Tunnel, and water also drips down through the rock as you walk through.
If there’s been a particularly hard rain recently, you will have large puddles and areas where the walkway will be nearly covered in a thin layer of water.
It’s helpful to have a towel here if you’d like to wipe off your legs and arms when you’re done.
Also, if your kids or you decide to wade in Cane Creek near the Issaqueena Falls trailhead or at the base of the falls, you’ll also want a towel to dry off. I’ve learned the hard way to never, ever go to a trail where there is water without a towel!
I always keep one or two of these lightweight Turkish towels in my day pack to hand out to my kids when they inevitably get wet from a river or waterfall.
Comfortable Shoes
While you don’t need full on hiking boots to do Issaqueena Falls to the wooden overlook platform, or walk through Stumphouse Tunnel, I would recommend something more substantial than flip flops.
Wearing a hiking sandal or trail runner will help keep some of the dirt and water off of your feet from both of those easier experiences.
If you are choosing to do the more strenuous hike down to the base of Issaqueena Falls, I would recommend that you wear a shoe with good tread and thick sole. Having this will help you get your footing more easily on the roots, dirt trail and boulders.
I’ve worn both my Keen Newport H2 hiking sandals and my Altra trail runners, and both worked well.
Final Thoughts on This Experience
My family and I at the sign just outside of the entrance to Stumphouse Tunnel
Visiting Issaqueena Falls and Stumphouse Tunnel has long been a favorite of locals, and I’m glad that the property is expanding so that even more people can access it!
The different ways to explore the park and falls means that nearly everyone can fit this into their visit to Walhalla, South Carolina.
Plus, it’s about 90 minutes from Greenville, less than an hour from Anderson, and about 45 minutes from Clemson, making it a great day trip from anywhere in the Upstate.
With the many new upgrades and additions here, this park is changing from a quick stop over on the way to or from Highlands, North Carolina, into a complete destination on its own.
As I mentioned before, it’s one of our favorite places to visit in this corner of our home state, and I know we will be back again soon.
