Yellow Branch Falls Hike in Walhalla, SC
We loved this photo so much that it made our Christmas card!
Get the family ready to complete the Yellow Branch Falls hike!
This easy, beautiful hike takes visitors through a beautiful wooded area of the South Carolina Upstate near Walhalla, SC.
The waterfall at the end of the hike is worth the effort in getting there, and your kids are sure to enjoy exploring around the base of Yellow Branch Falls.
Both my husband and I grew up near this area, and we both went to Clemson University (which is only about 30 minutes from the Falls), so we love bringing our kids back to the corner of the state.
Here’s everything you need to know for the perfect day out.
Where is Yellow Branch Falls?
The Yellow Branch Falls Trail is an easy drive from Walhalla, SC, and it’s one of the best things to do near Walhalla!
If you aren’t familiar with Walhalla, it’s a cute little town in the South Carolina Upstate about an hour outside of Greenville, SC.
Head past the antique stores on Main Street—and the Walhalla Steak House, which, oddly, doesn’t sell any steaks—and into the mountains on the winding Highway 28.
Follow this road for about 5 miles, and the turnoff to Yellow Branch Falls is well marked on the left.
On busy days, you’ll begin to see cars parked alongside the gravel road long before you get to the actual parking lot.
Don’t fear—the parking lot proper is tiny, and just because there are cars on the side of the road doesn’t mean you’re going to face an overly congested trail.
Parking is free, so find a spot that works for your vehicle.
NOTE: if you’re parking in the small designated semi-circle nearest to the trailhead, keep in mind that there’s not a lot of room to back out if you have a longer or larger vehicle.
If you’re bringing an RV or extended cab truck down this way, I’d recommend parking alongside the road instead.
What to Expect on the Yellow Branch Falls Hike
As I mentioned before, this hike is great for the entire family.
At just over 1.3 miles each way, it’s long enough to get everyone’s heart pumping, but short enough for even younger hikers to enjoy it.
It’s an out-and-back hike, so the return trip should be familiar to kids. I’ve found that out-and-backs are often better for little ones since they have markers to show them how much longer they’ll be on the trail.
Get your family prepped for any hike with this comprehensive kids hiking gear guide!
At the Trailhead
At the Yellow Branch Falls trailhead
At the trailhead, you’ll find a few picnic tables scattered around. There’s also a water fountain and a vault toilet.
If you’re interested in the topography and biology of the area, the trailhead has a large map, tips about the trail, and facts about the local wildlife.
In general, you aren’t going to be bothered by wildlife here. I spent my entire childhood roaming around the woods near the Falls, and I never saw anything more exciting than some bugs.
In theory, you could find a variety of non-venomous snakes and a few venomous ones (the most likely being a copperhead), woodpeckers, hawks, foxes, and skunks.
If you don’t love snakes like me, avoid walking through big piles of dried leaves. And if you do, kick them up as much as possible to encourage copperheads to move on. Copperheads are stealth hunters and will let you get uncomfortably close to them because of it.
Even more rarely, you might see a black bear. However, according to the SC DNR website, in 2019, there were only 250 human/bear contacts for the entire year, so it’s a low chance you’ll see even evidence of one.
Visit even more beautiful trails on my South Carolina waterfalls road trip itinerary!
On the Trail
Can you make it across the stream without falling in?
There are a number of interesting elements on this hike, including massive trees, stepping stones across rivers, multiple little bridges, and some dizzying cliffs.
My kids love this hike and ask to go back frequently!
They particularly liked the small streams where they got to jump from rock to rock (or, in their case, pretend to fall in so they could splash each other!).
The elevation change in the main part of the hike is minimal, though you will be going down a series of staircase-like rocks at the end to get to the falls themselves.
Even for our 5 year old, this section isn’t bad. Just go slowly, and you’ll be there in no time.
This section is the only thing that I can think of as to why this trail is marked “moderate” on other major hiking pages.
The only part that made me remotely nervous was a short section towards the end of the hike where the trail moves along a steep embankment.
It’s not sheer like a rock face, but it was high enough that we talked about the importance of paying attention to where we were standing.
Still, the trail is wide and well maintained, and, short of my kids launching themselves off the hillside, there was little chance of them accidentally rolling down.
We made it to the base of the falls!
Once you do your final scramble down the rocks, you’ll be at the foot of Yellow Branch Falls!
This waterfall isn’t the biggest or most majestic in the Upstate, but it is still fascinating.
The falls gently cascade down the cliffside into a series of several tiered pools.
Scattered closest to the falls are plenty of big, smooth rocks to climb over and onto, which kids will love doing.
Unlike the close-ish Riley Moore Falls in Westminster, SC, Yellow Branch Falls doesn’t have a great swimming hole.
There is a shallow area near the banks of each section of the falls, but they’re not something I’d want to go swimming in—or let my kids swim in.
For one, the water is moving at a pace that would make swimming a task. For another, the water is either shallow enough to walk in, or over most kids’ heads. Large sticks and stumps from past storms also make for a tangled mess in areas.
Instead, you’ll have to be content with splashing around the rocks, which provides enough entertainment to my crew.
There isn’t a picnic area here, but on a sunny day, you could spread out on one of the larger rocks on the shore to eat something from your day pack.
Once you’ve had your fill of the falls, it’s time to head back.
Again, the elevation change isn’t bad, but that steep rock staircase will remind you not to skip leg day at the gym.
Check out our list of the best hikes near Greenville SC for families!
Best Times to Visit Yellow Branch Falls
Fall is an incredible time in the SC Upstate.
If you can plan a hike here that coincides with the peak of fall foliage, it is GORGEOUS. This is my favorite time of the year in the Upstate!
Even on a Saturday when the leaves were incredibly colorful, we didn’t find but a few other people on the trail, so fall is a good bet for a quiet hike.
The foot traffic does pick up in the summer months, especially on the weekends. If you’re planning to do the Yellow Branch Falls hike between late May and mid-August, I’d suggest going mid-week if possible.
If you only have the weekend, start early to avoid most of the crowds.
Spring is an odd time in the Upstate as the weather changes literally from hour to hour. One day, it might snow, only to have temperatures in the 70s less than 48 hours later.
Winter can be cold in this part of the state with freezing temperatures not uncommon. If you can layer up, and don’t mind if part of the waterfalls are iced over, the trail is very, very quiet this time of the year.
NOTE: The nearby Stumphouse Tunnel and Issaqueena Falls are a must-do with kids, too!
This amazing tunnel was a result of Civil War efforts to create another train route through this area.
The blasting was called to a halt when the war ended, but the half-finished tunnel is still there today.
Issaqueena is much more dramatic than Yellow Branch Falls, and there’s an easy overlook. I wouldn’t take kids on the hike to the bottom of Issaqueena Falls as it is very rocky and steep.
Where to Camp near Yellow Branch Falls
Since this area is so convenient for us, my family returns to this area again and again.
One of the best state parks for camping in South Carolina, Oconee State Park, is less than 10 minutes up Highway 28.
There, you can tent or RV camp, or you can stay in the adorable, historic Civilian Conservation Corp cabins.
It has plenty to do for the entire family, including mini-golf, swimming, a playground, and on-site hiking.
>> Read more about Oconee State Park camping here. <<
If you’re looking for somewhere more remote (and free!), we also love the Grapevine Campground on Forest Service Road 764 in Mountain Rest, SC.
Grapevine Campground is about a 20 minute drive from Yellow Branch Falls, and it’s located near a pretty little river.
It’s first come, first served, so come early to nab a spot! Each spot has access to potable water and a vault toilet.
