Big Bend Falls Hike
Waterfall · about 30 ft high | South Carolina
6.8 mi round trip
Big Bend Falls Hike at a Glance
The Big Bend Falls hike via the Chattooga River Trail is 6.8 mi round trip.
| Falls height | About 30 ft |
|---|---|
| Elevation at the falls | ≈ 1,960 ft |
| Trail | Chattooga River Trail |
| Distance | 6.8 mi round trip |
Your time: about 2 h 15 min of moving time at Naismith pace (3 mph plus 1 hour per 2,000 ft climbed); about 2 h 50 min at a relaxed pace. A 160 lb hiker with a daypack burns roughly 1,280 kcal. No elevation gain is published for this route, so climbing time isn’t included.
Adjust for your pace and breaks →Route line not shown. The 6.8 mi distance for this hike is verified (sctrails.net), but we don't yet have a trail track we trust, so the map shows only the destination. Carry an official map.
About Big Bend Falls
Big Bend Falls is a waterfall in South Carolina, about 30 feet high, on land managed by Sumter National Forest, Andrew Pickens Ranger District. Its height is from sctrails.net.
The Hike
The hike to the falls follows the Chattooga River Trail: 6.8 miles round trip. Distance from sctrails.net.
Before You Go
- Rock around waterfalls is slick when wet; stay on the trail and back from the edge.
- Check Sumter National Forest, Andrew Pickens Ranger District for current conditions, closures and parking before you go.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the hike to Big Bend Falls?
The Chattooga River Trail to Big Bend Falls is 6.8 miles round trip.
How tall is Big Bend Falls?
Big Bend Falls is about 30 feet high.
Safety Information
Current Hazards
- Slippery wet rock near the falls
- Fast, high water after rain or snowmelt
- Check weather before departure
Turn-Around Time
3:00 PM
Plan to reach the falls by this time so you are back before dark.
Essential Gear Checklist
* Critical items - do not hike without these
Emergency Contacts
Emergency / Search & Rescue
911Point Forecast
NWS Point Forecast →In most of the US, backcountry search and rescue is dispatched through 911 — tell the operator you have a hiker emergency and your GPS coordinates.
Downloads
Sources for The Big Bend Falls Guide
Where the trail data, elevation and route line on this page come from.
- Verified against
- sctrails.net
- Distance
- sctrails.net
- Falls height
- sctrails.net
- Falls location
- worldwaterfalldatabase.com
- Elevation
- ≈ Copernicus GLO-90 elevation model at the falls coordinates (via Open-Meteo)
Conditions change. Check the land manager for closures, fees and weather before you go.
Nearby Hikes
Other hikes within 30 miles of Big Bend Falls.