Lower Whitewater Falls Hike
Waterfall · about 200 ft high | South Carolina
4 mi round trip
Lower Whitewater Falls Hike at a Glance
The Lower Whitewater Falls hike via the Foothills Trail is 4 mi round trip.
| Falls height | About 200 ft |
|---|---|
| Trail | Foothills Trail |
| Distance | 4 mi round trip |
Your time: about 1 h 20 min of moving time at Naismith pace (3 mph plus 1 hour per 2,000 ft climbed); about 1 h 40 min at a relaxed pace. A 160 lb hiker with a daypack burns roughly 750 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 4 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 Lower Whitewater Falls
Lower Whitewater Falls is a waterfall in South Carolina, about 200 feet high, on land managed by Duke Energy (Bad Creek Hydroelectric Station property) / Foothills Trail Conference. Its height is from sctrails.net.
The Hike
The hike to the falls follows the Foothills Trail: 4 miles round trip, from Foothills Trail/Whitewater River parking area (Bad Creek Access). Distance from sctrails.net.
Before You Go
- Entrance onto the property is allowed only during daylight hours. (sctrails.net)
- Rock around waterfalls is slick when wet; stay on the trail and back from the edge.
- Check Duke Energy (Bad Creek Hydroelectric Station property) / Foothills Trail Conference for current conditions, closures and parking before you go.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the hike to Lower Whitewater Falls?
The Foothills Trail to Lower Whitewater Falls is 4 miles round trip.
Where does the Lower Whitewater Falls hike start?
It starts from Foothills Trail/Whitewater River parking area (Bad Creek Access).
How tall is Lower Whitewater Falls?
Lower Whitewater Falls is about 200 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 Lower Whitewater 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
Conditions change. Check the land manager for closures, fees and weather before you go.
Nearby Hikes
Other hikes within 30 miles of Lower Whitewater Falls.