Urban waterfalls unlike any other are surrounded by the flowers and rolling gardens of Falls Park on the Reedy. These waterfalls are best viewed atop the one-of-a-kind Liberty Bridge, a 345-foot-long structure supported by suspension cables on only one side, for the best unobscured view of these beautiful waterfalls set directly in the center of downtown Greenville. 

Located in the Heart of Downtown Greenville

Walking Directions:

In downtown Greenville, enter Falls Park on the Reedy at the intersection of S. Main Street and Falls Park Drive. (Spill the Beans will be on your left at the park entrance.) Go down the stairs, past Passerelle Bistro on your left, and out onto the Liberty Bridge for spectacular views. 

Raven Cliff Falls, located in Caesars Head State Park, is the tallest in South Carolina with its 420-foot drop. Therefore, it is one of the most scenic and photographed waterfalls. The waterfall itself was named for the ravens that breed in the cliffs that help to form the falls; 150+ species of birds have been spotted in the area. There are two hiking trails to view the falls: 1) Raven Cliff Falls Trail, a 4.4-mile round-trip hike that leads to the scenic overlook where you can view the waterfalls, and 2) Adding in the Dismal Trail Loop, a 6.6-mile round-trip strenuous hike that brings you to Wilderness Bridge, a unique suspension bridge that crosses over the very top of Raven Cliff Falls.
Notes: There is an entry fee to the State Park for trail access. Parking is first-come, first-serve. 

55 Minutes (33 Miles) from Downtown Greenville

Driving Directions:

From downtown Greenville, head north on Hwy 276 for 31.5 miles. The parking area for the trailhead will be on your right, one mile after passing the Caesars Head State Park Visitor Center. Make sure to stop there first to pay for trail access! 

Located on YMCA Camp Greenville property, but accessed through Jones Gap State Park, it is a very strenuous hike to this waterfall. There is 1,200 ft of elevation change, but the results are more than worth the effort. Plunging over a high granite cliff, this 140-foot ribbon-like waterfall will make you feel closer to the size of an ant.
Notes: There is an entry fee to get into the park. Only limited parking is available; a parking spot reservation may be necessary and if not, be sure to get there early!

45 Minutes (25 Miles) from Downtown Greenville

Driving Directions:

From downtown Greenville, head north on Hwy 276 for 19 miles. You'll pass Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway 11 and take a right onto River Falls Rd. Stay on River Falls Rd for 4 miles to the main gate of Jones Gap State Park, then turn right into the designated parking area. 

Just an easy pull-off from Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway 11, this Wildcat Wayside waterfall is perfect for kiddos and adults alike as this is the lowest level of Wildcat Falls; the calm pool at the base of the falls is perfect for splashing and wading. Don’t miss Marci Jo’s Olde Mountain Store in Cleveland, only 5 minutes before you arrive at these roadside falls. 

40 Minutes (24 Miles) from Downtown Greenville

Driving Directions:

From downtown Greenville, head north on Hwy 276 for 22.5 miles. You'll pass an F-Mart and BBQ Hut approximately 3.5 miles (4 minutes) before the pulloff, which will be on your right-hand side. If you're lucky, you will see a Boiled Peanuts or Fresh Produce stand set up at this pull-off.  

The middle section of Wildcat Falls is just 0.1 mile upstream from the lower section, linked by a rippling stream. The trail begins at wooden steps to the left of the lower falls where you can follow a well-maintained short trail to the middle falls. (Hikes don't get much easier than this!) Sometimes considered the “top” of Lower Wildcat Falls, these falls are another great place in which to splash and play!  

40 Minutes (24 Miles) from Downtown Greenville

Driving Directions:

From downtown Greenville, head north on Hwy 276 for 22.5 miles. You'll pass an F-Mart and BBQ Hut approximately 3.5 miles (4 minutes) before the pulloff, which will be on your right-hand side. If you're lucky, you will see a Boiled Peanuts or Fresh Produce stand set up at this pull-off.  

Considered the most spectacular of all three waterfall levels at Wildcat Wayside, the upper section is located 0.3 mile upstream from the middle section with massive boulders at its base. Start your hike via the wooden stairs to the left of the lower falls.
Notes: You can only hike to the BASE of the upper falls. The trail to the top of the upper waterfalls is closed to the public; climbing over the boulders to get to this trail is both illegal and dangerous.

40 Minutes (24 Miles) from Downtown Greenville

Driving Directions:

From downtown Greenville, head north on Hwy 276 for 22.5 miles. You'll pass an F-Mart and BBQ Hut approximately 3.5 miles (4 minutes) before the pulloff, which will be on your right-hand side. If you're lucky, you will see a Boiled Peanuts or Fresh Produce stand set up at this pull-off.  

Located in Jones Gap State Park, this waterfall offers a pleasant (and very green) hike following along the boulder-strewn Middle Saluda River. Along the way there are plenty of picturesque places including several wading areas and the John Reid Clonts Memorial Bridge (a wooden footbridge). The waterfall drops over what looks like a giant staircase of layered ledges and granite rock.
Notes: There is an entry fee to get into the park. Only limited parking is available; a parking spot reservation may be necessary and if not, be sure to get there early!

45 Minutes (25 Miles) from Downtown Greenville

Driving Directions:

From downtown Greenville, head north on Hwy 276 for 19 miles. You'll pass Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway 11 and take a right onto River Falls Rd. Stay on River Falls Rd for 4 miles to the main gate of Jones Gap State Park, then turn right into the designated parking area. 

Located in the secluded retreat of the Rock Quarry Garden on the southwest border of Cleveland Park (Greenville’s largest city park), this waterfall drops 10 feet into a small pool below. The garden, rocks, and flora surrounding the waterfall is often used by photographers for weddings, senior portraits, and the like. It's called Rock Quarry Falls because it's actually the site of a pre-Civil War granite quarry; you can still see the drill marks on some of the rocks. This is a beautiful place to stop by, enjoy nature, and grab some quick camera shots!

3 Minutes (>1 Mile) from Downtown Greenville

Walking Directions:

In downtown Greenville walk or cycle along the Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail from Falls Park on the Reedy, through Cancer Survivors Park to the Major Rudolf Anderson, Jr. Memorial (an airplane - you can't miss it!). Go past the airplane to McDaniel Avenue and head left. The park is at the corners of McDaniel Avenue, Ridgeland Drive, and Sherwood Street; there's a traffic signal there. 

This double-tiered waterfall is accessible via the Leroy Smith Trail (the first trail built in Pleasant Ridge County Park). The hike is a loop trail that ends very close to where it begins. If you start on the right-hand side of the loop, you’ll have a 0.5 hike to the falls. If you go in on the left-hand side, you’ll be at the falls in one or two minutes. There are some neat rock formations there, which helps make this a super family-friendly hike!

30 Minutes (21 Miles) from Downtown Greenville

Driving Directions:

From downtown Greenville, head north on Hwy 276 for 6.5 miles. Right before Travelers Rest, merge onto US-25 N towards Asheville and stay on that road for 11 miles. Take the exit for the Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway 11 towards Cleveland/Gowensville and turn left. The park will be on your right after 2 more miles. 

The Reedy River reaches Fountain Inn at Cedar Falls Park. There’s a 20-ft high masonry dam that used to power three different mills in the 1820s, that in itself creates a 50-foot-wide waterfall. The other part of the river has 50-foot-wide shoals that drop 12 feet cascading over rocks and boulders to create one of the most significant vistas on the river. The shoals can be viewed (somewhat) from the road, but there’s a path at Cedar Falls Park that runs alongside the water for the best vantage point.

35 Minutes (19 Miles) from Downtown Greenville

Driving Directions:

For directions with no tolls and the least mileage, see the Google Map directions above. Otherwise, the easiest way to go from Downtown Greenville is to take I-385 S for approx. 10 miles. Merge onto I-185 N (a toll road known as the Southern Connector) for approx. 4 miles. Take Exit 4 for Fork Shoals Rd. Fork Shoals Rd merges into McKelvey Rd for 0.3 mile, and then you'll take a left onto Cedar Falls Rd. The park will be on your left-hand side.