Upstate Outdoor Adventurer / YouTube
Everyone has different vacation styles. Some people don’t mind crowds and want to spend their summer break at the busy Colosseum in Rome or wander the streets of Manhattan with several million of their closest friends. Others, however, prefer to relax and enjoy the warm weather in a tucked-away park, camping under the stars and lounging on a beach without hordes of others who have the same idea.
We have the perfect quiet spot for a summer getaway. This magical place is High Falls County Park, sitting right on Lake Keowee. Like many underrated South Carolina gems, it’s got everything you need for a delightful day out in nature, including a pretty beach, activities like camping, volleyball courts, mini golf, and more. It’s just under 10 miles from Walhalla, and there are plenty of family-friendly things to do in the area. Here’s what you need to know about High Falls County Park and everything you can experience on a visit there.
Camping and the beach at High Falls County Park
High Falls County Park / Facebook
Sitting in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, High Falls County Park has a beach with plenty of amenities and camping for all types of outdoor adventurers. There’s a fee of $3 for vehicle entry and $5 for boats and trailers, though you should check the website to get the most current pricing. The beach sits on Seneca, South Carolina’s Lake Keowee, with a swimming area cordoned off by buoys. There is plenty of shade, picnic tables, a wheelchair-accessible fishing pier, two boat ramps, bathrooms, and a playground. The park has grills, a miniature golf course, basketball, tennis, volleyball courts, and even horseshoe pits. What more can you ask for?
If you love camping, there are 91 campsites in the park, 10 with lakefront views, bathrooms, a dump station, electrical hookups, and water service. You can camp with your dog as well! Alcohol is prohibited, and the gate is locked at 10 p.m. with a $50 fee to get out before 7 a.m., so make sure you’ve got what you need for the night. You can rent one of the park’s three shelters/buildings for your private events. Plus, you’ve got the 18,000-acre Lake Keowee to enjoy.
What to do in the surrounding area
KristiCalla / Instagram
There are plenty of things to do in the area. One great spot is Stumphouse Tunnel, just under 16 miles away in Stumphouse Park. The tunnel was created as part of the Blue Ridge Railroad project in the mid-19th century. It paused construction during the Civil War and was never completed. These days, it’s said to be haunted by the ghosts of the workers who lost their lives there. If you want to go ghost hunting, you and the kids can walk the quarter mile inside with a flashlight and shake the willies with a picnic afterward.
If hiking is your thing, you’re just under 15.5 miles away from Yellow Branch Falls Trail. Unlike High Falls County Park, this park has an actual waterfall to hike to. This is a 3.1-mile out-and-back trail through the hardwoods in the Sumter National Forest. It’s got a moderate 475-foot elevation gain, and it brings you to the lovely 50-foot cascade, Yellow Branch Falls, passing streams along the way.
History fans will love the fact that the park is only about 10 miles away from the Museum of the Cherokee in South Carolina in Walhalla. Even better? It’s only $3 for adults and free for kids 12 and under. You’ll learn about the Cherokee, where they lived, the culture, and see artifacts from the area. You can even take a course in the Cherokee language. Check the site for the latest classes.
