South Carolina

Oconee County

Big Bend Trail

Trail to Big Bend Falls and the Chattooga River

Starting from the Cherry Hill Recreation Area, the moderate 2.7-mile (one way) trail affords views of the biggest drop on the Chattooga River, a rumbling 30-foot hydraulic known as Big Bend Falls. Even though this is a mountainous locale, you will find the hiking on this trail is fairly straightforward. Red blazes guide you through a predominantly hardwood forest of hemlocks, white oaks, mountain laurel, and galax. The Big Bend Trail runs parallel to Big Bend Road (FS 709) for some distance and eventually ends at a junction with the Foothills Trail. You need to hike approximately .6 mile south on the Foothills/Chattooga Trails (the Foothills and Chattooga Trails run oncurrent in this area) for a nice view of Big Bend Falls from a ridge overlooking the river.

Length: 6.8 miles

Difficulty: 4