Laurel Fork Falls

Laurel Fork Falls is located on the Lake Jocassee in Pickens, SC. This waterfall is just off the famous Foothills Trail, that is hiked by many people throughout the Spring, Summer, and Fall. The waterfall is one of the biggest waterfalls that can be seen on the Lake.  It is hidden in a deep cove of the lake where small boats can drive in to the bottom of the falls.  However, the falls can also be reached by hiking.  If you are to arrive at the falls by boat, the easier way to view them is by staying on the boat, but if you are more adventurous, the falls can also be reached by foot. After docking the boat on a stump off the coast of the Foothills trail, you can connect to the trail by climbing up some steep hills. However getting up the hills is much easier than getting back down the hill, so make sure you watch your footing and hold on to sturdy branches. Most importantly do not stray off the trail because since the trail is so high up there is a steep cliff.  With one wrong placement of your foot it could end badly.

Although there are some dangerous risks with climbing up to the falls from the lake, the view of the falls is well worth the risk.  If you catch the falls when there is a lot of water flowing down the rocks it is absolutely beautiful.  Before you even see the falls, you can hear the water flowing down. Not only is the view beautiful of the waterfall, the view looking out over the foothills of the Upstate is breathtaking. This is probably my favorite waterfall to visit in the upstate.