Trail Head: SC Hwy 130, Duke Energy Bad Creek Facility (Foothills Trail Guide Mini Map #6). The last 0.2 miles are the steepest, before it suddenly levels out, turns right, and reaches the observation platform for Lower Whitewater Falls at 2.4 miles. Whitewater Falls is the highest waterfall east of the Rockies, falling 811 feet! Lower Whitewater Falls trail is located off of Bad Creek Rd. Features: Viewing Platform; 200 ft. tiered waterfall Whitewater Falls is the highest waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains, and it's shared between South Carolina and North Carolina. The Whitewater River, starting with the larger Whitewater Falls upstream just across the border into NC, falls 1,500 feet over 3.5 miles. The 400-foot Lower Falls can be accessed from a different location in South Carolina. GPS for waterfall: 35.01641, -82.99368 Water source: Whitewater River Height: Approximately 200 feet The upper portion of the falls: Along the way to the base of Lower Whitewater Falls lies the remains of a small plane, which crashed in 1972, killing all four of its passengers. The hike reaches the lower observation deck at just under .3 mile, catching broad views of the rushing waterfall. From the base of the stairs, an unpaved trail provides access to the 76-mile Foothills Trail, descending along the river to Lower Whitewater Falls in South Carolina. Meanwhile, the trail itself gets consistently steeper as it plunges downhill towards Lower Whitewater Falls. The series falls is 800+ feet in total, but this hike only catches the upper 400 feet of the falls. This waterfall has a claim as the tallest waterfall east of the Rockies, which is apparently disputed. There is a pretty spacious parking lot with a $3 fee that you pay via envelope station. To experience these breathtaking falls up-close-and-personal, take the paved ¼ mile walkway to the upper overlook. Lower Whitewater Falls is an incredibly beautiful waterfall. More energetic hikers can continue down the half-mile spur trail that drops 600 feet in elevation to the Whitewater River and Foothills Trail. A lower overlook is located at the bottom of 154 wooden steps. The Upper Falls plummets 411 feet. From the … The sound is distant, but thundering. It’s on the Whitewater River in the Jocassee Gorge area of North Carolina. The parking lot, and part of the trails in this area, are maintained by Duke Energy Co. From this trailhead, you can h Not quite as high as its much more well-known and visited big brother, Lower Whitewater is none-the-less a sight to behold. The walkway begins at a parking lot and is accessible to wheelchairs. The creamy, white cascades flow powerfully down the rock face. There are several more falls downstream of the Lower falls, but most are quite inaccessible. Lower Whitewater Falls is the second in a series of massive drops the Whitewater River makes in its final few miles before emptying into Lake Jocassee. You bound up the steps to the edge of the rail for a better look. This out-and-back hike follows blue blazes to a constructed viewing platform for an optimal vantage point to see the falls, though visitors shouldn't expect access to the falls themselves. Blazes: Reddish Orange. Distance: 1.9 miles (in and out trail, total 3.8 miles). Lower Whitewater Falls cascades down the plain gray rocks of the mountain, and for a moment, it takes your breath away. Charles Runge / AllTrails The waterfall is made up of six different sections, and the beautiful Lower Falls can be accessed via a 2-mile trail. Lower Whitewater Falls cascades a spectacular 200 feet down a rock face in the Jocassee Gorges area. Difficulty: moderate. 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