Hike to Issaqueena Falls and Stumphouse Tunnel

From Walhalla South Carolina, follow SC 28 westward 7 miles until you see Stumphouse Tunnel Park on the right-hand side of the road. Take this road halfway down, and park in the parking area on the right. 

From here, you can travel a short walk to the falls overlook, or, for the more adventurous types, you can scramble down 200 feet to view the falls up close and personal at the base. After you enjoy the falls, trek back up the small river valley to the parking lot. From here follow the gravel road (on foot or by vehicle, it should roughly a half mile to a mile) to the left until it terminates at Stumphouse Tunnel. The tunnel is 17 feet wide, 25 feet high, and nice and cool. A perfect respite for a balmy Summer day. Venture into the cave a few hundred feet and observe the massive hole in the ceiling and feel the water drops cool your skin. Feel free to check out a few of the other trails offered in the park or enjoy lunch at the picnic area found in between the falls and the tunnel! 

Issaqueena Falls is named after an old legend where an Indian maiden whose name was Issaqueena, warned settlers at a nearby fort about a potential Indian attack. Once the Indians learned of her betrayal, they pursued her to the falls where she pretended to jump over, but hid on the cascades and escaped. 

Stumphouse Tunnel began construction in the 1850's with a goal to link Charleston Harbor to Cincinnati OH. The tunnel only made it approximately 1600 feet, as funding and The Civil War interrupted the process. The cave later was bought by Clemson University in order to age Blue Cheese, but now is only an attraction.