Sid's Falls is so beautiful, tranquil, and lovely!
Distance: 2.9 miles out and back
Terrain: This trail is mostly a FSR (forest service road) of grass and dirt. It is wide, open, and flat. The majority of your hike is this path. It is very lush and beautiful and surrounded with pines giving the best aroma! When you have walked to end of the FSR, you will come upon a very narrow wooded path. The path is still dirt, leaves, pine needles, but becomes a consistent downhill grade.
The trail begins and ends as easy, but the last little trek (about .2 of a mile one way) is sloped; therefore about a .5 mile is rated moderate.
Details: Ok! So the first thing to do is type into your Google Maps GPS, "Sid's Falls Trailhead, Long Creek, SC." The GPS will take you directly where you need to go. As mentioned previously, the trail is actually going to begin as a forest service road which means that you will pull into and park at a gated entrance of a road. Don't block the gate and leave as much space as possible for others...there is very limited parking space; however, we were the only ones there when we went. I've read that occasionally, this red gate is open and you can drive all the way down to the actual trailhead, but this is not often the case. After you park, begin your hike by walking beyond the red gate and on to the grassy FSR which is mostly flat and very easy walking.
Eventually, there will come on the FSR a bit of a fork in the path where on the left you see a wide open meadow, and on the right, the path continues. Just stay to the right and follow the obvious car tracks in the grass down the road all the way for a little while until eventually you reach the end of this FSR path.
It almost looks a bit like a cul-de-sac at the end of this and you may start wondering, "umm...what now?" Just keep walking straight ahead to the wood line and there you will see a bright orange ribbon on a tree. These neon orange ribbons are trail blazes and this is the start of the trail, technically. At this point you can already hear the water and you are not far at all. Now you will be navigating a very narrow heavily wooded winding path going down hill slowly at first, then rapidly towards the very end at the falls for just a short while. Keep an eye out for the orange ribbons. There are a lot of small trees down, easy to step over, but may confuse the mind briefly as the trail is so narrow. If confused, just pause, look ahead and I promise you will see the trail. Just use common sense and take your time and pay attention. It is not difficult, but it is not smack you in the face obvious so just pay attention. Also, just follow your ears as well towards the water. Common Sense. You got this!
Once you get to the bottom of the path, you will be upon many slippery rocks right at the falls! You did it! Take your time, watch your footing, and enjoy!
Pack a pic-nic to enjoy here.
In the summer, this spot will be great for swimming as at the end of the falls is a nice flat water bed to play around in, some sand to dig in, and trees for climbing.
On your way out, you climb back up that very short distance you took down, following the way you came. This will be the most difficult part of the hike, its fairly steep. My 3 year old did this quite well by grabbing roots and mountain laurel to pull herself up. It will be slippery so take caution. I don't think its hard, just that it is the hardest part of the entire hike. It is short so just push through and then know its all going to get easier as you go from there going back the way you came. Reminder to follow the orange ribbons, the narrow path back to the FSR, then the FSR back out to the car at the red gate.
Enjoy! BEAUTIFUL Falls!
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