Blue Hole Falls - Trail Guide

 This trail is easy and really awesome, beautiful, and great for summer exploring. We scoped it out today to plan for our summer waterfall week with family. 

Blue Hole Falls is located in Mountain Rest, SC, very near Yellow Branch Falls and Stumphouse Tunnel.

Dog friendly.

Distance: 1 mile. (I clocked 1.45 but I did extra climbing and exploring). 

Address: Ok, so it's "one of those" trails on a gravel trail where your GPS says "You have arrived," and well, no darling, I haven't. However; the coordinates are not very far off and I can help you! Don't worry. So, when you get out your Google GPS, type, "Oconee County School District." I don't know why...yes, it is weird, but that is the given name of  the coordinates. I picked these up off of "AllTrails". I am not the only reviewer to declare the coordinates are off, however, the GPS does indeed take you down the correct path, and you only need to drive a wee bit further than it brings you. So, as you drive along, you will come eventually to your first gravel road labeled with post marker "744". 

You drive down the gravel road and eventually GPS says turn right down another gravel road. Do it. Now, when GPS lies and tells you your destination is on the left and you have arrived, just shut her up and keep driving for about another mile, until you see on your right an obvious open path for parking, and a one bar black gate with two bright reflectors on it's sides, and 3 large boulders to the left of the gate. Park here! UNLESS that black gate is open... then drive through it. If the gate is closed, park, and go under/around the gate and walk a short distance down the gravel road to the actual trailhead on your right. If the gate is opened, just drive to the trailhead. 

You will know you have reached the actual trailhead if you are walking down the gravel road by looking right and seeing two large boulders, a small puddle of a pond (currently full of frog eggs!! Yay!!!) and a Blue blaze on a tree. You should be able to hear the roaring water now too, because again this trail is super short with a great reward! 

(Above: This is your actual trailhead whether you parked at the black gate or were able to drive through, here is where it truly begins. Note two boulders, a small pond, this is all going to be on your right side as you approach it.)

We took a moment to stop at the puddle like pond to observe the frog eggs; I encourage you to do the same! Just don't touch them as they are very fragile.

So now just follow the blue blazes down the path until on your left, there is a small stump tagged with a pink neon ribbon. 

Now, follow these pink ribbons a previous hiker placed to help show you the way down. There is a short but steep descent to the falls which you will have to mildly scramble back up. It is slippery. It is also very easy to grab roots and rhododendrons to help you climb. It is not difficult. For skill levels a little more new, you can do it, don't think you cannot! Just take your time and slide down on your rear if you need to. And again, it truly is short lived. You will come to some rocks right on the water at the falls perfect for pic-nicing. You made it!!

The falls are nice! Sadly, they are currently a bit obscured by some fallen trees, but no reason you can't still enjoy the view! 

You can also carefully and cautiously work your way down the stream on the rocks on the edge that are dry, holding on to stable and firmly rooted tree branches to see the greater drop of the water. I did not allow Ellie (my 3 year old) to do this so she sat on a nearby boulder within my sight and ear shot and ate her lunch while I took a quick peek. 

Reminder wet rocks are slippery rocks. wear good hiking shoes, bring food and water.