Some people might say that the sight of a velvety patch of green moss evokes a sense of tranquility, of peace and quiet both in your surroundings as well as in your soul. If this sounds plausible to you, then you’ll definitely want to seek out the trail to Lee Falls in South Carolina.
The trail is laden with green moss, which is partial to damp environments.
You might say 'dampness' is a specialty of this 2.9-mile heavily trafficked trail that leads to an emerald green, moss-covered 75-foot waterfall deep in the Sumter National Forest in Oconee County.
Wear hiking boots that can withstand a bit of water and hit the trail, which begins with a gorgeous green pasture down the middle of two towering stands of trees.
Enjoy the scenery, which quickly turns to a few water crossings (those water boots come in handy at this point). You'll be enchanted by the moss-covered rocks and boulders that cover the bottom of the stream beds.
You'll follow Tamassee Creek upstream until just a few hundred feet from the falls, when the trail begins to get a little tricky,
Downed trees and giant logs that have pushed their way over the falls during times of major rainfalls will seem to block the access to the base of the falls.
But stick with it. Perseverance is the only thing standing between you and the bottom of those falls. Take your time and wiggle through the maze... it's absolutely worth it. (A word of caution about wet rocks... they're often slippery, so be careful.)
Those who've traversed this moss-covered trail to wind up at the base of this emerald waterfall know this just may be the prettiest hike in the entire state.
This trail is rated by AllTrails as moderate, perhaps due to the final few hundred feet where things get a bit dicey. Learn more about the hike and download a navigation map by visiting our friends over at AllTrails.com.