Best of Pickens Waterfalls Cultural Tour - World Awaits Cultural Tours

Tour Details of Best of Pickens WaterFalls Cultural Tour

Best of Pickens Waterfalls

Highlights

Best of Pickens Waterfalls Cultural Tour | Full-Day (10 hours Approx.)

In just a one-hour drive outside of Downtown Greenville, we will follow the Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway 11 once known as "Keowee Path" or "Cherokee Path," a 130-mile road formerly the route used by the Cherokee Indians and the English and French fur traders. We will reach the expansive, pristine Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area of more than 11,000 acres / 4452 hectares featuring waterfalls, lakes, hiking trails and nature viewing. In Sunset, South Carolina, we’ll take a .3-mile / .48 km (.6 mi /.97 km) easy, out-and-back trail to Twin Falls (also known as Reedy Cove Falls, Rock Falls, or Eastatoe Falls) and enjoy the view from the observation deck.

Next, we’ll head to Table Rock Tea Company (Thursday – Sunday only) an artisan tea farm grown in the United States right here in Upstate, South Carolina in the Cherokee Foothills at the base of Table Rock Mountain. We’ll enjoy a one-hour educational tour of the grounds, greenhouse, processing areas and opportunities to learn about their charitable outreach.

We’ll drive up the mountain, stop at Bald Rock Heritage Reserve in Cleveland, South Carolina, a natural panoramic overlook of surrounding mountains such as Table Rock, and a squinting view of Downtown Greenville. Your fear of heights will be challenged, but the rock doesn’t drop off steeply as it may seem from a distance. Unfortunately, it became “the thing” since the 1970s to vandalize the rock with graffiti. On a lighter note, if we are lucky, love may be in the air and we can witness a marriage proposal or even a wedding!

There’s more breath-taking views at Caesar’s Head State Park is one of South Carolina’s most famous natural landmarks. At 3,208 feet / 978 meters above sea level, Caesars Head provides a panoramic view of the mountain country, bird watching and Table Rock State Park. After we gaze at the mountain bridge, we can dare to walk through Devil’s Kitchen, a narrow, one-person-wide path between two rock walls at Caesars Head, that leads to the actual viewing point of what remains of the “head of Caesar.” As nature lives and is ever-evolving, the rock formation appearing to be a head collapsed in recent years, but your imagination may still allow you to see what looks like a face on the rock.

We’ll break for lunch on your own before we exert energy on a 2.2 mile / 3.5 km moderate hiking trail each way (4.4 mi / 7 km roundtrip) to Raven Cliff Falls, a 420-foot / 128-meter mountain cascade at the end of this hike.

Finally, we'll descend the mountain back through Travelers Rest, South Carolina, past Paris Mountain State Park back into downtown Greenville.

What's Included

Full-day Cultural Tour Experience (10 hours approx.)
Your World Awaits Cultural Tours Travel Coach & Concierge
Walking Tour and Trails (easy to moderate)
Two Waterfalls views
Stops for Scenic Mountain Views at overlooks and state parks
Tour of Table Rock Tea Company, USA and South Carolina grown artisan tea (Thursday – Sunday tours only)
Transportation round-trip from the designated pick-up points; climate-controlled vehicle (air conditioning)

What's Not Included

Park donations and admission fees
Bag Lunch – bring your own lunch
Snacks
Water and Beverages
Tips & Gratuities (optional) and donations to our Cultural Talk guest
Transfers (to/from airport or other locations to designated pick-up or meeting points or drop-off points)

Ideal for Tour Participants

All ages
Family friendly for all ages (children in car seats require 50% per person tour fee and tour minimum participants must be met. If you would like to book a child in a car seat, please book the child separately in a new booking using the coupon code: CHILDCARSEAT for 50% off)
Participants should have a moderate physical fitness level – requires moderate walking on paved, grassy, rocky paths and hiking trails (easy to moderate) with inclines and declines
Please inform us prior to booking if you require accommodations such as wheelchairs or other special assistance, or bringing strollers, child safety seats. We will seek to meet your accommodation.

Departure & Return Locations

Departure Point
McPhearson Park
Meet at the McPhearson Park Main Entrance
120 East Park Avenue, Greenville, SC 29601
Google Map

Return Point
McPhearson Park
Meet at the McPhearson Park Main Entrance
120 East Park Avenue, Greenville, SC 29601
Google Map

What to Expect

A one-hour (1.0) drive from Downtown Greenville each way; total 3.25 hours of driving with stops at sites
A leisure and relaxing day with nature
Historical and cultural conversations and talks with your local, native tour guide
For Thursday – Sunday tours, visit and tour of Table Rock Tea Company
Lunch and leisure time on your own in a picnic area
Accessibility: Table Rock Tea Company offers limited transportation for mobility.
Waterfall Tours are subject to safety precautions, weather and park hours, reservations and availability so reserve in advance. Therefore, we will choose amongst these options and confirm a minimum of 24 hours prior to tour departure. Options for Upstate South Carolina include: Reedy River Falls (easy), Cedar Falls (easy), Twin Falls (easy) , Raven Cliff Falls (moderate), Yellow Branch Falls (moderate), Issaqueena Falls (easy), Lower Whitewater Falls (moderate).
Group size minimum participants to offer the tour: 10 participants
Group size maximum: 20 participants

Itinerary

Cultural Talk: Native American, Dani’El Garvin, will join us virtually or in-person for a Native American history and cultural talk about the originally inhabited native lands and significance of waterfalls in Native American culture that we will visit.

Depart to: Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area, Pickens County
Duration: 1.0-hour drive

Stop at: Twin Falls Waterfall, Sunset, South Carolina
Hike .3-mile / .48 km easy, out-and-back trail (.6 miles round trip, 30 minutes roundtrip) to two side-by-side waterfalls
Observation Deck with seating
Duration: 30 minutes – 1.0 hour

Drive: 20 minute-drive

Stop at: Table Rock Tea Company Tour (Thursday – Sunday only), Pickens, SC
Duration: 1.5 hours

Drive: 15 minute-drive

Stop at: Bald Rock Heritage Reserve, Cleveland, South Carolina
Natural panoramic overlook of surrounding mountains
Duration: 30 minutes

Drive: 10 minute-drive

Stop at: Caesar’s Head State Park, Cleveland, South Carolina
A panoramic view of the mountain country, bird watching and Table Rock State Park
Observation Deck
Devil’s Kitchen trail to the mountain face
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop at: Bag lunch on your own, Caesar’s Head State Park
Duration: 30 minutes

Drive: 2 minute-drive

Stop at: Raven Cliff Falls Waterfall, Caesar’s Head State Park, Cleveland, South Carolina
Hike 2.2 mile / 3.5 km moderate hiking trail each way (4.4 miles roundtrip, 2 hours roundtrip)
Observation Deck
Duration: 2.5 hours

Return to: Downtown Greenville drop-off point.

Drive: 1 hour-drive

Bring with You

Wear comfortable, weather-appropriate outdoor clothing and shoes
Sun protection – hat and sunscreen
Hiking shoes
Water shoes
Bag Lunch (prepared)
Water and beverages (no glass bottles, non-alcoholic; alcohol restrictions by county and state parks)
Hiking accessories for safety and comfort

Additional Information

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Upon tour booking confirmation, your tour will include details of inclusions and any extras included at no additional charge not listed above
Inclement weather plan will be to delay or reschedule the tour. In the case of persistent, heavy storm weather conditions, you will be offered an alternative tour or tour credit.
Tour operated by World Awaits Cultural Tours LLC

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 15 days in advance of the tour for a refund minus 3% processing fees.
Cancellation must be in writing.
For a refund, you must cancel at least 15 days before the tour’s start time.
If you cancel less than 15 days before the tour’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded due to expenses of transportation arrangements, and other confirmations already incurred for your participation.
Any changes or participant substitutions made less than 24 hours before the tour’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the tour’s local time.
This tour requires a minimum number of 10 participants. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date or different tour or a full refund.

Here's a glance at the world that awaits you at Pickens Waterfalls...

Your Local Hosts

Bernell King

"The Mountain Wilderness Bridge is my favorite local escape just 1 hour from Greenville to several expansive mountain views, cascading waterfalls, and to enjoy the simplicity of nature."

Welcome to my hometown area of Greenville & Upstate, SC! I absolutely love waterfalls and is my favorite pastime worldwide! Yes, I am a waterfall chaser, if there is a such thing. I am passionate about traveling like a local with locals. My life and relationships have been deeply enriched by over 23 years of experience in international business, coaching, consulting and training of expatriates, executives, families and children from around the world and travel to explore world cultures. I have traveled to 15 countries, over 230 cities and I speak 3 global languages: English, Japanese and Spanish. I hold the travel industry certifications of: American Society of Travel Advisors Verified Travel Advisor (ASTA VTA), Airlines Reporting Corporation Verified Travel Consultant (ARC VTC), Certified Special Needs & Mobility Travel Advocate, Destination Specialist for various countries.

Dani'El Garvin

Dani’El Garvin has two native names: Okinow: “Bringer of light & life” and Cherokee: “E Gi Doh.” He is a member of a North American people inhabiting the Maritime Provinces of Canada known as the Mi’kmaq. He is a Native American, writer, poet, author, missionary, indigenous counselor, Eagle Dancer, Blowgun Champion and conference speaker. Dani'El has lived on six nation’s reserves on Grand River, Canada. Dani'El has served as a Mi’kmaq tribal elder and chief, Native American cultural and spiritual teacher, medicine chief and was adopted into the Cherokee by a clan mother, an Iroquois Cherokee elder. He has ministered and counseled all ages all over North America, South America, Trinidad and Indonesia and has been featured in newspaper and on television.