This Tiny South Carolina Town Is Pure Mountain Town Magic

Between Charleston and Hilton Head, South Carolina’s coast gets its fair share of attention. (Not to mention thousands of visitors each year.) While we love a long weekend in The Holy City as much as the next person, we fear that its enduring allure may be stealing the spotlight from other Palmetto State destinations worth visiting.

In upstate South Carolina, the tiny town of Walhalla is a nature lover’s dream just waiting to be discovered. Located 30 minutes west of Clemson and about an hour from Greenville, Walhalla is home to 4,000 folks who have built a idyllic community in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

German immigrants settled Walhalla in the 1850s, naming the town for its verdant natural setting. Walhalla translates to Garden of the Gods, so there are fittingly plenty of gorgeous natural features to explore on a trip to the area. However, visitors are also charmed by the small but lively Main Street and bevy of cultural attractions. Here are the best things to do when spending a weekend in Walhalla.

Complete a Waterfall Bucket List

There are several beautiful waterfalls in and around Walhalla. The closest cascade is Yellow Branch Falls, just an 8-minute drive from downtown. Hike a 1.5-mile path through hardwood forest and along creeks until you reach the falls that drop 50 feet and stretch over 75-feet wide. One mile down the road, you’ll run into Issaqueena Falls, a stunning 100-foot waterfall that can be accessed via an easy 0.4-mile path. Finally, make your way just north of Main Street to Station Cove Falls, where you walk a 0.75-mile trail through an Appalachian cove that leads to a glittering 60-foot cascade.

Take a Dip in Lake Keowee

A day on the water doesn’t always mean salty waves. In Walhalla, freshwater fun is found on Lake Keowee. Find public access at High Falls County Park, a 46-acre recreation area complete with boat launches, campsites, playgrounds, picnic tables, mini golf, basketball and volleyball courts, and a fishing pier. Choose your adventure, then settle in for a jam-packed day of adventure on the water.

Stay in a Magical Treehouse

One of the single-most stunning places in Walhalla is the Majestic Treehouse on Bolt Farms. Built by father-son duo Seth and Larry Bolt, the one-of-a-kind stay features a two-story deck and a treehouse connected by a swinging bridge lit by string lights. The luxury treehouse provides a calming retreat where you can lounge on a queen-sized swing bed, relax under the waterfall head of an outdoor shower, or roast s’mores over a private fire pit. The bedroom features a wall of vintage windows that look out onto the woods, a record player, and a trunk full of games to keep you occupied and unplugged.

Choose Your Adventure at Wildwater Chattooga

The oldest outfitter in the Southeast, Wildwater started on the Chattooga River in 1971 and has since expanded to include recreation opportunities on the Ocoee and Nantahala Rivers. You can pick your thrill on the Chattooga with a variety of activities that range from white water rafting to ziplining to kayaking and standup paddleboarding on Lake Tugaloo.

Shop & Stroll on Main Street

Head back to town and spend an afternoon getting to know Walhalla’s Main Street. Start at Sunni Ann Mercantile Co. where you’ll find an array of modern gifts from apparel and housewares to specialty food and books. At Alexander’s Work & Wander, you can sip while you shop. The gift and office supply store features an in-house coffee shop that sells hot and cold drinks, plus baked goods from Hershberger’s Bakery. Women’s boutique clothing can be found at Underwood Custom Embroidery and Corner Crafts & Boutique. Vintage lovers can find their thrills among the antiques at Middle of Main Antiques and Warther’s Originals. For a locally made souvenir, choose from a huge selection of handmade bath products and wax melts at The Pharmacist’s Daughter.

Learn About Oconee History

Oconee County has a long history dating back to the Cherokee Native Americans. You can learn all about its first inhabitants at the Museum of the Cherokee. The museum educates visitors about South Carolina’s Cherokee heritage through artifacts and interpretive exhibits. Continue your history lesson at the Oconee History Museum, where exhibits tell the stories of immigration, New Deal programs, textile mills, and agriculture in the area. Finally, make a stop at the Oconee Military Museum to honor veterans from the area and the Oconee Station State Historic Site, a stone blockhouse that as used as an outpost by the South Carolina State Militia from about 1792 to 1799.

Visit Stumphouse Mountain Tunnel Park

The main attraction here is the famous Stumphouse Tunnel. The tunnel was dug by hand primarily by Irish immigrants right before the Civil War but was never completed. Today, visitors can explore a quarter mile of tunnels that maintain a cool 50 degrees year-round. In addition to the tunnel, Stumphouse Park also offers a mountain bike park, gazebo, pond, picnic tables, restrooms, and a covered pavilion.

Take a Food Tour of Local Restaurants

Locals love the food at Steak House Cafeteria—just don’t expect to see steak on the menu. Owned by Abed and Gloria Yassen, who took over the eatery in 1973, the restaurant is known for its crispy fried chicken and other meat ‘n’ three favorites like pineapple casserole, fried okra, and turnip greens. One place you can get steak—or at least a version of it—is Steph’s Steaks, a sandwich shop that specializes in Philly cheesesteaks. Gather Uptown, is open for breakfast or lunch, serving biscuits and sausage gravy, omelets, and French toast in the morning and po’boys and burgers in the afternoon. Great Mexican cuisine can be found at family-owned 3 Amigos Mexican Grill. One more Walhalla eatery with a misleading name is ShugaBear’s Sweets and Treats. While the establishment sells cakes, pies, donuts, and a delightful mini donut called the Bear Bite, it has just as many savory options on the menu. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, you can order anything from wings to burgers to salads to pizza.

Grab a Drink

If you want to drink like a local, there are several taprooms to choose from. Located on Main Street, Garage Tap Room has a good selection of craft beer on tap and frequent live music. Trailhead Tavern is a quintessential neighborhood watering hole where you can always catch the big game, play a round of cornhole, grab a meal, and have one more round of drinks. If your idea of a beverage is a strong cup of coffee, look no further Mountain Mocha, Main Street’s resident coffee shop and bakery. A true community gathering space, the small shop has been known to host poetry readings, theater performances, and plenty of special events.

Attend Oktoberfest

There’s never a bad time to visit Walhalla, but if you can align your trip with Oktoberfest, held around the third week of October each year, you’re in for a real treat. Locals have been celebrating Walhalla’s German roots with the festival for the past 44 years, and each year the party just gets bigger. Today, the weekend event features music from the OOPS Polka Band, traditional dancing, and German fare including brats, kraut, pretzels, and ice-cold German pints. In addition, there are arts and crafts vendors, carnival rides, and games. Prost!