September 13, 2022
Big Bend Falls & Round Top Loop
near Mountain Rest, SC
This was a fairly demanding hike today with the trail in overall good condition and the weather quite nice with clear skies and temperatures less than 70 degrees. There were a number of sections with exposed roots, but the trail showed evidence of ongoing maintenance with several small bridges and wooden steps where the steep banks had previously washed out. . . quite an improvement from two years ago. We did not actually see Big Bend Falls, a disappointment, but the trail down the embankment reached a point where it was almost a vertical descent on a mostly washed out path with water running down it---too dangerous in my opinion but maybe next time! However, we did see and hear the Chatooga River along two main sections of trail which made the hike worthwhile. As we have found in the past several hikes, we saw just a few wildflowers and fungi. This was a pretty easy hike excepting the steep climb out.
The route
7.8 mi · 1,263 ft climbing · 5h 3m out, 4h 14m walking · 1.8 mph moving
Elevation
Hover over the profile to see the elevation and steepness. Your position will be shown on the map.
- Steepness
- Gentle under 5%
- Moderate 5–10%
- Steep 10–15%
- Very steep over 15%
22 photos are shown on the map where they were taken — click one to see it full size.
Photos (23)
Big Bend Falls - What we didn't see... too dangerous to approach today. Photo courtesy of Lindsay Metcalf Today's Hikers (L-R) Back: Linda, John, Edwin, Terre & Gary; (Front: Mike, Ray, Vic, Renee & Jenny Trailhead signs. Good luck in actually seeing Big Bend Falls! Nice trails for the most part. Nice trail blazing and signs at key intersections. Two of several wooden bridges along the way. It was a very berry day! Ray was happy to see this Pinesap again. Our first glimpse of the Chattooga River . . . a bit tough to get a full view with some exceptions. More views of the Chattooga River. This was one of two very accessible places along the Chattooga River. This the most scenic with great rapids! A panoramic view at that same spot. Looks like a grumpy old man guarding the Chattooga River. "Critter of the Day," Imperial Moth caterpillar. Some of the walk along the Chattooga River was on fairly narrow ledges. Nice to have this set of stairs where much of the hillside had collapsed. Lots of very large pines in this forest. Yellow flowers anyone? And some blues and purples! A few fungi, but not many as in past weeks. A sandy beach along the trail. Looking downstream along the Chattooga River.. A steep climb out from the Chattooga via the Crack in the Rock Trail.