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We visited Stumphouse Tunnel on one of the South Carolina’s hottest, muggiest summer days. As we reached the top of the walkway, the cool air flowing out of the tunnel was so welcome and a huge relief. Condensation runs down the walls and drips from the ceiling creating puddles and fog the length of the tunnel. There is no lighting inside - everyone used the flashlights in their phones, creating an almost spooky atmosphere. The unfinished railroad tunnel cut into the southeast face of Stumphouse Mountain was started in late 1853 for the Blue Ridge Rail Road to have a line that ran from Anderson, SC to Knoxville, TN. About 1,500 Irish miners cut through blue granite with hand drills, hammers, chisels, and black powder. Work on the tunnel ceased in 1859 when the South Carolina legislature refused to fund more construction. The longest section is 1,600 feet long, 25 feet high, and 17 feet wide. Now a tourist attraction, it is maintained by the City of Walhalla, SC.
This is one of the most popular waterfalls in South Carolina to visit due to its ease of accessibility; a short walk down a trail to a viewing platform.
However, if you want the full experience of this spectacular waterfall you need to be a bit more adventurous and continue the primitive trail down below the platform to the base of the falls.
This route is not recommended for beginners or people with disabilities, as it is quite steep and filled with slippery rocks and projecting roots.
However, the reward of this view at the bottom is well worth it for those who are fit enough for the trek.
I love the multi-tier cascades of Issaqueena Falls, and it provides so many opportunities for compositions.
This angle is one I have wanted to capture for a while, and when spring finally arrived I made the trip out one afternoon.
Even on a week day, however, there were other people here, so it definitely proves it's a popular destination, especially with the famed Stumphouse Tunnel and Yellow Branch Falls close by.
Ever wondered why it's called Issaqueena Falls? Well, legend has it that a creek maiden named Issaqueena pretended to jump to her death off this waterfall to elude and escape Cherokee Indian warriors, but instead jumped off and hid on one of the falls’ ledges to avoid capture. You can read more about this on a sign near the start of the trail.
Thank you for taking the time to stop and read my post and view my photos.
Wishing you all a wonderful rest of the week!
© Johan Hakansson Photography, All Rights Reserved.
The Stumphouse Tunnel, proposed in 1835, aimed to provide a shorter route for the Blue Ridge Railroad between Charleston, South Carolina and the Ohio River valley. The plan involved constructing a 13-mile tunnel through the Blue Ridge Mountains, spanning South Carolina, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Construction began in the late 1850s but faced challenges when it reached the mountains in Oconee County. The Stumphouse Tunnel, along with three other tunnels, was intended to be built, and Irish workers brought in for the project. However, by 1859, South Carolina had already spent a significant amount of money on the tunnel and decided to abandon further construction.
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Issaqueena Falls is named after an Indian maiden who fell in love with a white settler named David Francis. When she heard that her tribe is planning to attack his town, she rode 92 miles to warn him. The white settlers escaped, and David and Issaqueena fled to nearby Stumphouse Mountain. When her tribe tracked her down, she leaped from the brink of this waterfall. Her tribe thought she has died and gave up the chase, but she landed in a small cave behind this falls. She stayed there for 3 days and later rejoined her husband. The pair then fled to Alabama and lived happily ever after.
Long exposure to collect ambient light and painted in foreground with flashlight since light from behind me was casting a shadow.
Issaqueena Falls is named after an Indian maiden who fell in love with a white settler named David Francis. When she heard that her tribe is planning to attack his town, she rode 92 miles to warn him. The white settlers escaped, and David and Issaqueena fled to nearby Stumphouse Mountain. When her tribe tracked her down, she leaped from the brink of this waterfall. Her tribe thought she has died and gave up the chase, but she landed in a small cave behind this falls. She stayed there for 3 days and later rejoined her husband. The pair then fled to Alabama and lived happily ever after.
We visited Stumphouse Tunnel on one of the South Carolina’s hottest, muggiest summer days. As we reached the top of the walkway, the cool air flowing out of the tunnel was so welcome and a huge relief. Condensation runs down the walls and drips from the ceiling creating puddles and fog the length of the tunnel. There is no lighting inside - everyone used the flashlights in their phones, creating an almost spooky atmosphere. The unfinished railroad tunnel cut into the southeast face of Stumphouse Mountain was started in late 1853 for the Blue Ridge Rail Road to have a line that ran from Anderson, SC to Knoxville, TN. About 1,500 Irish miners cut through blue granite with hand drills, hammers, chisels, and black powder. Work on the tunnel ceased in 1859 when the South Carolina legislature refused to fund more construction. The longest section is 1,600 feet long, 25 feet high, and 17 feet wide. Now a tourist attraction, it is maintained by the City of Walhalla, SC.
An eerie view of the entrance to the unfinished railroad tunnel. Work was stopped on this tunnel. See photo for detail.
...heading down the trail surrounded by 1000's of white mountain laurel blossoms... Sumter National Forest, Stumphouse, South Carolina
Issaqueena Falls at Stumphouse Park inside the Sumter National Forest near Walhalla, South Carolina.
The entrance to the Stumphouse Tunnel within the Sumter National Forest near Walhalla, South Carolina. In 1971, the tunnel was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
From the historical marker at the park:
STUMPHOUSE TUNNEL - The unfinished railroad tunnel cut into the SE face of Stumphouse Mtn is the largest of three begun before the Civil War by the Blue Ridge Rail Road, for a line from Anderson, S.C. to Knoxville, Tenn. Work began in late 1853. About 1,500 Irish miners, who lived in the Tunnel Hill village atop the mountain, cut through blue granite with hand drills, hammers and chisels, and black powder. Four shafts meant miners could cut through ten rock faces at one time. Stumphouse Tunnel was the westernmost tunnel of the three; Middle Tunnel was 1/2 mi. SE and Saddle Tunnel was 1 3/4 mi. NE. The longest section of this tunnel is 1,600' long, 25' high, and 17' wide. Work ceased in 1859 when the S.C. legislature refused to fund more construction. Clemson University acquired the tunnel in 1951 and cured blue cheese here for several years. Stumphouse Tunnel, long a tourist attraction, is managed by the City of Walhalla.
Inside the Stumphouse Tunnel within the Sumter National Forest near Walhalla, South Carolina. In 1971, the tunnel was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
From the historical marker at the park:
STUMPHOUSE TUNNEL - The unfinished railroad tunnel cut into the SE face of Stumphouse Mtn is the largest of three begun before the Civil War by the Blue Ridge Rail Road, for a line from Anderson, S.C. to Knoxville, Tenn. Work began in late 1853. About 1,500 Irish miners, who lived in the Tunnel Hill village atop the mountain, cut through blue granite with hand drills, hammers and chisels, and black powder. Four shafts meant miners could cut through ten rock faces at one time. Stumphouse Tunnel was the westernmost tunnel of the three; Middle Tunnel was 1/2 mi. SE and Saddle Tunnel was 1 3/4 mi. NE. The longest section of this tunnel is 1,600' long, 25' high, and 17' wide. Work ceased in 1859 when the S.C. legislature refused to fund more construction. Clemson University acquired the tunnel in 1951 and cured blue cheese here for several years. Stumphouse Tunnel, long a tourist attraction, is managed by the City of Walhalla.
The trailhead to Yellow Branch Falls in Sumter National Forest, Stumphouse, South Carolina...Yesterday I arrived at 5:00pm on cheerful, sunny Sunday afternoon.
Inside the Stumphouse Tunnel within the Sumter National Forest near Walhalla, South Carolina. In 1971, the tunnel was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
From the historical marker at the park:
STUMPHOUSE TUNNEL - The unfinished railroad tunnel cut into the SE face of Stumphouse Mtn is the largest of three begun before the Civil War by the Blue Ridge Rail Road, for a line from Anderson, S.C. to Knoxville, Tenn. Work began in late 1853. About 1,500 Irish miners, who lived in the Tunnel Hill village atop the mountain, cut through blue granite with hand drills, hammers and chisels, and black powder. Four shafts meant miners could cut through ten rock faces at one time. Stumphouse Tunnel was the westernmost tunnel of the three; Middle Tunnel was 1/2 mi. SE and Saddle Tunnel was 1 3/4 mi. NE. The longest section of this tunnel is 1,600' long, 25' high, and 17' wide. Work ceased in 1859 when the S.C. legislature refused to fund more construction. Clemson University acquired the tunnel in 1951 and cured blue cheese here for several years. Stumphouse Tunnel, long a tourist attraction, is managed by the City of Walhalla.
The water flows at most upstate South Carolina waterfalls are still very low from last year's drought, so I concentrated on details in the falls.
Issaqueena Falls, Stumphouse Tunnel Park, SC
This is a shot from the archives of the interesting Stump house Mountain Tunnel. I was on a fishing trip in Oconee county in South Carolina with my dad and we had a day of rain and decided to do some exploring. One of our stops was this old incomplete tunnel for the Blue Ridge Railroad. The tunnel was original supposed to make it 13 miles through the Blue Ridge mountains but the project was abandoned due to lack of funding. It is a very eerie and interesting place to visit if you are ever in this area. My dad was gracious enough to stand at the end of the tunnel as a point of interest for the light entering the tunnel.
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Location: South Carolina
Just past the picture posted before this along the creek is a lower section of falls. This one set up nicely, even with the downfall it was a really cool section to shoot.
Find out more about this waterfall and others in the eastern US by checking out the Eastern Waterfall Database
Check out the BLOG post on the visit to Issaqueena Falls
The water flows at most upstate South Carolina waterfalls are still very low from last year's drought, so I concentrated on details in the falls.
Issaqueena Falls, Stumphouse Tunnel Park, SC
Using a light strip and a little creativity, we were able to bring some life to the dark and quiet Stumphouse Tunnel in Walhalla, SC.
P45, The Anderson Local passes over Lake Hartwell on the evening run back to Toccoa. They are on the Z-Line, formerly the Blue Ridge Railroad, which ran from Anderson to Walhalla. The Blue Ridge was originally planned to run from Anderson, through Rabun County Georgia and up into Knoxville Tennessee, including many tunnels and steep grades. However, due to the Civil War construction ended at Stumphouse Tunnel in Walhalla SC. We can only wonder what Railroading in this region would look like had the Blue Ridge been completed.
The colors of autumn shown from below. These trees were at Issaquena Falls/Stumphouse Tunnel near Walhalla, SC. I loved this angle, especially shot with the wide angle lens! The Sigma 10-20 does amazing work, even hand held like this was.
Issaqueena Falls at Stumphouse Park inside the Sumter National Forest near Walhalla, South Carolina.
A short easy walking trail leads from Stumphouse Mountain Park to Issaqueena Falls, a beautiful 200-ft. cascade. Legend has it that the Indian maiden, Issaqueena, rode to the nearby fort to warn of a pending Indian attack and then escaped pursuing Indians by pretending to leap over the falls, but actually hiding beneath them. This easy hike will take you to the top of the falls, but a short path to the right will give you a grand view of the entire scene.
This past weekend my Dad and I were in Seneca SC to do some fishing. Unfortunately it rained almost all weekend but we still had a great time and decided to do some exploring around Seneca. I had done some research before the trip and knew I wanted to check out the Stumphouse Tunnel near Walhalla SC. Construction on the tunnel began in 1852 to connect the Blue Ridge Railroad from Charleston SC to Knoxville TN. As the Civil War began, constuction came to a halt and the tunnel was never finished due to a lack of funding after the war. The tunnel is 1,617 ft long and is now a tourist attraction.
It was a very interesting place to visit, especially on a rainy day with no people around at all. Once you get in the tunnel it is a little eerie but cool at the same time. At one point I had walked about halfway into the tunnel from the spot where I took this picture and I swear I could hear a man and woman's voices echoing from deeper in the tunnel. I couldn't make out any words but was sure it was voices. My dad confirmed that he heard it to. It was interesting considering that we were the only people there. After venturing a little farther and still hearing voices I decided I wasn't going to stay for too long. It was a very unique place to visit to say the least.
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