Shunkawauken Falls
Shunkawauken Falls
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.0
28 reviews
Excellent
12
Very good
11
Average
4
Poor
1
Terrible
0
Justin P
Raleigh, NC4,560 contributions
Aug 2015 • Solo
Shunkawauken Falls is a 150-foot waterfall that's right along the side of the road. It's on private property, but you can see it from the road, which literally goes right over it. It's probably even higher than 150 feet, but it's hard to judge the lower portion below the road. There's no good parking spots if you want to get out and take a picture. I stopped at a little gravel pull-off just before the waterfall and then walked up the road to get a picture. If you make it to the waterfall, you've passed the pull-off and there road is too narrow to turn around. Continue to the top of the mountain and turnaround at Sunset Rock Overlook. The water level was a little low when I visited so visit after a good rain for it to look its best. As a warning, if you tend to get carsick, you will not enjoy the drive up. White Oak Mountain Road is more than 2 miles of non-stop sharp, steep turns and switchbacks. If you don't get carsick, it's kind of fun and very scenic. Just drive very slowly and cautiously.
Written August 30, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michelle N
Charlotte, NC54 contributions
Aug 2014 • Couples
This waterfall is located on the side of a mountain. I was not aware of this, so I will share that knowledge and also inform prospective visitors that there is no where to park and from what I saw no where to hike. This is merely a drive by. The mountain is pretty steep and has no guard rails so the driver should be experienced in navigating steep, wiring, narrow roads. I was looking forward to hiking up a waterfall, but I gave it 4 stars because it is still absolutely breath taking.
Written August 8, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sc40sumthin
Greenville, SC768 contributions
Jun 2021
Beautiful falls along the roadway - worth the drive up the curvy mountain road. Nice view from the top of the mountain not much farther than the falls.
Written June 14, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sburris65
Simpsonville, SC3,576 contributions
Nov 2018 • Solo
After taking the easy hike at nearby Pearson's Falls, I decided to stop by this fall on my way out.
The falls can be found from White Oak Mountain and gets its start at Horse Creek and is actually a noncontinous series of falls that drop more than 1000 feet to the valley below. Shunkawauken Falls is a 150 beauty that is just on the side of the road!!
The falls can be found a few miles from downtown Columbus. The best thing to do is put White Oak Mountain Road in your GPS and just follow the road. Let me warn you this road is quite curvy and more than one hairpin turn will have you tummy doing belly flops. Do not even try to speed on this road. And your car should be in good shape, especially the brakes!! The falls are almost at the top of the road. The best thing to do is take the road to the top. There is an overview across from a condo complex. It gives you stunning views of the mountains and Columbus. There is room to park here. After taking pictures, hit the waterfall on the way back. The fall will now be on your left and just past that in a curve is an area to pull over and get out.
The falls here are stunning. Especially after a full rain like we just had. And this is waterfall hunting made easy and anyone can access these falls. Here in NC we have some estimated 500 falls and many of them can be accessed by the public. But a large portion of them require a hike to see them. So those with mobility issues are often left out. But nope not here. Just be careful driving and this road should not be accessed in bad weather. There are no guardrails along the road.
If you would like to find out more about NC's waterfalls there are a number of books and website out there and they offer directions to the falls. I use a waterfall guide by photographer Kevin Adams.
*nearby falls*. There are several other falls in the area. In nearby Saluda there is Pearson's Fall which is an easy 1/4 mile hike to the beautiful 90 foot falls (I have a separate review on that) and Bradly Falls but it does require crossing water and it is not suggested when the water will be full after rains so I didn't try.
This is certainly worth t if you are in the area. Columbus/Tryon/Saluda are amazing cities to visit offering shopping and dining. And lots of wonderful B&B's. So it is worth coming up for the weekend and getting out and exploring.
The falls can be found from White Oak Mountain and gets its start at Horse Creek and is actually a noncontinous series of falls that drop more than 1000 feet to the valley below. Shunkawauken Falls is a 150 beauty that is just on the side of the road!!
The falls can be found a few miles from downtown Columbus. The best thing to do is put White Oak Mountain Road in your GPS and just follow the road. Let me warn you this road is quite curvy and more than one hairpin turn will have you tummy doing belly flops. Do not even try to speed on this road. And your car should be in good shape, especially the brakes!! The falls are almost at the top of the road. The best thing to do is take the road to the top. There is an overview across from a condo complex. It gives you stunning views of the mountains and Columbus. There is room to park here. After taking pictures, hit the waterfall on the way back. The fall will now be on your left and just past that in a curve is an area to pull over and get out.
The falls here are stunning. Especially after a full rain like we just had. And this is waterfall hunting made easy and anyone can access these falls. Here in NC we have some estimated 500 falls and many of them can be accessed by the public. But a large portion of them require a hike to see them. So those with mobility issues are often left out. But nope not here. Just be careful driving and this road should not be accessed in bad weather. There are no guardrails along the road.
If you would like to find out more about NC's waterfalls there are a number of books and website out there and they offer directions to the falls. I use a waterfall guide by photographer Kevin Adams.
*nearby falls*. There are several other falls in the area. In nearby Saluda there is Pearson's Fall which is an easy 1/4 mile hike to the beautiful 90 foot falls (I have a separate review on that) and Bradly Falls but it does require crossing water and it is not suggested when the water will be full after rains so I didn't try.
This is certainly worth t if you are in the area. Columbus/Tryon/Saluda are amazing cities to visit offering shopping and dining. And lots of wonderful B&B's. So it is worth coming up for the weekend and getting out and exploring.
Written November 25, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cheryl h
Durham, NC57,971 contributions
Mar 2017 • Couples
There was some water flowing over the falls but I'm not sure it was worth the trip. The road up is very curvy, very narrow, and has no guardrails. There are a few pullover areas but they aren't very big or really convenient to the falls and walking along the narrow, curvy road can be dangerous if a car comes around a curve. The road isn't traveled that much and the website says you can park on the road just long enough to snap a picture but I would not recommend doing that. If you feel you have to pull off the road a little bit for a quick stop, be aware that the narrow edges between the road and drop off are just loose gravel and I would think a car could easily slide right off.
It's not easy to find the falls so be sure to check the website for directions. The falls flow the length of White Oak Mountain in 3 different sections. The top portion is 150 feet. There is a shopping center at the bottom of the mountain and if you park in the back of it you can see the entire falls (all 3 sections) if you have a good zoom lens on your camera.
It's not easy to find the falls so be sure to check the website for directions. The falls flow the length of White Oak Mountain in 3 different sections. The top portion is 150 feet. There is a shopping center at the bottom of the mountain and if you park in the back of it you can see the entire falls (all 3 sections) if you have a good zoom lens on your camera.
Written September 26, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
stownsend8e
Rutherfordton, NC3 contributions
Jul 2017 • Couples
Only consider going up here on a very clear day with no weather problems. The road was very narrow, several hairpin turns, and the drop off was scary. There are signs saying no parking in the road but by the time we got to the falls I was ready to go back down. It is not really set up for "tourist" activity and there are not good places to turn around.
Written July 10, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Angela M
Murrells Inlet, SC54 contributions
Feb 2017 • Family
This is a very tall waterfall with little water. Dangerous drive. No where to park to get out of the car. Narrow road and people actually live on this mountain so you are simply an inconvenience. Save your time. Go to Bradley Falls in Saluda.
Written February 21, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Matthew P
Glen Burnie, Maryland67 contributions
Aug 2016 • Couples
My Garmin had me stopping in town, we had to refer to Google Maps, which took us via the East side...ending up being shut down at the top. Beautiful. Roads leading to fall are steep and winding...drive safe. East side of White Oak Mountain Rd closed as of 2 Aug 2016. Take other route (west side) of 1136. Rd was closed to thru traffic, but you can still drive to the fall ...only one small pull off spot/ turn about at this time. Not sure how long road will be shut down or why rd is closed.
Written August 2, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RooneyKing
Black Mountain, NC52 contributions
Jun 2016
A great side trip up White Oak Mountain Drive then Skyuka Mountain Drive. Fabulous views from the north side. See the beginnings of our mountain ranges. Ask directions at Visitors Center in Columbus.
Written June 29, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CochranMSHS
North Carolina25 contributions
Nov 2015 • Couples
As other have stated, it's a 150-foot waterfall that is slightly hidden if you're not actively looking for it. My husband and I went searching for this beaut on Thanksgiving and found it only after giving up and deciding to head back down the mountain side. Turns out we had gone up the mountain in the opposite direction (thank you Apple Maps).
There is no 'good' place to park, but there is a small gravel area that 1.5 vehicles could fit in. All in all though it was a great experience and I would definitely consider going back.
There is no 'good' place to park, but there is a small gravel area that 1.5 vehicles could fit in. All in all though it was a great experience and I would definitely consider going back.
Written January 18, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How do you find the place????
Written June 21, 2016
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