Location: Oconee County, South Carolina
Water Source: Cane Creek
Drop: 200 Feet
Flow: Year
Directions: Take Rt. 28 north from Walhalla for about 5.5 miles to the Stumphouse Tunnel Park. Turn right into the park and follow the signs to the parking area for the falls.
Notes: I went to Issaqueena Falls in South Carolina June 15, 2005. Take the short walk through the covered footbridge to the top of the falls. Continue along the path a short distance to the viewing platform for a good view of the entire waterfall. The first photo above shows the entire waterfall. The second photo shows the top of the falls with the ledge mentioned in the following legend. The third photo is of the covered footbridge that leads to the top of the falls; the fourth photo is of the sign with the following legend of Issaqueena Falls:
The Legend: Local stories about this site involve variations from the poem, "Cateechee of Keowee," a story of love and adversity penned by J.W. Daniels, A.M., in 1989. The following is a summary of Rev. Daniels' poem, which thrust Issaqueena in immortality.
This beautiful waterfall is named for a Creek maiden called Issaqueena. There are many legends about Issaqueena. The most popular story tells how as a girl Isaqueena was captured by the Cherokee and given the name Cateechee. As a young woman she met and fell in love with a white trader named Allan Francis. One day she overheard a plan by the Cherokee to attack the settlements on the frontier. To warn her lover, she found a swift pony and rode 96 miles to his trading fort. As she traveled, Issaqueena named the landmarks she crossed on her way -- Six Mile Mountain, Twelve Mile River, Eighteen Mile Creek, and others on her way to her final destination at Fort Ninety-Six.
Fearing Retribution from the Cherokees, Issaqueena remained with Allan, eventually marrying him. In time, she, Allan, and their newborn baby moved back to Stumphouse Mountain where they built their home.
One day, the Cherokee Chief, angered with the white settlers, sent his warriers to capture Issaqueena. Issaqueena saw them coming and ran toward this waterfall to escape capture. Knowing that the Cherokee believed evil spirits lived in waterfalls, she pretended to leap to her death. She hid on the ledge below the top of the waterfall where she remained until it was safe to rejoin her family. Her dramatic escape began the legend of Issaqueena Falls.
Return to Waterfalls in South Carolina
Page last updated 30 Jun 2005.
Email comments to dmmaki@MichelesWorld.net