Nice close place Worth short drive and easy walk and was…read moreable to bring kids or older parents

Really beautiful place. The admission was $5 per adult, and it was well worth it. There were other…read morevisitors, but it wasn't overwhelming. The gentleman who helped us was very kind and gave us a map of the trail and grounds. There are picnic tables and benches around. The trail is very easy to walk. There are steps along the way. I have a bad knee, but nothing was very strenuous. The trail is lined with a creek that makes it's way to the falls. There are two different spots to have different views and take photos. I found being here very peaceful. The weather was a bit chilly and very windy otherwise I would've loved to sit there longer. Really important bit of info..... there are no restrooms available so use the facilities somewhere if you need to before arriving. I would recommend visiting! It's been on my list for a while.

PET FRIENDLY- and only cost $2 a person (you cant bet that). The park was really nice and was not…read moretoo crowded- we did go early morning though. The first hike we did was a total of about 4 miles. Two miles in and then 2 miles out. It was a pretty easy trail. Luna was loving it. She was a champ, I couldn't believe she made the whole thing without seeming too tired. The next day March 9th we went back and did two other trails and an overlook equality about 3.5 miles total. This is when Luna started to show signs of being tired. She would run ahead and than lay down and wait for us to meet up wit her. We didn't want to push her anymore. The two days of hiking a total of 7.5 miles was enough. We really had so much fun and if I had to pick something that Luna loved more than anything it would be when she is in the woods.

Incredible views . Easy to park and get to the look out area. There isn't much besides the ranger…read morestation and gift shop along with restrooms and the lookout area but to see the expanse of land was incredible and definitely worth the stop

Best park I have ever taken my kids to there is so much to do. There are multiple playgrounds for…read moreLittles and bigs. There's musical instrument stuff water stuff just about anything you can think of at this park. It's just incredible. Best park I have been to.

Great park. Huge and lots to do. It's also very clean. We've been here a few times and it's never…read moresuper crowded. My daughter loves the swings. I love walking around the whole area. The parking lot is huge. I also felt really safe being here. I'll definitely come back especially with the weather being cooler.

This park isn't bad. Lots of parking. There is an area to eat all. Huge field and a track for…read morewalking or bike riding. The playground itself isn't bad but outdated. One of the swings were broken and they didn't have a lot of swings to begin with. I would suggest the playground more for older toddlers on up. Not a lot to do for the younger kiddos.

Great park! Tons to do at the playground, plus picnic area and trail nearby. Most of it is made…read moreof wood and seems to fit the mountain motif around here. The tire swing goes nice and high and the slides are slick. I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5 because it is a little bit run down. I imagine this park 10 or 20 years ago was fantastic. This is still worth a visit, and the kids are sure to enjoy it!

Very nice park nestled in a lovely neighborhood. We walked on the fairly short trail and enjoyed…read moreit. Some of the trees are massively impressive! There is a structure for the kids to play on that looks really fun, kind of like a fort.

This is the best waterfall we got to visit in SC this far. After we left Reedy Branch Falls we…read moredrove here. Well, as close as we could get. I didn't realize that we couldn't drive all the way to the trailhead so we had a long hike in store due to me having to carry my toddler most of the time. I should have re-read the previous reviews before coming. My friend did help me carry her as well and for that I was very thankful. So definitely don't recommend this hike with a little one unless strapped in a carrier. Also, I don't recommend it for the elderly either. It's definitely a wilderness hike deal with roots and elevation change. In fact, it's mostly downhill on the way to the falls, but on the way back it's pretty much all uphill, which was not fun with aforementioned young child. It's about a half mile to the actual trailhead and then another 0.7 mile to the falls. That's about 2.4 miles round trip. The reason of course that my boys absolutely became enamored with this place is the large swimming hole. It is wonderful and has plenty of space. The waterfall itself is beautiful and although it's not as tall as others, its width is quite impressive. I was trying to get as close as I could and even noticed a hidden part of the falls inside of the rock structure. That was so cool!! The sand at the base and shore give it a beachy vibe. We definitely packed it in and out making sure not to leave anything behind as to preserve the area as best as possible. Needless to say we were wiped by the time we made it back to our vehicles, but we're still glad we decided to venture here. Coming back with my hubby and boys in the very near future. Happy yelping!

I just wanted to update my 3/15/20 review below to add I've now done this hike several times, but…read moreTHIS time I had the chance to hike it with a friend who is directly related to the namesake of the waterfall... Riley Moore. Sandie is a church friend of mine and Riley Moore was her Great Great Uncle (I believe that's right). He once upon a time operated a grist mill here at the top of the falls. She's been trying to get here to see the waterfall, but couldn't find it and wanted to join us (along with her family) since I knew the way. Upon further research I discovered there are actually still remnants of the mill including visible drill holes, spikes and bolts. Thought that was pretty cool info to share! [ [ [ PREVIOUS REVIEW ] ] ] Riley Moore Falls is small in height but HUGE in personality. It's located off State Road S37-748, which is a nicely maintained gravel road where cars and trucks alike can comfortably traverse. ~~~ DIRECTIONS From Westminster, SC - DO NOT turn onto Cobb Bridge Road from Long Creek Hwy (Hwy 76) where you will see the brown & white sign pointing you in the direction of Riley Moore Falls. Our GPS had us go this way, then left onto State Road S37-748, but the road was CLOSED during our visit! INSTEAD, turn onto PU-32 also known as Rocky Fork Road. Turn left onto a gravel road near Rocky Fork Baptist Church and follow that until it dead ends @ State Road S37-748 (also known as Spy Rock Road). Turn right and drive approx. 1.4 miles (4 minutes) to 748c (aka Riley Moore Shoals Road). Park at the intersection of State Road S37-748 and 748c. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE 748c in a car or minivan. Low clearance vehicles will find the terrain on this road to be VERY difficult to navigate without bottoming out or getting stuck. I'd also recommend 4x4 capability on wet days! There can be several deep-pocketed muddy areas after heavy rains. ~~~ THE TRAIL Once you reach the intersection of Spy Rock Rd (S37-748) and 748c, park roadside on Spy Rock, secure your vehicle and begin your hike approx. 1/2 mile down the "primitive road." IF you have a high ground clearance SUV or truck, you can drive the primitive road another half mile or so to a second parking area near the trailhead. The primitive road is VERY BUMPY  and can be muddy in spots after heavy rains, so a 4x4 is best. After reaching the second parking area, follow the marked trail on the left!!! The trail is a little over a 1/2 mile to the falls from here. The trail is fairly straightforward and easy to follow. ~~~ THE FALLS Once you reach the Chauga River, you will notice a large sandy area with plenty of room for an entire horde of hikers!!! Riley Moore Falls is not very tall (only about 12 feet), but it is very wide and has a deep base pool. PRO TIP - Bring swimwear, towels and a picnic, but be sure to pack it in and pack it out. ~~~ THINGS TO KNOW Hiking Distance: 2 miles (round trip to falls from S37-748) Difficulty of hiking 748c: All downhill to trailhead (moderate return) Difficulty of hiking trail to falls: EASY Creek Crossings: NO Elevation Gain: 357 feet Waterfall Height: Approx 12 feet Access to top of falls: NO - not without getting wet Access to base of falls: YES Pool of water @ base of Falls: YES Sitting areas @ base: YES + sandy beach RESTROOMS: NO PARKING: YES (along road) + secondary parking area closer to trailhead for trucks and high ground clearance vehicles with room for about 6 cars. ~~~ [ FINAL THOUGHTS ] A lovely waterfall in any season, but also a great spot for a summer swim. While we had the waterfall practically to ourselves during our Mid-March expedition, be advised other trail website reviews say it gets trashy & crowded in summer months. What a shame if that is true because it truly is a treasure. ENJOY! 2022 / 74 #UPDATE 178

There are a variety of places to hike around the area. This would be the short hike with bang for…read moreyour buck. I made a loop in 45 minutes or so from the parking area with what is apparently an established food stand. There isn't a lot of space between the parking area and the side of the highway, so be ready. The scenery revolves around several waterfalls, the highest of which surprised me with its size. There is an excellent variety of terrain for a short scamper, and while it is an incline, people with milder mobility limitations could still reasonably expect to get to the falls in time. There is no charge to enter, and plenty of reason to make the falls part of your day.

Family hike #9; yay! Hubby and the boys hiked this trail back in October 2024 while we were…read morecamping, but I decided not to join, because my then nearly 2-year-old toddler was a sprinter (still is) and I didn't trust to take her on this journey. Didn't take her with us this time either; haha. Anyway, they were nice enough to agree to return to Wildcat Wayside with me. 3 waterfalls for the price of 1, except there is no price, because it's free! The hike was lush with foliage and a lot of the rhododendron blossoms had already fallen on the trail; I never knew they were so pretty. Saw lots of snails on leaves, millipedes, mushrooms; it was fantastic finding living treasures! Upper Wildcat Branch Falls was a slight disappointment to me as I expected more of a rush of water since it rained quite a bit the couple of days before, but it's height is still impressive. My boys also found salamanders and even a tiny baby axolotl in the water! I was blown away. To me the hiking trail was easy even with the stairs. I think I finally have built up a tolerance, because my legs no longer hurt after hikes I go on. It's only about a mile long, so it's not too bad, but there is elevation change and people who aren't used to it may find it somewhat challenging depending on stamina. I wonder if Pauly's Gourmet Peanuts Truck still comes around on the weekends, because it wasn't there on a Wednesday; would've liked to check it out. The trail was somewhat busy with hikers, but definitely not overrun. The weather was perfect for hiking, but it was cooler than expected. I should have been brave and joined the polar bear club with cold immersion in the swimming hole at Lower WBF, but alas; hopefully next time. No bathroom facilities are available here, so go before you come. On to hike #10! Happy yelping!

Great family spot! There are many locations for family gatherings/ cooking areas. A boat ramp and…read moreit cost $10 to put in. The lake it's self is small so don't expect too much in that regard but the wardens office/ park is great.

how to review a lake, hmmmm well it is big and has lots of water! by the way one of the best views…read morein the area! look at the photos. there is a boat ramp and two dock areas you can fish from. plus lots of places to picnic at. here for a wedding that is being held here on the shore of the lake. perfect place for a wedding. now my special recommendation, who would think that a park restroom could get one of my "its ok" award? these do! very clean and nice smelling, sure didn't expect that! why do i care about clean restrooms? tells me a lot about the place and staff plus I'm 64, yea I'm old and need my potty breaks on a regular basis. if you're in the area pack a picnic lunch of stop by you'll be glad you did.