![]() ![]() There Stumphouse tunnel along with three other tunnels was to be built. ![]() Construction on the railway was begun in the late 1850s and was successful through most of South Carolina until hitting the mountains around Wallhalla in Oconee County. In 1852, 13 miles of tunnel were proposed to cross the Blue Ridge Mountains through South Carolina, North Carolina, and into Tennessee. An extra pair of shoes (or water shoes) isn’t a bad idea to bring along for little ones.The tunnel was first proposed in 1835 by residents of Charleston, South Carolina as a new and shorter route for the Blue Ridge Railroad between Charleston and the Ohio River valley area which until then was only accessible by bypassing the mountains entirely to the South and then traveling up north through Georgia and middle Tennessee. Tip for the trip: There’s no fountains so make sure to bring water. Admission is free, but there is a $2 parking fee. Stumphouse Tunnel Park is located just past Walhalla on S.C. As Issaqueena pours down around you, you can splash in the clear, cool, shallow waters at the base or sunbathe on the wide, flat boulders. If you brave the trail and hike/climb/slide all the way down, you’ll be rewarded by the path opening up right at the base of the falls. You’ll know roughly 20 feet down the trail whether the effort is for you because it doesn’t get any easier until you reach the bottom. There’s also several forks with the paths carrying varying degrees of difficulty. Big rocks, criss-crossing roots and steep embankments greet visitors. The trail leading down to the base of the falls can be a little tricky at times. If you truly want to experience Issaqueena, you gotta hike. It’s an easy walk, but blooming tree foliage obscures much of the view this time of year. The main (and designated) trail to view the falls leads directly from the parking lot to an observation platform via a wide and accommodating gravel path. ![]() Several trails wind around and down the 200-foot waterfall, all set at a variety of skill levels. If traipsing through Stumphouse doesn’t quite sound like your cup of tea, at the other end of the park, Issaqueena Falls may be more to your liking. Stick to the center if you don’t want to get your feet wet because water tends to collect and stream near the sides.īecause the main light source is the entrance behind you, it’s also a good idea to bring a flashlight although an air shaft about at the midway point in the tunnel extends 60 feet up to the surface, drawing in some light as well as a consistently cool breeze.įun Fact: In 1951, Clemson University bought the tunnel and used it to cure bleu cheese. If you have any claustrophobic tendencies, the tunnel probably isn’t the best idea - it’s dark, damp and makes you feel a bit like a spelunker. The tunnel stands today as an oddity, a tourist attraction and a great place to explore (and to escape the heat) on a hot summer day. History tells us that the Blue Ridge Railroad attempted a few times to jump-start work on the tunnel, but that none of their efforts ever came to fruition. Eventually, the tunnel was to stretch all the way up to Cincinnati, Ohio, but with only 1,617 feet completed, the Civil War began and the money dried up. Construction on Stumphouse began in 1852 with the idea of connecting Charleston, S.C., to Knoxville, Tenn. The tunnel itself is a relic of antebellum engineering. The park consists of two main attractions, Stumphouse Tunnel and Issaqueena Falls, but picnic shelters, hiking trails and winding shallow steams make Stumphouse Tunnel Park a unique attraction for people of all ages. OCONEE COUNTY - As family friendly adventures go, Stumphouse Tunnel Park, just past Walhalla in Oconee County, is one worth checking out - but you’d better bring your hiking shoes and some water. The tunnel measures 17 feet wide by 25 feet high and about mid-way in, there is an air shaft that extends to the surface, generating a cool breeze on even the hottest of summer days. ![]()
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