Oconee Station State Historic Site
Mountains
Trails
Oconee Station Trail
Length: 1.5 miles
Type: Hiking Trail
Difficulty: Easy
Description: Because countless wildflowers decorate the forest in spring, this easy 1.5-mile trail in Oconee Station State Historic Site has become a favorite of Upstate naturalists. The trail also features a fine view of Station Cove Falls, a stepped, 60-foot waterfall that’s among the prettiest in a county full of waterfalls. In 1792, Oconee County’s first European settlers built Oconee Station, a small wood and stone “blockhouse” about a mile from the falls. The military fort and accompanying 1805 residence were intended to protect settlers from Cherokee and vice-versa. Today, they are on the National Register of Historic Places.
From the trailhead in the main parking area, you will start downhill and come to a fork. Both legs come together after circling a pond, so you might elect to go out on one and return on the other. Upon passing the pond, you will cross Oconee Station Road and enter the Sumter National Forest. As you walk, look for beaver ponds, an alder swamp (the result of past beaver ponds), and in springtime, an amazing array of wildflowers, particularly pink lady’s slipper orchids. The trail ends at the falls, where the waterfall’s spray area is home to rare and endangered plant life, so step carefully.
Station Cove Falls Trail
Length: 0.5 miles
Type: Hiking Trail
Difficulty: Easy
Description: An easy, 30-minute hike through a gorgeous Appalachian cove forest takes you to Station Cove Falls, a stepped 60-foot waterfall that forms from headwaters atop Station Mountain. In the spring and summer, countless wildflowers bloom along the trail. You may see trillium, mayapple, pink lady’s slipper orchids, bloodroot, and redbud.
