Long Shoals Recreation Area isn’t a waterfall, but it is literally a really long shoal. Enough so that it made it into a waterfall book I own and enough that in my opinion it is worth the stop at if you’re in the area. This is a Pickens County South Carolina park. A lot of information I had before arriving made it seem like it was part of the Poe Creek State Forest, but that doesn’t seem to be the case since the county has a sign there declaring that they’re the current steward. To find this place you just need to be on highway 11 in Pickens County. It is just 2.4 miles up the road from Keowee-Toxaway State Park. Google Maps seems to call it “Long Shoals Roadside Park”, but as you’ll see from the sign the proper name is “Long Shoals Recreation Area.” I think the forest confusion is from the fact that the Poe Creek State Forest is adjacent, and other agencies even stock the creek here with Brown Trout, Brook Trout & Rainbow Trout. So there’s plenty of different names and agendas happening in this area. But again, COUNTY PARK.
Fishing at Long Shoals must be great because I was there wandering around on the rock face of the shoal doing my whole being happy to look at a waterfall or anything related thing, when a truck pulled up. I thought to myself this would be the annoying moment where someone butted into my solitude to also see the shoal. But no, it was a few guys in hip waters who promptly charged downstream presumably to catch some trout. Meanwhile the rock face of the shoal had little pockets in it holding water, and I found a nifty crawfish trying to hide there. So I got wildlife action. Very neat.
There is no hike to be had here. It is a simple parking lot and tiny staircase that leads directly to the shoal, which in summer people likely use as a natural waterslide and the place is likely far busier than my winter experience. Shoals don’t always photograph well since there’s no one specific point, but I left a few example points in the photos here for anyone curious. If you need a more impressive waterfall, you’re only 2.4 miles away from Keowee-Toxaway State Park where they can be found.
