Nestled along Rocky Creek just off U.S. 21 south of Great Falls, the Rocky Creek Trail is a 2.5-mile round-trip hiking experience that combines stunning natural beauty with fascinating 18th and 19th century history. Opened in 2009 and funded by a Recreational Trails Grant from South Carolina Parks, Recreation and Tourism, this Carolina Thread Trail segment was one of the first nature-based tourism assets in Great Falls — a beautiful harbinger of the outdoor recreation transformation that would unfold over the following decade.
The trail offers diverse experiences in both directions from the centrally located trailhead. Heading east, hikers encounter a dramatic 40-foot waterfall created when the Southern Power Company (now Duke Energy) blasted rock and granite to construct the Great Falls Dam between 1905 and 1907. Heading west past the U.S. 21 bridge, the trail winds through beautiful hardwoods and river birches toward rapids and the ruins of the historic Gladden Mill. L.M. Ford's 1904 history records a succession of mills along Rocky Creek dating back to the 1830s, including grist mills, cotton gins, saw mills, and what was reportedly the finest flour mill in the South Carolina upcountry.
The trail and surrounding land were designated an Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society in 2010, recognizing the area's significance as a diverse and healthy wildlife habitat. Maintained by the Town of Great Falls with land managed by the Katawba Valley Land Trust, the Rocky Creek Trail makes for a perfect afternoon or early morning walk. Visitors can wade in the creek at a beautiful beach area at the base of the trail entrance, explore the rapids and mill ruins, or simply enjoy the serene sounds of flowing water through the peaceful Chester County landscape.