Accessibility – Moderate+

Height – 80′

Distance – 0.5 (out and back)

Beauty – 7

Photo rating – 4

Solitude –5

GPS Info: LAT 35.27412 LONG -82.84637

Last Updated – 11-16-2018

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WARNING: Fungi Falls is located within the boundaries of the Green River Game Lands. If the gate is open, this means it’s hunting season. On my visit the gate was open. When I reached the parking area I was confronted by one man with a rifle who was coming of of the woods. I encountered two more on the short hike, both with compound bows. I spotted two more patrolling below the falls and on the way out I spotted one in a snipers nest in a tree. Too much weaponry for my waterfalling tastes.

As seems to be the case a lot lately, Fungi Falls is one where you have to be very careful and experienced in side-hill hiking and descending an insanely steep grade with little to hold onto. Fungi Falls has three drops, an upper, middle and lower. The lower is the tallest and hardest to reach.

To get to the trailhead, from I-26 south from Hendersonville to Exit 59 for Saluda. Make a left, heading east on Holbert Cove Road as if you’re going to Little Bradley Falls. Stay on Holbert Cove Road for 4.8 miles to a gravel road on the right. This is the access to the Green River Game Lands. If the gate is open, as it was on my visit, this means it’s hunting season. If the gate is closed there is less chance of getting mistaken for deer but it will add 0.75 of a mile each way to the hike. When the gate is open you can drive the road all the way to the parking area but keep in mind this section of the road passes through private property. The road ends at an open parking area.

The trail leaves from the upper end of the parking area and soon crosses Ostin Creek. On my visit the water was up and I was able to cross without getting my feet wet. On the far side of the creek there is an overgrown logging grade that heads back downstream. Stay on the obvious path for around 0.1 of a mile. At this point you will see the 30 foot upper drop. It is steep to get to it and it is even steeper to get to the middle section, which is very close to the upper. The final drop is the largest and it requires a very steep and perilous descent to the base. On my November visit, a cadre of hunters in the area called off my explorations. Here are two shots of the upper and one of the middle. The pics of the lower will come after my next visit.