| Read the legend of how this beautiful waterfall got it's name. |
| Hard to capture the true beauty of this area on film. |
| The Land of Beauty and Legends |
Issaqueena Falls is one of the many waterfalls that meander through the 130-mile Cherokee Foothills Scenic Route 11. Located in Oconee County, South Carolina, in what is called the South Carolina Upcountry. It can be accessed from Highway 28 off SR 11. Take Highway 28 N off SR 11 to Walhalla. Continue about 6 miles to the entrance to Stumphouse Tunnel Park. |
| The Legend Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, there once lived a Creek Indian maiden named Issaqueena, in a village called Keowee Town, aptly named for the beautiful Keowee River. Issaqueena was captured from her native land and Creek tribe by the Cherokees, most likely during a battle over land, the great battle of Taliwa. The Cherokees were known for trading with the English who had also begun to settle in the area. Issaqueena fell in love with one of these English traders, Francis Allen. One night she overhead a tribual talk of attacking Star Fort, where Allen had gone to do business. She jumped on her pony and made the 96-mile trek to alert Allen and the fort of the impending attack. Her mission was successful and she and Allen were later married and had a son borne of the union. Later, while Allen was away on another business trip, the Cherokees decided to seek retribution against Issaqueena and her child. Legend goes that she made another daring escape and led the pursuing Cherokees to a 200-foot waterfall and jumped in. Issaqueena knew the Cherokees believed the waterfalls contained evil spirits and would go no further. Thinking she and her child had perished the Cherokees gave up their pursuit, never knowing she had hidden behind a ledge in the falls until she and her infant could safely be reunited with her beloved husband. |
The Issaqueena Trail Ron and I were headed to Washington DC and as usual for any adventure we start out on, we always manage to wind up off-the-beaten path. The discoveries we make along the way are most always as pleasant, if not sometimes more rewarding, as the destination itself. This trip was definitely one of those times. We crossed the Georgia-South Carolina border on Interstate 85 N and near Fair Play, South Carolina and decided to take the Cherokee Foothills Scenic Route 11. According to the travel brochures we picked up at the welcome center, there are approximately 22 waterfalls that wind their way through the Piedmont range of the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It was in one of these mountains that someone came up with the idea to build a railroad to connect South Carolina and Tennessee. Ron had spotted information about the Stumphouse Mountain tunnel and the unfinished railroad. He is a big history buff, so of course we had to check that out. We turned onto Highway 28 N and about 6 miles past the town of Walhalla we found the entrance to Stumphouse Tunnel Park. Before we even made it to the tunnel we came upon the awesome falls above. The trek on up to the tunnel itself was a bit of a hike. I had fallen shortly before this trip and had a bum knee, so I was little reluctant to venture on but it was well worth the effort. Follow the trails for more of our adventure. Check out the links on this page for more information about other interesting things in this area. |
| ISSAQUEENA FALLS |
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| Legend or truth is known only by the spirits of the past, but historical data documents a Francis Allen, wife Issaqueena and son, and the waterfall where she allegedly hid is named after the legend, Issaqueena Falls |
| ** Residents of Walhalla proclaim their town to be The Garden of the Gods. ** Yes dear, those are Public Restrooms right next door to the police station. |
