Over 30 waterfalls are spread out among three counties in the northwestern corner of South Carolina, creating a waterfall lover's paradise. One of prettiest of this large cluster is the Upcountry's Issaqueena Falls.
   Ringing with a note of intrigue, the falls were named for a Creek maiden named Issaqueena. One of the most popular tales tells of young Issaqueena who was captured by the Cherokee and given the name Cateechee. As a young woman she met and fell in love with a white trader named Allan Francis. One day she overheard a plan by the Cherokee to attack settlements on the frontier. She found a swift pony and rode 96 miles to Fort Ninety-Six to warn her lover. In time, Issaqueena, Allan, and their newborn baby moved back to Stumphouse Mountain to build their home.
   Angered with white settlers, the Cherokee Chief sent his warriors to capture Issaqueena. Issaqueena saw them coming and ran toward this waterfall to escape capture. Knowing that the Cherokee believed evil spirits lived in the waterfall, she pretended to leap to her death. She hid on the ledge behind the waterfall where she remained until it was safe to rejoin her family. Her dramatic escape was the basis for the legend of Issaqueena Falls.
   Issaqueena Falls is just about 6 miles northwest from Walhalla on Route 28. The parking lot for the Stumphouse Tunnel Park, where you'll find the falls and historic tunnel, is well marked on the highway. A small covered footbridge crosses Cane Creek en route to the falls overlook. A few informal pathways lead down to the base of the falls, but consist of a steep scramble with various root handrails to assist with your descent. A few errant pathways dead-end with sheer cliffs, so beware if you want to capture a photo from the base of the 100 foot falls. And it's definitely not recommended to see where Issaqueena hid behind the waterfall, but some still attempt this slippery climb.

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