Many, many upstate residents are familiar with Wildcat Wayside. It has been a stopping point on the way to Caeasar's Head for generations. The roadside waterfall is a pleasant place to let the kids splash around in a nice base pool. Bicyclists coming down SC 11 will stop and cool their hot, tired feet before peddling on.
But the fact of the matter is that Wildcat Wayside is a lot more than most people know. It is actually part of Jones Gap State Park and is much larger than just the area around Wildcat Branch. Ask how many waterfalls can be found at Wildcat, most folks will say 1 or 2. Some of the more adventurous will say 3, talking about the 3 on Wildcat Branch.
Actually, there are 9. The 3 on Wildcat Branch plus 6 more on the next stream over, Slickum Creek. All but 1 can be reached from the parking at Wildcat. To get to Slickum Falls, you have to go around and use Persimmon Ridge Road.
The attached map will show you the location of the 9 falls on a satellite image of Wildcat Wayside. Here are articles on the 9 waterfalls:
- Lower Wildcat Falls. The familiar waterfall by the roadside.
- Middle Wildcat Falls. Just above Lower.
- Upper Wildcat Falls. About a quarter mile up Wildcat Branch. A dangerous rock wall where there have been several fatalities.
- Slickum Falls. Accessible from Persimmon Ridge Road. Another dangerous waterfall with a fatality.
- Upper Millennium Falls.
- Middle Mellennium Falls
- Lower Millennium Falls
- Sweet Thing on Slickum. The "perfect" little waterfall.
- Last Falls on Slickum. Just a few feet from the road, but seldom seen.
To get to Wildcat, take US 276 north out of Marietta towards Caesar's Head. You'll pass the Cleveland, SC post office and, a mile later, the F-Mart (Best Hot Dogs in Town) and 3.5 miles later, you'll find Wildcat Wayside with its large pull-off on the right.
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