Attractions Near Westminister, South Carolina

Walhalla, tucked into the mountains of the northwestern corner of South Carolina bids you "Gutten Tag-Good Day!" and invites you to experience "Gemutlichkeit-Good Spirits, Good Times, Laughter and Goodwill," at our Annual Walhalla Oktoberfest.

In 1850, a land expansion movement began among the German settlers in Charleston, South Carolina, that culminated in the purchase of land in the upstate. Under the leadership of John A. Wagner, they founded the City of Walhalla, a name borrowed from Norse Mythology. According to the legend, valkyries, who were beautiful young maidens endowed with goddess-like powers, came down after battles and gathered all the dead warriors from the "Field of Valor" to carry them to Valhalla, the Garden of the Gods. In Valhalla, the valiant heroes recovered from their mortal wounds and lived happilyy ever after, drinking mead and feasting on roast beef.

From it's beginnings as a German settlement, Walhalla has evolved into the county seat of government and has become a shopper's paradise for specialty gifts and antiques. Beautiful oak trees line the center of Main Street and state and national flags wave in the cool mountain breezes. German banners herald the Oktoberfest season as everyone joins in the festival and travels to Main Street to visit the shops and vendors lining the street and on to Sertoma Field on Highway 183 for carnival rides, wurst and kraut, strudel, more crafts, lederhosen, German polkas and waltzes and authentic German music and dancers.
The golden, red and orange hues of the turning leaves make Autumn the most beautiful of all for the upstate. Local Walhalla attractions such as Saint John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Depot Park at Kaufmann Square, our lively downtown, as well as the surrounding lakes, rivers, state and county parks, combined with a family oriented festival, explain why over half a million people have celebrated Walhalla Oktoberfest since 1979. Join us at the Gateway of the Blue Ridge Mountains for our Oktoberfest! Our festivals are every third full weekend in October.

East of town, the Walhalla State Fish Hatchery welcomes visitors to tour the hatchery, to fish in the East Fork River which runs through hatchery grounds, or to picnic in areas provided for the public. Adjacent to the hatchery is the Chattooga Picnic Area with a barrier-free fishing pier.

Adjacent to the picnic area is the boundary of the Ellicott Rock Wilderness. Hikers may take a trail that goes alongside the East Fork for 2.5 miles to the Chattooga River. Nearby Oconee State Park has all of the perks of a relaxing mountain getaway. Rustic, CCC-era cabins, family campgrounds and a lake with a swimming hole, canoe rentals and fishing opportunities are only a sample of the park’s offerings.

7,500 acre Lake Jocassee has deep water and 75 miles of shoreline. The lake was named "Place of the Lost One" because of a Cherokee legend where Jocassee, an Indian maiden was said to have drowned herself in grief over the murder of her lover. It is a perfect lake for boating, skiing, fishing, and any other water activities you can imagine. Other lakes include Hartwell Lake and Lake Keowee.

The Stumphouse Tunnel was planned in the 1850s to connect South Carolina to the Midwest with a direct rail line. Unfortunately, work on the project was abandoned during the War Between the States due to the lack of funds. 1300 feet of the tunnel is open to the public. The park area features the Issaqueena Falls, picnic areas and a hiking trail.

Downtown Walhalla has a variety of shops and great little eateries.

Westminster
Located in Oconee County in the upstate region of South Carolina the town of Westminster is in the foothills of the beautiful Appalachian Mountains and is a treasure trove of wonderful architecture, boasting more than one hundred homes that are unique to the late 1800's and turn-of-the-century. The beautiful residential and business historical districts offer a visual smorgasbord for the sightseer along the crepe myrtle-lined streets.

The area offers spectacular views of its natural beauty. There are more than 25 waterfalls alone. Boating, fishing, whitewater rafting, hunting, hiking, horseback riding and nine golf courses are just a few of the recreational activities the area has to offer. Its county, state and national parks and recreation areas provide plenty of opportunities for every member of the family.

Flowing along the South Carolina-Georgia border, west of town the famous Chattooga National Wild and Scenic River provides whitewater rafting adventures and breath-taking views through the beautiful Sumter National Forest. Divided into four sections, trips along Section 3 provide a perfect outing for families and youth groups, while Section 4 provides more continuous rapids and steep drops for skilled enthusiasts.

Mayberry Day is held each year during the fourth weekend in April. Historic Main Street comes alive with faces, vehicles and characters known around the world from the 1960s television program "The Andy Griffith Show," which is still in syndication.

Attractions

	Station Cove Falls - Mountain Rest SC An easy, 30-minute hike through a beautiful Appalachian cove forest takes you to Station Cove Falls more information
	Spoonauger Falls in Sumter National Forest - Mountain Rest SC Spoonauger Falls runs down a stepped rock face in a broad sheet. The 50 foot falls is one of the more popular (and camera friendly) in this neck of the Chattooga River watershed. It is an easy 20 minute, 1/2 mile hike in the Sumter National Forest. more information
	South Cove County Park on Lake Keowee - Seneca SC South Cove County Park is located on the clear waters of Lake Keowee more information
	Ram Cat Alley - Seneca SC Located in the historic district of downtown Seneca, South Carolina more information
	Oconee State Park - Mountain Rest SC Oconee State Park has all of the perks of a relaxing mountain getaway. Rustic, CCC-era cabins, family campgrounds and a lake with a swimming hole, canoe rentals and fishing opportunities are only a sample of the park’s offerings. more information
	Licklog & Pigpen Falls - Mountain Rest SC Two waterfalls for the price of one....Perfect place for a Family outing more information
	King Creek Waterfalls - Mountain Rest SC This hike through the Sumter National Forest is a 30 minute, moderate 1/2 mile one-way trip and suited to hikers of all abilities. This waterfall provides a relaxing hike, photogenic falls, and places to dabble in the water. more information
	Hidden Falls - Mountain Rest SC This is an excellent hike for all members of the family more information
	Chau Ram Falls - Westminister SC This is an excellent location for a family outing more information
	Chattooga River - Long Creek SC Designated the South’s first National Wild and Scenic River in 1974, the Chattooga is one of the premier whitewater rafting rivers in the Eastern United States, dropping an average of 49.3 feet per mile. more information
	Bull Sluice Rapids on the Chattooga River - Long Creek SC Bull Sluice is a prominent rapid on the Georgia and South Carolina border on the Chattooga River, which was featured in the film Deliverance. more information
	Brasstown Falls - Long Creek SC First explored by the Cherokee Indians, Brasstown Falls was originally named Itseyi, or place of fresh green. However, the word was misinterpreted by early pioneers, as they confused it with the Cherokee word for "brass," thus the current name came to be. more information