Looking for a family adventure? Head to Stumphouse Tunnel in Oconee County! Just an hour and a half from Greenville in Walhalla, SC, this easy mountain getaway offers cool history, fresh air, and a waterfall stop all in one trip. Local mom Deidre explored the tunnel and nearby Issaqueena Falls with her family. Here’s what to know before you pack up the kids and go.
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History of the Stumphouse Tunnel
Stumphouse Tunnel is the remains of a pre-Civil War tunnel in Oconee County, SC. The tunnel was part of a project to link Charleston, SC with cities in the Midwest via train. However, the start of the Civil War stopped construction on the tunnel, and it was never completed. In the early 1940s, Clemson used the tunnel to cure its blue cheese.
The tunnel is now part of the greater Stumphouse Park, which includes Stumphouse Tunnel, Issaqueena Falls, The Palmetto Trail’s Stumphouse Passage, the Blue Ridge Railroad Hiking Trail, and Stumphouse Mountain Bike Park. There’s a lot to do other than just exploring the tunnel, so keep that in mind if you’re looking to make a full day of it
Fun fact: Middle Tunnel, a tunnel system that was successfully completed just a quarter mile from Stumphouse Tunnel, is now flooded and sealed off for safety.
Our Trip to Stumphouse Tunnel
As we passed through the City of Walhalla (the last town before getting to the park), we looked for a lunch spot. You may decide to pack a picnic lunch for the park instead of eating out like we did. There were several local places on the main street that looked tempting. The park is not that far from Walhalla, but most of the route involves a winding road so we had to drive super carefully around the twists and turns.
Once you enter the park, the road winds sharply downward. I was really glad that we didn’t have to share the road with cars coming out of the park. Those that do have to deal with oncoming traffic have to make tight turns.
We followed the signs from the parking area in the park to the Stumphouse Mountain Tunnel and found that we had to park on the road leading up to the tunnel. There are parking lots near one of the shelters and the Issaqueena Falls area of the park.
Stumphouse Tunnel
There is a slight hill you must walk up to get to the tunnel. An older couple that arrived when we did took small steps up the hill. Small children may want to do that too.
We did not bring the right things for exploring the tunnel. Here is a list of what we should have brought:
- Flashlight (It is really dark in the tunnel.)
- Hat or jacket with a hood (water drips from the ceiling in the tunnel.)
- Close-toed shoes (there were large puddles of water on both sides of the tunnel)
The tunnel is a cool 50 degrees all year round, so definitely bring a jacket. The tunnel is incomplete. It was dug with hand tools pre-Civil War but never finished. You can walk pretty far back though, about a quarter of a mile. The tunnel was originally meant to be part of the Blue Ridge Railroad. But after dumping about a million dollars into the project, the state of South Carolina basically gave up and refused to fund it any longer.
Issaqueena Falls
Issaqueena Falls was our next stop. Though the tunnel and waterfall are within walking distance, we chose to drive so we could park in a lot versus on the street. Since the trees have lots of leaves during summer, it was a little hard to see the falls. However, it was still very pretty. Visibility of Issaqueena Falls is best in the fall or winter after the leaves fall off the trees.
We all loved walking through the covered bridge on the path leading to the falls and viewing a lower area of the falls from the observation deck. There’s steep path that continues past the observation deck, but parents should be aware that it isn’t a maintained trail. There have been deaths and accidents at this waterfall, so be careful and aware of your surroundings even on the marked trails.
We also saw a number of children playing and walking through a shallow stream. We decided to dip our feet in the stream too, which was big fun for the kids.
Grabbing Lunch in Walhalla After Our Hike
After all the hiking, we headed back to Walhalla for lunch. Though there we several lunch options, we chose The Steak House Cafeteria. The food here was down home and delicious, especially after an adventure-packed morning.
Our outing turned out to be about a half-day event which was perfect for us. My family enjoyed seeing the tunnel and falls as well as enjoying a yummy lunch in Walhalla.
You can also stop by the nearby Walhalla Fish Hatchery and extend your day trip with more educational fun. The beautiful Yellow Branch Falls is very close to Stumphouse Park. It’s about a three-mile moderate roundtrip hike.
Visiting Stumphouse Park
Stumphouse Tunnel and Issaqueena Falls are about seven miles northwest of Walhalla on Highway 28. It’s open 8:00 am – 8:00 pm during the spring and summer and 8:00 am – 6:00 pm during fall and winter. It’s closed Christmas Day and during inclement weather.
The park entrance fee is $5 per vehicle. Bring cash. There’s also a fee to reserve the picnic shelter. The park doesn’t offer camping or drinking water. However, there are outhouse restrooms onsite. Camping is available nearby at Oconee State Park.
Stumphouse Park
864-638-4343
