HIGHLIGHTS:  The Chattooga River Trail is a forty mile route that borders the states of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia and follows the banks of the Chattooga National Wild And Scenic River from Burrell's Ford to US 76.  This hike follows the Chattooga to Lick Log Creek Falls which is located just below Thrift Lake.  The route is an easy one that follows the river upstream using both the Chattooga River and Bartram Trails.  There are numerous campsites along the water and by the trail near the base of the falls.  This is an easy hike with very little elevation change.  (Note: The Foothills Trail intersects with the Bartram and Chattooga River Trails at Lick Log Creek.)

The trail to Lick Log Creek Falls is an in-and-out backtrack hike that begins at Russell Bridge along South Carolina Highway 28 and follows the banks of the Chattooga River for roughly 4.5 miles. Watch the route carefully as you leave the parking area, however, since the trail begins by veering to the right and makes a mild 200-foot climb over a small ridge in the process. It is easier and more tempting to keep walking straight on a side path beaten down by trout fisherman, but this route is a dead-end that stops abruptly at the water’s edge. Instead, follow the black blazes of the Chattooga River Trail as it loops around Brack Hill, which can be seen across the water.

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