Hiking Project Logo

A challenge to get to, but the trail is short and there are to two amazing little falls along the way.


Your Rating: Rating Rating Rating Rating Rating      Clear Rating
Your Difficulty:
Your Favorites: Add To-Do · Your List
Zoom in to see details
Map Key

0.9

Miles

1.5

KM

Point to Point

1,710' 521 m

High

1,565' 477 m

Low

129' 39 m

Up

148' 45 m

Down

6%

Avg Grade (3°)

29%

Max Grade (16°)

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Cave · Fall Colors · River/Creek · Waterfall · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Need to Know

Please practice Leave No Trace... Sadly, there are a few signs of people around like food wrappers and plastic bags.

Description

The trail is off of Naturaland Trust Trail #14 and is in a pretty leveled area for a fairly easy hike. When I was there, there was a stack of rocks at the trailhead and an information board shortly up the trail.

Use Naturaland Trust Trail #14 to access the Moonshine and Confusion Falls Trail. A wooden sign in a tree will point you to Moonshine Falls along a smaller trail. The next short section, a singletrack, can be steep going down to the falls but is manageable if you take your time—plus there is a cable installed to use as a railing. Once down maybe 40 feet or so, the trail will level out by the falls. You can hike under the rock overhang where some old moonshine barrels still remain. What is also unique about these falls is you can hike behind the falls while remaining (mostly) dry.

Near where you came down the hill will be another sign pointing to Confusion Falls further down the creek. The easiest way to access Confusion Falls, about 0.25 miles down, is by following the trail, crossing the creek a few times as it hugs the bank. This route is less steep and pretty friendly. Confusion Falls is not as tall as Moonshine Falls but is unique in that it is formed from two different creeks, making two falls almost look like one as they pour into one shallow pool. You can sit and enjoy a snack, lunch or possibly cool off with a dip during the hot summer.

The easiest way back out from Confusion Falls is following the same trail you followed in from Moonshine Falls. The other option, the last 0.2 mile of mapped track provided here, is the old way and it is a really steep climb back uphill with no cable assistance.

Flora & Fauna

Oak, hickory, flowering dogwood, rhododendron, ferns, flowers, and mosses all grow in this area.

Animals in the area include black bears, white-tailed deer, reptiles, amphibians, wild turkey, wood peckers, warblers, eastern blue birds, and spring migratory songbirds to name a few. Brook, rainbow, and brown trout can be found in the rivers.

Contacts

Shared By:

Mark P...

Trail Ratings

  4.3 from 3 votes

#10232

Overall
  4.3 from 3 votes
5 Star
33%
4 Star
67%
3 Star
0%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#10,232

Overall
6 Views Last Month
1,084 Since Nov 5, 2018
Difficult Difficult

0%
0%
0%
0%
100%
0%

Photos

Confusion Falls, shortly down river from Moonshine Falls (left Falls here), is unique in that it is made up of 2 water sources almost looking like 1 falling into shallow pool. Spend a little time to enjoy, looks like many have. Use same path out, easier.
Dec 2, 2018 near Slater-…, SC
You can stay dry walking under and behind the 40 foot high Moonshine Falls which is rare.
Dec 2, 2018 near Slater-…, SC
Behind the 40 foot Moonshine Falls, the water flows over your head dropping into a small pool before heading down being part of Confusion Falls.
Dec 2, 2018 near Slater-…, SC
Moonshine Cave / overhang of Moonshine Falls with possible old moonshine barrels some say and is one of the few waterfalls you can walk behind staying dry. Little hard to see the actual falls on the right in this picture with the light hitting them.
Dec 2, 2018 near Slater-…, SC
Accessing Moonshine Falls and Confusion Falls themselves from the trail in, will have steep sections assisted by recently installed cable (from what I was told) to hold onto during descent or climbing back out to help be easier and navigating to falls.
Dec 2, 2018 near Slater-…, SC

0 Comments

Weather


Current Trail Conditions

Unknown
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Join the Community

Create your FREE account today!
Already have an account? Login to close this notice.

Get Started.