QUICK TRAIL FACTS
- Preserve Size: N/A
- Trail Mileage: 1.2 miles one way
- Pets: yes
- Difficulty: easy
- Sights: waterfall
By Tom Ancona
The hike to Indian Stream Falls is a great one if you’re in the Greenville area and looking for a manageable hike with a scenic destination that’s accessible to hikers young and old alike. The trailhead is located just over 20 minutes east of Greenville and the hike itself is only 2.4 miles round trip, with gentle down and ups along the one-way path.
From the parking area off Morkill Road, the trail goes straight back, crossing an active railroad line at 0.3 miles and continuing through a variety of brushy and more established forest. There aren’t many trail markings aside from some flagging tape in a few spots and a few small cairns in more open areas. But the trail is well beaten down, even in more overgrown places.
The trail heads mainly south for the first mile with a mix of cut-back trees, slightly open areas, and then very overgrown small trees. Someone had been in here somewhat recently with loppers trimming branches in a few places, but I recommend long pants and long sleeves unless you don’t mind walking through small conifers. Just around the mile mark, the trail takes a sharp left and heads down into the Indian Stream watershed. From here, it’s only a short walk to the falls. The falls splash over a beautiful ledge and are anywhere from 50 feet to 80 feet from top to bottom (based on different reports). We visited in the midst of a drought and they were still pretty, but I can imagine that in the spring or after a good storm they’d be very impressive. The water rushes over a jumble of rocks, so it’s not too conducive to wading or swimming—but it is a great sight.
Directions: From downtown Greenville, take Pleasant Street up past the airport and Wilson Pond. Pleasant Street turns into the KI road. At 6.2 miles from downtown, turn right off the KI road onto the Morkill Road. You’ll be on the Morkill Road for 2.7 miles total, but about 1.6 miles in the road will basically turn left. 1.1 miles after that turn, the parking area will be on your right, about 50 yards off the road.
