Wildcat Wayside

Wildcat Wayside is a part of the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area near Cleveland, South Carolina, and is located alongside on Highway 11. It consists of an 100-foot upper falls, a 10-foot middle falls, and a 30-foot falls and ends in a large shallow swimming hole with easy access to the roadside parking lot. There are carved stone stairs that make the trails more accessible to those who wish to see the upper and middle waterfalls.

While the swimming hole is easily accessible from the road, the loop trail to the upper falls is approximately 1 mile and is good for all skill levels. Hiking to the falls upstream on the Wildcat Branch Creek can be rewarding; in addition to gaining views of the falls and the lush forest, you'll pass the foundations of an old shelter that was built by the Civilian Conservatoin Corps when this park was designated Greenville Wayside Park. You can continue beyond the middle falls toward the upper falls, but definitely stop at the bottom of the upper falls for your views. State park authorities have closed the trail to the top of the upper falls due to accidents involving people who tried to climb to the crest of the waterfall.

During the summer, large crowds gather on weekends and fill the multiple parking areas, but weekdays are much less congested.