About this spot
Big Bend Falls marks the largest single drop on the Wild & Scenic Chattooga River, at a dramatic hairpin bend in Sumter National Forest near the SC/GA line. It's reached by a demanding ~3.2-mile (one way) hike along the Chattooga Trail from Burrell's Ford Campground. The 15-30ft drop empties into sandy-shored, deep swimming holes; multiple waterfall guides and a dedicated 'Swimming Big Bend Falls' video document it as a real summer swimming destination on the river. No established jumping culture is documented. The hazard here is the river itself: high-volume flow, currents and depth shift quickly after rain, wet boulders are treacherous, and a high cliff beside the falls should not be climbed. Public national forest, no fee, but remote.
Safety first. Cliff jumping is inherently dangerous and can cause serious injury or death. Conditions — water depth, submerged hazards, and access — change constantly. CliffScout is community-sourced reference information, not a guarantee a spot is safe. Always assess the conditions yourself before jumping, and never jump where you're unsure. You assume all risk.