Rock Quarry Falls is located in Cleveland Park, right across from Ridgeland at the Park Condos. Rock Quarry Falls is located inside Rock Quarry Garden. You can reach Rock Quarry Falls via the Swamp Rabbit Trail from the parking area near Greenville Zoo. From the Swamp Rabbit Trail it is a ¾- mile walk to reach Rock Quarry Garden. The main entrance to the Rock Quarry Garden is on Sherwood Street at Ridgeland Drive.
When you enter the garden you’ll climb down a staircase. The steps are a little uneven, but easy to navigate. Please use caution after it has rained because any of the stone areas may be slick. The waterfall is located at one end of the park with ribbons of water cascading down a stone wall. The water flows down the middle of the park creating a small creek that leads to a rock bridge crossing the creek is at the other side of the park. Benches can also be found inside the park so you can just sit and appreciate the park’s beauty.
If you don’t know what you’re looking for it is easy to drive right past it. It is a small, but pretty park located in the heart of Greenville 15 feet below the street level and is tucked between two neighborhood streets.
Accessing It from Swamp Rabbit Trail
If you hike the Swamp Rabbit Trail, it is located between the Greenville Zoo and Falls Park. When you are hiking the Swamp Rabbit Trail, look for the airplane by McDaniel Avenue. The park located is at the intersection of McDaniel Avenue, Ridgeland Drive, and Sherwood Street. You can cross at the traffic light. Look for the Ridgeland at the Park sign and the park entrance will be just below street level between the condos and the main road. The hike is easy if you hike it, or you may be able to find a parking place by the side of the road if you’re planning a quick visit.
Rock Quarry Falls is a wet weather waterfall. Unfortunately there hadn’t been much rain recently when we visited. However the park itself was still quite pretty with lots of flowers and a cute bridge that crosses the creek. The garden is a popular wedding location.
Park History
In 1929, the Greenville Garden Club purchased the two acre abandoned pre-Civil War granite rock quarry. The Garden Club planned to preserve and beautify the land. First they removed rocks that were choking off its water source, Town Spring. This created a small creek. Using the extra quarry stones, the Garden Club was able to create a stone bridge and steps leading down into the newly created garden.
It was a city effort to create Rock Quarry Garden with city residents donating thousands of plants and shrubs to help beautify the park. The Rock Quarry Garden was dedicated on Oct. 21, 1932. The Greenville Garden Club and the City of Greenville continue to preserve and maintain the garden.
Nearby Waterfalls
Waterfalls in Greenville include: Falls Park on the Reedy River and Pleasant Ridge Falls. Both of these waterfalls are easy hikes.
Wildcat Branch Falls is comprised of three separate waterfalls and is also known as Wildcat Wayside. The first sections of Wildcat Branch Falls are easy and the third is moderate.
Cedar Falls is located inside Cedar Falls park in Greenville County. The Reedy River at this point widens to over 200 feet, cascading over rocks to create a beautiful and picturesque waterfall.
Historic Bridges Nearby
Campbell’s Covered Bridge – Built in 1909, Campbell’s Covered Bridge is the only remaining covered bridge in the State of South Carolina. The 38 foot long, 12 foot wide bridge that spans Beaverdam Creek was built by Charles Irwin Willis. The bridge is named after Alexander Lafayette Campbell, who operated the grist mill just downstream of the bridge.
Poinsett Bridge – The oldest bridge in South Carolina, completed in 1820, part of the original road connecting Greenville to Asheville. The stone bridge, named after Joel Roberts Poinsett, includes a 14-foot Gothic arch and spans 130 feet over Little Gap Creek.
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