51 Features
National and regional media features and rankings since 2018
Tree City USA
Recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation every year since 2022
9 Straight Years
Recognized by travel and lifestyle publications every year, 2018–2026
Ongoing Designation
Tree City USA Community
Walhalla has been recognized as a Tree City USA Community by the Arbor Day Foundation every year since 2022, reflecting the City’s commitment to planting, caring for, and preserving its urban tree canopy through the work of the Tree & Beautification Committee.
Stumphouse Tunnel and Issaqueena Falls appear throughout the recognitions below and remain two of the most frequently featured destinations in the Upstate. (City of Walhalla photo.)
2026 Recognition (So Far)
2025 Recognition
- This Tiny South Carolina Mountain Town Is Pure Magic – Southern Living
- 12 Best Mountain Towns in South Carolina for Your Next Getaway – Hey Explorer
- South Carolina’s ‘Garden Of The Gods’ Is A Blue Ridge Mountain Trail City Brimming With Southern Charm – Islands
- 8 Off-The-Beaten-Path Towns In The Southern United States – World Atlas
- The Best Small Towns in South Carolina for 2025: 14 Hidden Gems From the Mountains To the Coast – PODS
- 15 Small Towns In South Carolina We’d Move To In A Heartbeat – Southern Living
- Stumphouse Tunnel: A Quirky Stop in South Carolina’s Upstate – Get Lost in the USA
- 10 Charming Mountain Towns In South Carolina That Are Perfect For Wallet-Friendly Day Trips – Family Destinations Guide
- 20 Best South Carolina Mountain Towns To Visit – Jotzle
- Before the blue cheese, the Stumphouse Tunnel railroad almost made Walhalla the center of Upstate – The Post and Courier
- Top 12 South Carolina Towns To Visit – World Atlas
- 10 Safest Cities in South Carolina (2025 Update) – House Grail
- Top 20 Safest Cities in SC – Safewise
- South Carolina’s “Germany” Is An Underrated Blue Ridge Mountains Town – The Travel
- 11 Most Overlooked South Carolina Towns For 2025 – World Atlas
- Your Ultimate Guide to Fall Attractions and Activities in South Carolina – Only In Your State
- The Gorgeous Small Town In South Carolina That’s Straight Out Of A Hallmark Movie – Family Destinations Guide
- 12 Safest Towns In South Carolina For Senior Living – World Atlas
- 12 Most Charming Towns and Villages in South Carolina – Touropia
- A Storybook Mountain Town Rich in History and Nature – We 3 Travel
- 10 Strangest Landmarks in South Carolina – Stumphouse Tunnel – World Atlas
- The 15 Most Charming Small Towns in South Carolina – UMA Technology
- These 8 Towns Are South Carolina’s Best-Kept Secret – World Atlas
- Charming Historic Districts Make These Small Towns Must-See – Discover South Carolina
2024 Recognition
- A Guide to a Delightful Weekend in Old-World Walhalla – Travelling Tam
- 7 Most Beautiful Historic Towns in South Carolina – World Atlas
- Escape the City with a Day Trip to Stumphouse Tunnel – Kidding Around Greenville
- 7 Scenic Small Towns In South Carolina That Are Great Alternatives To Charleston – The Travel
- 7 Breathtaking Towns To Visit In South Carolina – World Atlas
- The 13 Best Small-Town South Carolina Festivals You’ve Never Heard Of – Only In Your State
- Top 20 Safest Cities in SC – Safewise
- Exploring The Hidden Gems: Best Small Towns In South Carolina – Best Small Towns in America
- 11 Friendliest Towns to Visit in South Carolina – World Atlas
- Walhalla, SC Travel Guide – The Modern Travel Guide
2023 Recognition
- The 15 best small towns in SC for 2023, according to Southern Living – The State
- 20 Best Small Towns In South Carolina To Visit – Lost in the Carolinas
- This Walkable Stretch Of Shops And Restaurants In Small-Town South Carolina Is The Perfect Day Trip Destination – Only In Your State
- The Best Small Towns in South Carolina To Chill Out – World Atlas
- 7 Superb Small Towns in South Carolina – Let’s Roam
- Top 10 Safest Cities in SC – Safewise
- 7 Small Towns In South Carolina That Come Alive In The Fall – World Atlas
2022 Recognition
2021 Recognition
2020 Recognition
2019 Recognition
2018 Recognition
[CONFIRM WITH CITY: Imagery: any additional decorative photos for this page should come only from (a) the City’s own photo library, (b) licensed Canva assets under the Shook & Co. or City Canva account, or (c) the Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree City USA member materials. Do not screenshot or download photos from the news articles listed above — those photos belong to the publications and their photographers; only the links to the articles are used here.]