Balsam Falls
Jackson County, North Carolina
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- Not recorded
- Location
- Jackson County, North Carolina
- Access status
- Published route on national forest land; unofficial final path
- The walk
- A little over 0.5 mile (source figure)
- Ground & access
- Rough, ungraded unofficial path and a steep scramble to the base. Deep pool.
From the Balsam Lake Recreation Area trailhead on Charleys Creek Road, cross Wolf Creek on the footbridge and follow the trail to Balsam Lake Dam. At the dam an obvious but unofficial path heads downstream to Balsam Falls, a 25-foot two-tier waterfall. A short, steep scramble path drops to the base and pool.
Plan your visit
Balsam Lake Recreation Area footbridge, dam, then unofficial path downstream
NCWaterfalls.com lists hike distance as a little over 0.5 miles; it does not say whether that is one way or return.
Rough, ungraded unofficial path and a steep scramble to the base. Deep pool.
Where to start
Balsam Lake Recreation Area on Charleys Creek Road (SR 1756): 5.3 miles from NC 215 (turn 3.2 miles south of the Blue Ridge Parkway), or 5.4 miles from NC 281. Trailhead GPS per source: 35.272925, -82.969369.
Timing & water
National forest roads and trails in western North Carolina have had Helene-related closures; the USFS alerts page refers visitors to its Helene Information page for a full list. Current status of this route unverified.
Before you go
No fee or reservation found in reviewed sources.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- Lower Balsam FallsUnofficial path with a creek crossing; difficultJackson County, NC0.0 miS
- Patricia FallsDifficult unofficial creek paths from a Forest Service recreation areaJackson County, NC0.1 miS
- Lauren FallsDifficult unofficial creek paths from a Forest Service recreation areaJackson County, NC0.2 miS
- Charley Bridge FallsRoadside falls with a very steep scramble to the base, one firsthand accountJackson County, NC0.9 miW
- Cathey Gap FallsJackson County, NC1.3 miSE
- Rocky Knob FallsJackson County, NC1.5 miNW
- Charley Creek FallsJackson County, NC1.5 miNW
- Tanasee Creek FallsPartial guide: no maintained trail; creek walk and wade described by one sourceJackson County, NC1.8 miSE
- Gage Creek FallsShort old-road walk documented by one firsthand source with GPSJackson County, NC1.8 miN