Barnett Branch Trail Falls
Transylvania County, North Carolina
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- Not recorded
- Location
- Transylvania County, North Carolina
- Access status
- Short national forest trail walk to falls
- The walk
- About 0.8 mile return
- Ground & access
- Maintained, easy trail with a gentle climb. Rocks near the falls are very slippery; do not climb the mossy rocks.
From Brevard, take US 276 north 11.7 miles and turn right on gravel Forest Road 1206 (Yellow Gap Road). Go about 1.2 miles to where the blue-blazed Barnett Branch Trail crosses the road and park in the small pull-off. Walk a short way up the road, turn left on the Barnett Branch Trail and climb just over a quarter mile. The waterfall is just off the trail, with a very short side path to the base right before the trail starts switchbacking. Return the same way.
Plan your visit
Barnett Branch Trail (#618) from Forest Road 1206 (Yellow Gap Road) to the waterfall at a switchback
Waterfall Hero Hikes lists a 0.8-mile hike; the trail section to the falls is just over a quarter mile each way plus a short walk on the road. The legacy NC Waterfalls page gives 10 to 15 minutes each way.
Maintained, easy trail with a gentle climb. Rocks near the falls are very slippery; do not climb the mossy rocks.
Where to start
Small pull-off on Forest Road 1206 where the Barnett Branch Trail crosses, about 1.2 to 1.3 miles from US 276. Room for only a couple of vehicles.
Timing & water
The creek is small; the falls can be a trickle in dry weather and are best after rain. Summer leaves block part of the view. Current road conditions not verified.
Before you go
No fee or booking stated. Pisgah National Forest, Pisgah Ranger District. Dogs must be leashed.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
Little Barnett Branch Trail FallsPartial: maintained trail; the sources do not name this upper fallsTransylvania County, NC0.1 miN- Cradle FallsTransylvania County, NC0.5 miNW
- Pigeon Branch FallsPartial guide: off-trail route; the waterfall position is not publishedTransylvania County, NC0.9 miSW
- Poundingmill Branch FallsForest road and unofficial path in Pisgah National ForestTransylvania County, NC1.8 miSW
- Upper Thompson Ridge FallsTransylvania County, NC2.0 miNE
- Lower Thompson Ridge FallsTransylvania County, NC2.1 miNE
- Bullpen Cove FallsHaywood County, NC2.2 miW
- No-Name Cove FallsSide path and faint path; scramble to the upper baseTransylvania County, NC2.2 miSW
- Billy Branch FallsGated forest road and riverside trail; unmarked side path at the endTransylvania County, NC2.3 miSE