Bernie's Falls
Transylvania County, North Carolina
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- Not recorded
- Location
- Transylvania County, North Carolina
- Access status
- Documented unmarked route on national forest land; route finding needed
- The walk
- About 5.5 miles return
- Ground & access
- Old logging roads and unmarked paths with no blazes, two creek crossings, and a steep final descent. Route finding is needed; the legacy page warns this is not for novice hikers.
From US 64 just before Lake Toxaway, drive 6.8 miles north on NC 281 to a pull-off at a gated forest road. Walk the gated FSR 5077 past FSR 5077B (about 1 mile) and FSR 5077A (1.5 miles), staying left on 5077 into an open area and bearing right through a meadow. Rock-hop Miser Creek at about 2 miles, continue to a T-junction and go right past a walnut tree. Just before the track climbs, take a path right across Miser Creek near the top of the falls, go right to an old road, then left to a steep path down to the falls. Return the same way.
Plan your visit
Gated Forest Service Road 5077 from NC 281, then unmarked old roads and paths to Bernies Falls on Miser Creek
Take a Hike gives about 5.5 miles round trip from the NC 281 pull-off. The NC Waterfalls legacy page gives 2.5 to 3 miles one way.
Old logging roads and unmarked paths with no blazes, two creek crossings, and a steep final descent. Route finding is needed; the legacy page warns this is not for novice hikers.
Where to start
Pull-off at a gated forest road on the right side of NC 281, 6.8 miles north of US 64 (GPS 35.19314, -82.95669). Do not block the gate.
Timing & water
Current gate and creek conditions not verified. Creek crossings may be harder in high water.
Before you go
No fee or booking stated. Landowner: Pisgah National Forest, Pisgah Ranger District. The legacy page warns that private property is nearby.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- Mossy Cave FallsTransylvania County, NC0.4 miNE
- John Neal FallsForest road and unofficial logging road with six creek crossingsTransylvania County, NC0.6 miNE
- Double Branch FallsPartial guide: off trail approach with no path; most recent account is from 2017Transylvania County, NC0.9 miN
- Dove FallsTransylvania County, NC1.0 miSW
- Upper Mill ShoalsTransylvania County, NC1.3 miW
- Mill ShoalsTransylvania County, NC1.3 miSW
- Parker Creek FallsJackson County, NC1.7 miNW
- Aunt Sallys Falls33 ft (10 m) · Jackson County, NC1.9 miW
- Lamance Creek FallsTransylvania County, NC2.1 miE