Berry Branch Falls
Haywood County, North Carolina
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- Not recorded
- Location
- Haywood County, North Carolina
- Access status
- Forest road walk then off-trail; final approach not described in detail
- The walk
- About 1.8 miles one way, 3.6 miles return, including off-trail travel
- Ground & access
- Moderate road walk and trail, then an off-trail scramble between drainages. Very slippery rocks.
Berry Branch Falls is a 15-foot falls on Berry Branch next to Little Beartrap Falls, just outside the Middle Prong Wilderness in Pisgah National Forest. Park at the FR 97 gate about a quarter mile from NC 215. Walk FR 97 about 1.5 miles to the second switchback, then follow FR 97H upstream along Middle Prong. In under a quarter mile the trail crosses Little Beartrap Falls. From there the source says to climb down and cross to the next drainage to see Berry Branch Falls. That last part is off-trail and not described in detail.
Plan your visit
Forest Road 97 gate off NC 215 near Sunburst Campground, walk FR 97 about 1.5 miles to the second switchback, FR 97H upstream to Little Beartrap Falls, then off-trail to the next drainage for Berry Branch Falls
Waterfall Hero gives a 3.6-mile hike for Little Beartrap Falls and Berry Branch Falls together. The one-way figure is half of that. The off-trail part to Berry Branch is not measured.
Moderate road walk and trail, then an off-trail scramble between drainages. Very slippery rocks.
Where to start
Park at the gate on FR 97 about a quarter mile from NC 215, just after the ford. If the gate is open, you may drive about half way.
Timing & water
Gate status on FR 97 varies.
Before you go
No fee mentioned.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- Little Beartrap FallsGated forest roads; view from the old road crossingHaywood County, NC0.1 miNW
- Lower Middle Prong FallsPartial guide: steep off-trail finish; sources call this waterfall Middle Prong FallsHaywood County, NC0.3 miSE
- Upper Middle Prong FallsPartial guide: route is to Middle Prong Falls as a whole; the exact upper drop is not identifiedHaywood County, NC0.3 miSE
- Big Beartrap FallsDocumented wilderness approach; last half mile on a steep unofficial pathHaywood County, NC0.9 miSW
- Boomer Inn FallsHaywood County, NC1.6 miNW
- Little Bird FallsWilderness path; very short walk from NC 215Haywood County, NC1.9 miE
- Buckeye FallsPartial: wilderness trail then an off-trail creek walk66 ft (20 m) · Haywood County, NC2.0 miS
- Sunburst FallsRoadside view from an NC 215 pullout in Pisgah National ForestHaywood County, NC2.7 miSE
- Sheephead FallsHaywood County, NC2.9 miS