Briefcase Falls
Henderson County, North Carolina
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- Not recorded
- Location
- Henderson County, North Carolina
- Access status
- Partial guide: bushwhack finish, hiker parking permission uncertain, storm damage unverified
- The walk
- Under half a mile return; about 100 yards on an old road, a steep side path to Case Falls, then a short bushwhack downstream. Measured distance unknown.
- Ground & access
- Old road, then a steep faint path and a short bushwhack with abundant poison ivy. No trail to the falls itself. Rocks are slippery.
Briefcase Falls is a steep 15-foot sliding cascade on a Hungry River tributary in Green River Game Land, just downstream of Case Falls. NC Waterfalls describes entering the woods on the gated old road opposite the kayaker lot, walking about 100 yards to a faint side path in a left curve, and descending to Case Falls; Briefcase Falls is reached by leaving that path before the rhododendron and following the easiest line down. Lower Briefcase Falls is a few yards farther. The author has not returned since Tropical Storm Helene (2024) and says the area was severely affected, so the waterfall may look different.
Plan your visit
Gallimore Road turnaround to Case Falls path and bushwhack down to Briefcase Falls
NC Waterfalls gives 100 yards on the old road to the side path, then a steep descent to Case Falls and a short trail-less stretch downstream to Briefcase Falls. No measured total is published; the return figure is an estimate from those pieces.
Old road, then a steep faint path and a short bushwhack with abundant poison ivy. No trail to the falls itself. Rocks are slippery.
Where to start
Gallimore Road ends at a turnaround 0.6 miles from Big Hungry Road; NC Waterfalls says there is room to park along the outside of the curve. The large gated lot in the field is for fee-paying kayakers. The author believes the turnaround is acceptable for hikers but is not certain; hiker parking permission is not confirmed by the land manager.
Timing & water
Post-Helene conditions are unverified; the source has not revisited since the 2024 storm. Poison ivy is heavy in the growing season.
Before you go
Green River Game Land (N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission). No fee or reservation is reported for hikers. Hunting seasons apply on game lands.
Visitor informationMore waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- Case FallsPartial guide: hiker parking at the turnaround is not confirmed and post-storm conditions are unreportedHenderson County, NC0.0 miNW
- Lower Hungry River FallsPartial guide: post-Helene route goes down a landslide; conditions last checked late 2024Henderson County, NC0.3 miNE
- Upper Hungry River FallsRoadside view and short path on Green River Game LandHenderson County, NC0.9 miNE
- Pulliam Creek FallsPartial guide: the last stretch up Pulliam Creek and current game land access are not confirmedPolk County, NC1.2 miSE
- Sunshine FallsGame land trail and extremely steep roped path to the riverPolk County, NC1.2 miSE
- Edge of the World FallsHenderson County, NC1.7 miSW
- Emily FallsGame land trail; short easy walkPolk County, NC2.2 miE
- Fishtop FallsPartial: short game land path; access road status after Helene unconfirmedPolk County, NC2.3 miSE
- Stairstep FallsGame land trails with a creek crossing and steep scramblePolk County, NC2.5 miE