Camp Branch Falls
Macon County, North Carolina
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- Not recorded
- Location
- Macon County, North Carolina
- Access status
- Short old-road walk from a gated forest road
- The walk
- About 0.6 mile return (Waterfall Hero hike length for both falls)
- Ground & access
- Old roadbed and a short side path; rocks around the falls are slippery.
Camp Branch Falls is a 10-foot falls with a pool on a tributary of Wayah Creek in Nantahala National Forest near Wayah Bald, not the larger Camp Branch Falls on the Nantahala River. From the gate on FR 316, where the road turns right to cross Camp Branch on a bridge, go straight on an old road up the right bank (facing downstream), pass two old explosives magazines in under 0.2 mile, cross a tributary, and take the side path on the right down to the falls. Upper Camp Branch Falls is about a hundred feet farther on the main trail and is covered in fallen timber.
Plan your visit
FR 316 gate off Wayah Road to Camp Branch Falls
Waterfall Hero lists the hike at 0.6 miles for Camp Branch Falls and Upper Camp Branch Falls together; the lower falls side path comes after under 0.2 mile plus a tributary crossing.
Old roadbed and a short side path; rocks around the falls are slippery.
Where to start
Waterfall Hero: from Franklin take US 64 west 3.5 miles past US 441, right on Patton Road 0.3 mile, left on Wayah Road 5.3 miles, right on FR 316 for 0.1 mile to the gate and park. Trailhead GPS 35.16512, -83.54069.
Timing & water
Open year round. A winter view of the falls and a cave above it is noted from the main trail.
Before you go
Nantahala National Forest. No fee or reservation is reported.
Visitor informationMore waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- Upper Camp Branch FallsShort old-road walk in Nantahala National ForestMacon County, NC0.0 miNW
- Crawford Cove FallsMacon County, NC1.5 miW
- Rufus Morgan WaterfallNational forest loop trail; seasonal forest road60 ft (18.3 m) · Macon County, NC1.8 miS
- Shot Pouch FallsShort walk on a gated forest roadMacon County, NC1.8 miW
- Indian Camp Creek FallsNational forest; unmaintained path with creek fordsMacon County, NC3.9 miN
- Factory Branch FallsMacon County, NC5.1 miSW
- Ray Cove FallsVery short walk on the Bartram TrailMacon County, NC6.1 miE
- Clear Creek FallsPartial: rough road and gate; permission not stated; lake route alternativeClay County, NC6.7 miW
- Nantahala CascadesRoadside parking; short steep pathMacon County, NC7.8 miNW