Clear Creek Falls

From downtown Hayesville, take Tusquitee Road (SR 1307) 10.3 miles to the end of the pavement and continue on the dirt road, which needs a high-clearance vehicle. At 3.25 miles from the pavement the road fords Clear Creek, passes an open area with an old house and RVs, fords a smaller stream, and a quarter mile later reaches a gated road cutting back to the right with a single parking space on the left. Walk the old road beyond the gate, cross Stephens Branch, and follow Clear Creek down. At about 0.5 miles cross an open field on its left side, re-enter the woods past a campsite, pick up another old road and, less than 0.2 miles from the field, take the path to the right toward the creek. Pass a small waterfall and continue downstream to the 35 foot Clear Creek Falls; the descent to the base is very steep. Kevin Adams prefers the lake approach: paddle Nantahala Lake to the Clear Creek cove, where a path on the right bank (facing downstream) goes a little over 0.1 miles to the falls. This is a partial guide: the ownership of the gate and parking spot is not stated, and the road requires high clearance.