WaterfallNear Me

Cliff Branch Falls

Swain County, North Carolina

Your visit at a glance

Waterfall height
Not recorded
Location
Swain County, North Carolina
Access status
Roadside view on Newfound Gap Road with a narrow pullout
The walk
Roadside view; no walk
Ground & access
Roadside. A narrow pullout is on the Oconaluftee River side of the road, opposite the falls; crossing the highway on foot is at your own risk.
NC Waterfalls: Cliff Branch Falls, Smokies

Cliff Branch Falls is a steep cascading falls about 18 feet high beside Newfound Gap Road (US 441) in Great Smoky Mountains National Park north of Cherokee. NC Waterfalls says it is 6.45 miles north of Oconaluftee Visitor Center and 3.35 miles north of Smokemont Campground; if your car is pointed north, look out the driver side window. It is pretty in spring and after rain and unremarkable at normal flow.

Plan your visit

Newfound Gap Road roadside view of Cliff Branch Falls

NC Waterfalls lists both hike difficulty and distance as a roadside view. The 6.45 and 3.35 mile figures are road distances from Oconaluftee Visitor Center and Smokemont Campground, not walking distances.

Roadside. A narrow pullout is on the Oconaluftee River side of the road, opposite the falls; crossing the highway on foot is at your own risk.

Where to start

Narrow pullout on the river side of US 441 opposite the waterfall; parking GPS 35.58148, -83.35101 per NC Waterfalls.

Timing & water

Best in spring and after a good rain. Newfound Gap Road can close in winter weather.

Before you go

Great Smoky Mountains National Park. A parking tag is required for vehicles parked more than 15 minutes in the park; check the park website for current rules.

Visitor information
Visit sources

More waterfalls nearby

Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.

Explore North Carolina

Waterfall location

Swain County, North Carolina.

Open location map