Dismal Falls
Jackson County, North Carolina
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- 131 ft (40 m)
- Location
- Jackson County, North Carolina
- Access status
- Unofficial, unmaintained route with ropes documented by two accounts; very strenuous
- The walk
- About 4 to 5 miles return
- Ground & access
- Muddy old road, several creek crossings, a river crossing on rocks, then an unmaintained, extremely steep path with ropes and rock scrambling. Both accounts warn that rescue would be very slow here.
From the Forest Service gate at the end of a short unnamed road off NC 281 (Waterfall Hero names it Winding Gap Road), follow the old road, crossing several small branches, under power lines at about 1 mile, to the West Fork French Broad River. Cross on rocks and climb an unmaintained path past Lower Rhapsodie Falls and Rhapsodie Falls. Above Rhapsodie Falls the path climbs the ridge, then descends very steeply, with ropes in places, to Dismal Creek at the base of Dismal Falls. Return the same way.
Plan your visit
West Fork French Broad gate to Dismal Falls
Rich Stevenson gives 4 to 5 miles round trip for the whole outing that visits Aunt Sallys, Lower Rhapsodie, Rhapsodie, Lower Dismal and Dismal Falls; Dismal Falls is the farthest point, so the figure is close to the Dismal Falls round trip. Segment markers from that account: about 0.5 mile to the Aunt Sallys side path, 1 mile to the power lines, then the river crossing and the steep climb.
Muddy old road, several creek crossings, a river crossing on rocks, then an unmaintained, extremely steep path with ropes and rock scrambling. Both accounts warn that rescue would be very slow here.
Where to start
From US 64 at Lake Toxaway, drive NC 281 north 6.2 miles and turn left on an unnamed road that also serves the Trails Carolina camp; stay right on the one lane track to the small parking area at the Forest Service gate.
Timing & water
Open year round. Flagging tape may be present but is not reliable. Rich Stevenson's last report is from August 2018 and Waterfall Hero's from June 2015; conditions after Tropical Storm Helene are not reported.
Before you go
No fee reported. National forest land.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- Lower Dismal FallsUnmaintained trail with steep sections and a boulder climb at the endJackson County, NC0.1 miNE
- Rhapsodie FallsUnmaintained but obvious path with a river crossing and a very steep climb66 ft (20 m) · Jackson County, NC0.3 miN
- Lower Rhapsodie FallsUnmaintained trail with a river rock hopJackson County, NC0.4 miN
- Laurel Blossom FallsJackson County, NC0.5 miE
- Diamond FallsJackson County, NC0.5 miE
- Big Pisgah FallsJackson County, NC0.6 miNE
- Aunt Sallys Falls33 ft (10 m) · Jackson County, NC1.0 miNE
- Devil's Canyon FallsTransylvania County, NC1.2 miSE
- Stillhouse FallsTransylvania County, NC1.3 miSE