Emily Falls
Polk County, North Carolina
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- Not recorded
- Location
- Polk County, North Carolina
- Access status
- Game land trail; short easy walk
- The walk
- About 0.4 miles each way
- Ground & access
- Easy old road and trail with a short scramble to the base. Rocks are very slippery.
From I-26 Exit 53 (Upward Road) southeast of Hendersonville, go east about 1.5 miles and turn right on Big Hungry Road. Bear left at the first fork and right at the second to stay on Big Hungry Road, and drive a total of about 5.3 miles to a small gravel parking area on the right at the Long Ridge trailhead. Do not block either gate. Take the gated road on the right that leads into a field, not the main gravel Long Ridge Road. In about a quarter mile the road ends at a T-junction with Bishop Branch Trail. Turn left; the trail passes the 12 foot falls and a short scramble path drops to the base and pool.
Plan your visit
Long Ridge trailhead on Big Hungry Road to Emily Falls in Green River Game Land
Waterfall Hero gives a 0.8 mile round trip. Rich Stevenson calls it just over a quarter mile one way.
Easy old road and trail with a short scramble to the base. Rocks are very slippery.
Where to start
Small gravel lot on the right of Big Hungry Road at the Long Ridge trailhead. Published trailhead coordinates: 35.29041, -82.31842. Do not block the gates.
Timing & water
This is a popular hunting area. Rich Stevenson advises avoiding hunting season except Sundays or wearing blaze orange.
Before you go
No fee is mentioned. Green River Game Land, managed by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- Stairstep FallsGame land trails with a creek crossing and steep scramblePolk County, NC0.6 miS
- Loobie FallsPolk County, NC0.7 miS
- Pulliam Creek FallsPartial guide: the last stretch up Pulliam Creek and current game land access are not confirmedPolk County, NC1.3 miSW
- Sunshine FallsGame land trail and extremely steep roped path to the riverPolk County, NC1.3 miSW
- Fishtop FallsPartial: short game land path; access road status after Helene unconfirmedPolk County, NC1.4 miS
- Upper Hungry River FallsRoadside view and short path on Green River Game LandHenderson County, NC2.0 miNW
- Big Bradley FallsWritten approval required; trail organization reports Helene closure75 ft (23 m) · Polk County, NC2.0 miSE
- Lower Hungry River FallsPartial guide: post-Helene route goes down a landslide; conditions last checked late 2024Henderson County, NC2.1 miW
- Game Land FallsPolk County, NC2.1 miNE