Falling Water Branch Falls

Yancey County, North Carolina

Your visit at a glance

Waterfall height: Not recorded
Location: Yancey County, North Carolina
Access status: Partial guide: no built trail, steep overgrown grades, route uncertain after Helene, parking not formalized
The walk: About 1.2 miles return
Ground & access: Old roads and overgrown mining or logging grades, very steep, with loose rock near the falls. The author says the route changed after a 2017 visit and cannot be certain it is the best way, and that Helene severely affected the branch.

NCWaterfalls.com: Falling Water Branch Falls

From the gated old road 12.2 miles from US 19E on NC 197 and Ewart Wilson Road, walk 200 feet to a powerline field, cross it angling left and pick up an old road into the woods (GPS 35.806083, -82.313633). Continue straight past a road on the right; in another tenth of a mile the road reaches Falling Water Branch. About 100 feet before the creek a narrow, overgrown, steep grade climbs beside the creek. Follow it up, cross another old road rather than turning down to the creek, and keep climbing the very steep grade to a clear view of the lower section of the 130-foot cascade. To reach the lower drop you must descend a slope of loose, shifting rock with poison ivy. Return the same way.

Plan your visit

Gated road off Ewart Wilson Road and old mining grades to Falling Water Branch Falls, Mount Mitchell State Park

NCWaterfalls.com gives approximately 0.6 miles one way.

Old roads and overgrown mining or logging grades, very steep, with loose rock near the falls. The author says the route changed after a 2017 visit and cannot be certain it is the best way, and that Helene severely affected the branch.

Where to start

Beside the old gated road on the left of Ewart Wilson Road, about 12.2 miles from US 19E in Burnsville via NC 197 (continue straight where NC 197 turns right at Murchison). Trailhead GPS 35.807177, -82.313412. The source does not describe a formal parking area.

Timing & water

Park hours in October are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. November through February. This part of the park has no built trail; the author hopes the park will construct one.

Before you go

NC State Parks says there are no fees to access Mount Mitchell State Park for day use.

Visitor information

Visit sources

More waterfalls nearby

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

Explore North Carolina

Waterfall location

Yancey County, North Carolina.

Open location map