Handpole Branch Falls
Graham County, North Carolina
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- Not recorded
- Location
- Graham County, North Carolina
- Access status
- Partial: very difficult, trail ends above the falls
- The walk
- About 2.2 miles return
- Ground & access
- Very difficult. Steep trail, overgrown old road, creek crossings and a dangerous scramble to any view.
From Bryson City, take US 74 West/US 19 South about 16.4 miles into the Nantahala Gorge and turn right into a small picnic parking area. A path crosses the railroad tracks to the yellow-blazed Bartram Trail. Turn left and cross Ledbetter Creek (the bridge had washed out when the source visited), then climb steeply about 0.8 miles. Near the top of the ridge, turn left on an overgrown old road that descends to Handpole Branch, crosses it a couple of times and fades out. Bushwhack a short way downstream to the top of the falls, where a tributary adds a small waterfall. Climbing down to a viewpoint is extremely difficult. This is a partial guide: the end of the route has no trail and no safe described view of the whole waterfall.
Plan your visit
US 19/74 picnic pulloff in the Nantahala Gorge, Bartram Trail up the ridge, then an old road and bushwhack to the top of Handpole Branch Falls
Waterfall Hero gives a 2.2 mile round trip, rated very difficult.
Very difficult. Steep trail, overgrown old road, creek crossings and a dangerous scramble to any view.
Where to start
Small picnic parking area on US 19/74 in the Nantahala Gorge. Published trailhead coordinates: 35.28261, -83.67382.
Timing & water
Ledbetter Creek crossing without a bridge when the source visited.
Before you go
No fee is mentioned. Cheoah Backcountry Area, Nantahala National Forest.
Visitor informationMore waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- Inside Passage FallsPartial: faint path and creekwalk; railroad crossing permission not statedGraham County, NC0.4 miNE
- Ledbetter Canyon FallsGraham County, NC0.5 miNE
- The NotchGraham County, NC0.6 miN
- Bartram FallsNational forest trail with creek crossingsGraham County, NC1.6 miN
- Camp Branch FallsRoadside view across the river documented; winter viewing recommendedMacon County, NC2.5 miSE
- Nelsons FallsMacon County, NC2.8 miS
- Jagged Rock FallsRoadside view near a forest road pull-offMacon County, NC3.1 miSE
- The Cascades on NantahalaRoadside pull-off with a short paved pathMacon County, NC3.1 miSE
- Whiteoak FallsNational forest; roadside parking and a very short pathMacon County, NC3.2 miSE