Herrin Knob Falls
Jackson County, North Carolina
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- Not recorded
- Location
- Jackson County, North Carolina
- Access status
- National forest; short road walk then off-trail bushwhack
- The walk
- About 0.5 miles each way
- Ground & access
- Old logging road, then an off-trail bushwhack through fairly open forest. One creek crossing. Rocks near the falls are very slippery.
From Brevard take US 64 west about 8 miles and turn right on NC 215 north. After about 14 miles turn left on gravel Forest Road 4663 (from the Blue Ridge Parkway it is 2.5 to 2.7 miles south on NC 215, on the right). Drive about 2.9 miles on FR 4663 (sources give 2.5 to 3 miles) and park just after the road crosses Tanasee Creek. Walk back across the bridge and follow an old logging road upstream on the left bank of Tanasee Creek (facing downstream), which is on your right as you walk upstream. After about a quarter mile the old road crosses the creek and turns away from it. Leave the road there and bushwhack upstream on the other bank about another quarter mile to the 20 to 25 foot falls. There is no trail for the last part.
Plan your visit
Pull-off on Forest Road 4663 at the Tanasee Creek crossing, old logging road upstream, then off-trail upstream to the falls
Take a Hike gives about a mile round trip. Waterfall Hero lists a hike length of 0.6 miles. Both describe about 0.2 to 0.25 miles on an old logging road and about 0.25 miles of bushwhacking.
Old logging road, then an off-trail bushwhack through fairly open forest. One creek crossing. Rocks near the falls are very slippery.
Where to start
Roadside on Forest Road 4663 just past the Tanasee Creek bridge. Published trailhead coordinates: 35.29257, -82.94023.
Timing & water
A 2017 visitor account says Forest Road 4663 is closed during the winter months and that a gate is 0.6 miles from NC 215. Check with the Nantahala Ranger District for the road status.
Before you go
No fee is mentioned in the sources read. Nantahala National Forest.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- Upper Dill FallsShort steep path from the end of a seasonal forest roadJackson County, NC0.9 miS
- Dill FallsShort old-road walk from a seasonal forest road; three firsthand sources agreeJackson County, NC0.9 miS
- Upper Buckeye FallsHaywood County, NC1.1 miN
- Mount Hardy FallsUnblazed wilderness trail and short bushwhack; needs high water98 ft (30 m) · Haywood County, NC1.2 miNE
- Yellow Patch FallsPartial guide: the last part is an off-trail descent near cliffsJackson County, NC1.3 miW
- Sheephead FallsHaywood County, NC1.3 miN
- Wolf Mountain FallsPartial: forest road, then a steep off-trail descentJackson County, NC1.4 miW
- Upper Wolf Mountain FallsJackson County, NC1.4 miW
- Upper Bubbling Spring Branch FallsNational forest; short creekside path with several crossingsHaywood County, NC1.5 miE