WaterfallNear Me

Hilliard Falls

Transylvania County, North Carolina

Your visit at a glance

Waterfall height
Not recorded
Location
Transylvania County, North Carolina
Access status
Long backcountry trail hike; about 12 miles return
The walk
About 6 miles each way
Ground & access
Long day hike with climbs and descents on a backcountry trail. Footbridges at the main river crossings.
Take a Hike NC: Waterfalls A-D, Bearcamp (Hilliard) Falls

From Lake Toxaway take US 64/NC 281 about 2.5 miles, then NC 281 south about nine miles into South Carolina. Just past the state line turn left on Bad Creek Road into the Duke Energy station; the older guide says the gate opens automatically. After about 2 miles turn left to the Foothills Trail parking. Walk the Bad Creek Spur Trail 0.7 miles to the Foothills Trail at the Whitewater River and turn right after the footbridges toward the Thompson River. Follow the white blazes past the Lower Whitewater Falls spur, into North Carolina, across the Thompson River on a footbridge, over a ridge and down a gated gravel road to the Bearcamp Creek footbridge. Just across the bridge, turn left on the marked spur to the base of the falls, also called Bearcamp Falls.

Plan your visit

Foothills Trail parking at Bad Creek (South Carolina), Bad Creek Spur Trail and Foothills Trail east across the Thompson River, spur trail to the falls on Bearcamp Creek

Take a Hike gives about 12 miles round trip. The older NC Waterfalls page gives 5 to 6 miles one way: 0.7 miles of spur trail, 2.7 miles on the Foothills Trail to the Thompson River bridge, 2.2 miles more to the marked spur, and less than a quarter mile on the spur.

Long day hike with climbs and descents on a backcountry trail. Footbridges at the main river crossings.

Where to start

Foothills Trail parking inside the Bad Creek property, South Carolina. Published trailhead coordinates: 35.01242, -82.99915.

Timing & water

Plan a full day. Current Foothills Trail conditions were not confirmed.

Before you go

No fee is mentioned in the sources read. Take a Hike says the falls are on private land just outside Pisgah National Forest where public access is allowed via the Foothills Trail. Read the signs at the Bad Creek gate.

Visitor information
Visit sources

More waterfalls nearby

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

Explore North Carolina

Waterfall location

Transylvania County, North Carolina.

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