John's Jump
Transylvania County, North Carolina
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- Not recorded
- Location
- Transylvania County, North Carolina
- Access status
- Short unofficial path from a roadside pull-off; two firsthand sources agree
- The walk
- Very short, steep path; no measured distance published
- Ground & access
- Steep, unmarked path; hold on to rhododendron. Wading needed for the frontal view.
From the north end of the grassy parking area, enter the woods on an unmarked path you can hear the falls from. It goes down the right side of Mill Creek to the base of the 25-foot falls, with rhododendron to hold on the way down. For an open front view you must push through brush or wade the creek. Return the same way, uphill.
Plan your visit
Grassy pull-off on NC 281 to the base of John's Jump on Mill Creek
Neither source measures the path. The legacy account calls it a semi-steep climb down beside the road; Take a Hike calls it a short, but steep trail.
Steep, unmarked path; hold on to rhododendron. Wading needed for the frontal view.
Where to start
From US 64 at Lake Toxaway, take NC 281 south about 5 miles, past Gorges State Park, to a grassy area on the left, less than 0.1 mile past the D.E.W. Falls trailhead. It is not an official parking area. If you reach Whitewater Church Road you have gone too far.
Timing & water
The legacy account dates from June 2013; current conditions unverified.
Before you go
Current fees and reservation requirements unknown.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- DEW FallsNational forest; very short walk from a roadside gateTransylvania County, NC0.1 miNW
- Slippery Witch FallsTransylvania County, NC0.3 miW
- Tumblin' Fun FallsTransylvania County, NC0.5 miNE
- Joe Pack FallsPartial: off-trail river route; parking and distance not statedTransylvania County, NC0.7 miN
- High FallsGated old road and unofficial side trail; river wade for the best view49 ft (15 m) · Transylvania County, NC0.8 miE
- Bestos FallsTransylvania County, NC0.8 miN
- Twin FallsPartial guide: private land; only a view of the top from a public road bridge; no parking describedTransylvania County, NC0.8 miN
- White Owl FallsShort roadside scramble path in national forest; wade for the best view13 ft (4 m) · Transylvania County, NC0.8 miNE
- Hidden Dome FallsNational forest; river ford and off-trail route, very difficultTransylvania County, NC1.1 miSE