Little Beartrap Falls
Haywood County, North Carolina
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- Not recorded
- Location
- Haywood County, North Carolina
- Access status
- Gated forest roads; view from the old road crossing
- The walk
- About 3.6 miles return from the lower gate
- Ground & access
- Gated forest roads, a ford on the drive in, and steep, slippery rock if you leave the road to see more of the falls.
Little Beartrap Falls is a waterfall in sections on Little Beartrap Branch, a tributary of the Middle Prong West Fork Pigeon River, just outside Middle Prong Wilderness. From NC 215 just past Sunburst Campground, turn into FR 97 and park at the gate about a quarter mile in, just after the ford. Walk FR 97 about a mile and a half to the second switchback and follow FR 97H upstream along Middle Prong. In under a quarter mile the old road crosses the middle of the falls. Climbing up or down to see other sections is difficult. A 15-foot falls on adjacent Berry Branch is in the next drainage.
Plan your visit
Forest Road 97 gate off NC 215, then FR 97 and FR 97H up Middle Prong to Little Beartrap Falls
Waterfall Hero lists 3.6 miles for the hike: about 1.5 miles on FR 97 to the second switchback, then under a quarter mile on FR 97H. Shorter if the gate is open and you can drive about half way.
Gated forest roads, a ford on the drive in, and steep, slippery rock if you leave the road to see more of the falls.
Where to start
At the FR 97 gate about a quarter mile from NC 215, just after the ford. If the gate is open you can drive about half the way and park at the second switchback.
Timing & water
Gate status varies. Conditions after Tropical Storm Helene (2024) were not verified.
Before you go
No fee is mentioned in the reviewed source.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- Berry Branch FallsForest road walk then off-trail; final approach not described in detailHaywood County, NC0.1 miSE
- Lower Middle Prong FallsPartial guide: steep off-trail finish; sources call this waterfall Middle Prong FallsHaywood County, NC0.4 miSE
- Upper Middle Prong FallsPartial guide: route is to Middle Prong Falls as a whole; the exact upper drop is not identifiedHaywood County, NC0.4 miSE
- Big Beartrap FallsDocumented wilderness approach; last half mile on a steep unofficial pathHaywood County, NC0.9 miS
- Boomer Inn FallsHaywood County, NC1.5 miNW
- Little Bird FallsWilderness path; very short walk from NC 215Haywood County, NC2.0 miE
- Buckeye FallsPartial: wilderness trail then an off-trail creek walk66 ft (20 m) · Haywood County, NC2.1 miS
- Sunburst FallsRoadside view from an NC 215 pullout in Pisgah National ForestHaywood County, NC2.8 miSE
- Sheephead FallsHaywood County, NC2.9 miS