WaterfallNear Me

Lower Balsam Falls

Jackson County, North Carolina

Your visit at a glance

Waterfall height
Not recorded
Location
Jackson County, North Carolina
Access status
Unofficial path with a creek crossing; difficult
The walk
A little over 0.6 miles each way (about 1.2 miles return)
Ground & access
Unofficial, ungraded path that is difficult in places and overgrown, with a creek crossing. Rated difficult.
NC Waterfalls: Lower Balsam Falls

Lower Balsam Falls is a 22-foot steep cascade on Wolf Creek in Nantahala National Forest, just below Balsam Falls. Cross Wolf Creek on the footbridge and follow the trail to the dam. An unofficial path heads downstream from the dam to Balsam Falls. Keep following the path downstream; it reaches the lower end of the pool below Lower Balsam Falls, where you must cross the creek. NC Waterfalls describes crossing at a tiny island with two trees, then climbing the bank to the old path. Patricia and Lauren Falls are farther downstream.

Plan your visit

Balsam Lake Recreation Area trailhead on Charleys Creek Road, past Balsam Lake Dam and Balsam Falls to Lower Balsam Falls

NC Waterfalls gives the hike as a little over 0.6 miles each way.

Unofficial, ungraded path that is difficult in places and overgrown, with a creek crossing. Rated difficult.

Where to start

Balsam Lake Recreation Area on Charleys Creek Road (SR 1756), 5.3 miles from NC 215 or 5.4 miles from NC 281. Restrooms are nearby.

Timing & water

Current conditions not verified.

Before you go

No fee is mentioned in the reviewed source.

Visitor information
Visit sources

More waterfalls nearby

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

Explore North Carolina

Waterfall location

Jackson County, North Carolina.

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