Lower Bubbling Spring Branch Falls
Haywood County, North Carolina
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- Not recorded
- Location
- Haywood County, North Carolina
- Access status
- Short unofficial creekside path with crossings
- The walk
- About 0.6 miles return
- Ground & access
- Short but mostly off the official trail, with several creek crossings and slippery rocks. Feet may get wet, especially in high water.
Walk a short way north down NC 215 and turn left onto the Mountains-to-Sea Trail at the white-blazed post. Cross a seasonal stream and rock hop Bubbling Spring Branch. Where the Mountains-to-Sea Trail turns right, go left instead, through a primitive campsite, and cross the creek again. Follow the obvious path up the right bank (facing downstream), crossing the creek three or four more times, to the base of the 20-foot falls. Return the same way. Upper Bubbling Spring Branch Falls is just above.
Plan your visit
Mountains-to-Sea Trail parking on NC 215 just north of the Blue Ridge Parkway, short path up Bubbling Spring Branch
Waterfall Hero lists the hike as 0.6 miles. Rich Stevenson says it is about 10 minutes from the campsite to the falls.
Short but mostly off the official trail, with several creek crossings and slippery rocks. Feet may get wet, especially in high water.
Where to start
Large pull-off on the left (west) side of NC 215, 0.4 miles north of the Blue Ridge Parkway, used for the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. The edge of the pavement is rutted. Published coordinates: 35.30342, -82.90864.
Timing & water
No closure is stated. Flow can drop to a trickle in dry weather.
Before you go
Pisgah National Forest beside Middle Prong Wilderness; no fee is stated by the sources. Dogs must be leashed, according to Waterfall Hero.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- Upper Bubbling Spring Branch FallsNational forest; short creekside path with several crossingsHaywood County, NC0.0 miS
- Mount Hardy FallsUnblazed wilderness trail and short bushwhack; needs high water98 ft (30 m) · Haywood County, NC0.5 miNW
- Split FallsHaywood County, NC0.6 miNE
- Little Wildcat FallsRoadside view; needs high waterHaywood County, NC0.7 miN
- Red Rock FallsPartial: FS 140 closed for storm damage; old unmaintained creekside pathTransylvania County, NC0.8 miSE
- Bubbling Spring Branch CascadesShort roadside scramble documented by two firsthand sourcesHaywood County, NC0.9 miN
- Wildcat FallsForest trail to a bridge at the falls197 ft (60 m) · Haywood County, NC1.0 miNE
- Middle Wildcat FallsHaywood County, NC1.0 miN
- Lower Wildcat FallsNational forest; steep off-trail descent and river crossing39 ft (12 m) · Haywood County, NC1.0 miN