Marilou Bradley Falls

Polk County, North Carolina

Your visit at a glance

Waterfall height: Not recorded
Location: Polk County, North Carolina
Access status: Partial: pre-Helene route; access road under repair
The walk: A little over 2.5 miles each way
Ground & access: Easy to moderate road walk with a wade, then a Class III creek route with slippery rocks and an exposed climb beside Milton Bradley Falls.

NC Waterfalls: Marilou Bradley Falls directions

This is a partial guide. The directions were written before Tropical Storm Helene. From I-26 Exit 59 at Saluda, head east on Holbert Cove Road and turn left on Green River Cove Road. Drive 3.75 miles and turn right on the dirt road just before the Green River bridge, signed for the NCWRC game land access, and park at the gate after 0.1 miles. Walk the dirt road 1 mile to a fork and turn left, then 0.3 miles to a wade of Cove Creek. Cross the fields to their far right corner, 0.4 miles, and follow a path 200 yards toward Little Cove Creek. A makeshift path leads upstream to Milton Bradley Falls. Climb the path on the right bank (facing downstream) to its top (very close to the brink), then go about a quarter mile upstream to Bradley Cooper Falls. Just below it a tributary enters from the right bank (facing downstream); Marilou Bradley Falls is a short way up that tributary.

Plan your visit

Green River Game Land gate off Green River Cove Road, dirt road and fields to Little Cove Creek, path and creek route past Milton Bradley Falls to a tributary

NC Waterfalls gives a hike distance of a little over 2.5 miles: about 1 mile of dirt road, 0.3 miles to the Cove Creek ford, 0.4 miles across fields, about 200 yards of path, 0.45 miles to Milton Bradley Falls, and about 0.25 miles up the creek.

Easy to moderate road walk with a wade, then a Class III creek route with slippery rocks and an exposed climb beside Milton Bradley Falls.

Where to start

At the game land gate 0.1 miles down the dirt road, 3.75 miles along Green River Cove Road. Published trailhead coordinates: 35.27433, -82.30398. Do not block the gate.

Timing & water

Kevin Adams says Green River Cove Road was closed to everyone except property owners after Helene and that the hike was probably affected. NCDOT said in July 2026 that permanent repairs had started; visitors have reached the area by Silver Creek Road from Mill Spring, and the switchback section from Holbert Cove Road is to be rebuilt. Check road status before going.

Before you go

No fee is mentioned in the sources read. Green River Game Land.

Visitor information

Visit sources

More waterfalls nearby

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

Explore North Carolina

Waterfall location

Polk County, North Carolina.

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