WaterfallNear Me

Merge Lane Falls

Transylvania County, North Carolina

Your visit at a glance

Waterfall height
Not recorded
Location
Transylvania County, North Carolina
Access status
Partial: unofficial paths; 2017 report only
The walk
About 3.15 miles one way along the published route, including side trips
Ground & access
Rated 10 out of 10 for rugged terrain. Unofficial, confusing paths, steep sections and wading. Not safe in high water.
Hiking the Appalachians: Upper Whitewater River waterfalls

This is a partial guide. Merge Lane Falls is a 20 foot sliding falls on the Upper Whitewater River. A 2017 trip report starts from parking before the bridge on Heady Mountain Road, about 3.5 miles from NC 107 south of Cashiers, and follows unofficial, often confusing paths on the south side of the river. The route reaches a junction at about 1.65 miles, takes the right-hand trail with orange blazes past an old school bus to Bedrock Falls at 2.4 miles, and continues downstream along the river. At about 3.15 miles, where the river gets noisy, the main path bears left toward 55 MPH Falls and a spur bears right; the base of Merge Lane Falls is 100 feet down the spur. Trail conditions since 2017 are unknown.

Plan your visit

Heady Mountain Road parking, unofficial paths on the south side of the Upper Whitewater River past Bedrock Falls, spur path to Merge Lane Falls

The 2017 trip report reached the spur to Merge Lane Falls 3.15 miles into a 5.1 mile one-way shuttle hike from Heady Mountain Road to NC 281, and the base 100 feet down the spur. That figure includes side trips to Exit Falls, Sculpted Falls and Hornet Falls.

Rated 10 out of 10 for rugged terrain. Unofficial, confusing paths, steep sections and wading. Not safe in high water.

Where to start

Large pullouts just before the bridge over the Whitewater River on Heady Mountain Road. The road is private beyond the bridge.

Timing & water

Go only in low water. Current conditions are unknown.

Before you go

No fee is mentioned. The report describes its route as on Forest Service land and warns that the main trail past one junction enters private property.

Visitor information
Visit sources

More waterfalls nearby

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

Explore North Carolina

Waterfall location

Transylvania County, North Carolina.

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