Nellies Falls

Jackson County, North Carolina

Your visit at a glance

Waterfall height: Not recorded
Location: Jackson County, North Carolina
Access status: Unofficial trail with creek crossings
The walk: About 1.6 miles return
Ground & access: Fairly easy unofficial trail, soggy in low areas near the creek, with creek crossings that may be wades after rain. The upper section of the falls is near a dangerous drop.

Rich Stevenson, NCWaterfalls.com (legacy): Nellie’s Falls

Cross Flat Creek by wading or on high logs (a fall from them is dangerous). Continue up the road about 100 feet and take the old logging road on the left, over the mounds. After about a quarter mile, take an obvious path to the left and follow it about half a mile, passing a side trail on the left. Where the old road ends, take a lesser trail bearing left toward the creek for 0.1 miles to a small cascade. Cross the creek; the 25-foot falls is just beyond, and the path goes behind a big rock on the left to the view. Return the same way.

Plan your visit

End of Rock Bridge Road at Flat Creek, ford, old logging road and unofficial trail up Flat Creek to Nellies Falls

Rich Stevenson gives the unofficial trail as 0.8 miles long each way. Waterfall Hero estimated about a mile to where the trail mostly ends.

Fairly easy unofficial trail, soggy in low areas near the creek, with creek crossings that may be wades after rain. The upper section of the falls is near a dangerous drop.

Where to start

End of the gravel Rock Bridge Road (SR 1140), 3.8 miles from NC 281, beside Flat Creek; this is also the parking for Flat Creek Falls. Rock Bridge Road leaves NC 281 9.2 miles north of US 64 near Lake Toxaway. Space is limited, so you may have to park back along the road.

Timing & water

No closure is stated. The accounts are from 2016 and 2017.

Before you go

Rich Stevenson lists the falls under Nantahala National Forest. No fee is stated by the sources.

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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