Pothole Falls
Macon County, North Carolina
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- Not recorded
- Location
- Macon County, North Carolina
- Access status
- Roadside bridge view; scramble to the base
- The walk
- Viewed from the bridge; short paths to the river
- Ground & access
- Easy from the bridge. The way to the base needs a scramble over slippery rocks.
NC Waterfalls calls this waterfall Potholes Falls. It is a different waterfall from Pothole Falls on Greenland Creek in Panthertown Valley. From US 64 in Highlands, head east on Horse Cove Road (Main Street) for 4.55 miles to where Whiteside Cove Road turns left. Go straight on unpaved Bull Pen Road (FS 1178) for 3 miles to the bridge over the Chattooga River. Walk a few feet out on the old bridge and look down at the 15 foot cascade through sculpted, potholed rock. A short path also leads from the parking area to the river at the top of the falls. On the far side of the bridge (the left bank, facing downstream), stone steps lead down to the river; from there you must scramble over slippery rocks to reach the falls.
Plan your visit
Iron Bridge on Bull Pen Road (FS 1178) over the Chattooga River, view from the bridge and short paths to the river
NC Waterfalls says the falls is directly under the road at Iron Bridge. No walking distance is published for the paths to the river.
Easy from the bridge. The way to the base needs a scramble over slippery rocks.
Where to start
Room for two vehicles on the left just before the bridge. Parking is not allowed along the paved road near the bridge; use the wide spot back up the hill. Published parking coordinates: 35.01604, -83.126542.
Timing & water
Bull Pen Road is unpaved. Current road condition was not verified.
Before you go
No fee is mentioned in the source read. Nantahala National Forest, Nantahala Ranger District.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- Upper Scotsman Creek FallsNational forest; roadside parking and a short off-trail descentJackson County, NC0.8 miE
- Scotsman Creek FallsPartial: no real trail; very steep unofficial path from the roadJackson County, NC0.8 miE
- Lower Scotsman Creek FallsPartial guide: no trail below Scotsman Falls; wading and bushwhacking from 2005 directionsJackson County, NC0.8 miE
- Cane Creek FallsPartial guide: no trail, steep bushwhack from a gated forest roadMacon County, NC1.4 miNW
- Fowler Creek FallsPartial: wilderness trail then an extremely steep bushwhackJackson County, NC1.4 miSE
- Stick FallsNational forest; short bushwhack with a cliffMacon County, NC2.2 miW
- Lower Stick FallsPartial: short but steep bushwhack near cliffs; no trailMacon County, NC2.2 miW
- Slick Stick FallsPartial guide: no trail; bushwhack and creekwalk onlyMacon County, NC2.3 miW
- Pleasant Grove Church FallsJackson County, NC2.3 miNE