Upper Bearwallow Falls
Transylvania County, North Carolina
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- 98 ft (30 m)
- Location
- Transylvania County, North Carolina
- Access status
- State park trail; short steep walk to an overlook
- The walk
- 0.2 miles each way
- Ground & access
- Short, steep trail with about 200 feet of elevation change. Hiking only. Not listed as accessible.
Upper Bearwallow Falls is a highlight of the Grassy Ridge Access of Gorges State Park. Enter the park from NC 281 on Grassy Ridge Road and follow the park signs to the Bearwallow Falls Trail. The blue-triangle-blazed trail is short but rated strenuous because of the climb back. It ends at an observation deck with a view of part of the falls. The falls cannot be reached from the overlook; stay on the trail. Return the same way.
Plan your visit
Bearwallow Falls Trail from the Grassy Ridge Access of Gorges State Park to the falls overlook
NC State Parks lists Bearwallow Falls Trail as 0.2 miles one way. A visitor account gives about 0.5 miles round trip.
Short, steep trail with about 200 feet of elevation change. Hiking only. Not listed as accessible.
Where to start
Park at the Grassy Ridge Access, 976 Grassy Ridge Road, Sapphire. Follow signs inside the park to the trailhead.
Timing & water
Open daily except Christmas Day; hours change by month (October 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., November 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.). Check the park page for alerts.
Before you go
NC State Parks says no fees are required for day use of Gorges State Park.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- Upper Wintergreen FallsPartial guide: the last part is a long off-trail route that needs navigation skills66 ft (20 m) · Transylvania County, NC0.9 miE
- Land Bridge FallsTransylvania County, NC1.0 miSE
- Indian Camp FallsPartial: state park trails, a creek ford and an unmeasured bushwhack; no published distanceTransylvania County, NC1.0 miS
- Split Rock FallsPartial: state park trails, a creek ford and a bushwhackTransylvania County, NC1.0 miS
- Chute FallsTransylvania County, NC1.0 miS
- Paw Paw FallsPartial guide: off-trail route only loosely described and the exact waterfall position is not publishedTransylvania County, NC1.1 miS
- Wintergreen FallsState park trails, then a faint riverside path for the last half mile164 ft (50 m) · Transylvania County, NC1.1 miE
- Lower Indian Creek FallsTransylvania County, NC1.1 miE
- Middle Indian Creek FallsTransylvania County, NC1.2 miE