Upper Scotsman Creek Falls
Jackson County, North Carolina
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- Not recorded
- Location
- Jackson County, North Carolina
- Access status
- National forest; roadside parking and a short off-trail descent
- The walk
- Under 0.1 miles each way, off trail
- Ground & access
- Difficult for its length. No trail, very steep, thick rhododendron and dog hobble, and slippery rocks.
Upper Scotsman Falls is a smaller waterfall just upstream of Scotsman Falls, just inside the Ellicott Rock Wilderness in Nantahala National Forest. You can hear and see it from Bull Pen Road. From NC 107, 6.9 miles south of Cashiers, turn right on Bull Pen Road; it becomes gravel Forest Service Road 1178. About 4.2 miles from NC 107 the road makes a sharp switchback left and crosses Scotsman Creek. Just after, park at the overgrown FR 4564 on the right without blocking the road. There is no path. Bushwhack down the very steep, overgrown slope, aiming slightly downstream of the falls to come out at the base.
Plan your visit
Bull Pen Road (FS 1178) pull-off at FR 4564 beside Scotsman Creek, short off-trail descent to Upper Scotsman Falls
Waterfall Hero gives a hike length of under 0.1 miles and says the descent is only about 100 feet.
Difficult for its length. No trail, very steep, thick rhododendron and dog hobble, and slippery rocks.
Where to start
Pull-off at the overgrown FR 4564 on Bull Pen Road (FS 1178), 4.2 miles from NC 107, just after the road crosses Scotsman Creek. Do not block the road. Published trailhead coordinates: 35.01826, -83.11275.
Timing & water
Bull Pen Road is a gravel forest road. Current road conditions are not stated in the sources read.
Before you go
No fee is mentioned in the sources read. Nantahala National Forest, Nantahala Ranger District.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- Scotsman Creek FallsPartial: no real trail; very steep unofficial path from the roadJackson County, NC0.1 miS
- Lower Scotsman Creek FallsPartial guide: no trail below Scotsman Falls; wading and bushwhacking from 2005 directionsJackson County, NC0.2 miS
- Pothole FallsRoadside bridge view; scramble to the baseMacon County, NC0.8 miW
- Fowler Creek FallsPartial: wilderness trail then an extremely steep bushwhackJackson County, NC1.1 miS
- Pleasant Grove Church FallsJackson County, NC1.6 miNE
- Cane Creek FallsPartial guide: no trail, steep bushwhack from a gated forest roadMacon County, NC1.8 miNW
- Corkscrew FallsJackson County, NC2.8 miN
- Stick FallsNational forest; short bushwhack with a cliffMacon County, NC2.9 miW
- Lower Stick FallsPartial: short but steep bushwhack near cliffs; no trailMacon County, NC2.9 miW