Wilderness Falls
Jackson County, North Carolina
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- Not recorded
- Location
- Jackson County, North Carolina
- Access status
- West-entrance route; old Salt Rock shortcut closed
- The walk
- Published route distance: 0.9 mile; return convention unclear
- Ground & access
- A descending forest trail with a sharper descent from the ridge. The old direct connection between the falls and Salt Rock is closed; stay on the maintained trails.
From Salt Rock Gap follow Panthertown Valley Trail #474 downhill for about a quarter mile, then turn right onto Wilderness Falls Trail #490. Follow Trail #490 down from the ridge to the base of the waterfall and retrace it to return.
Plan your visit
Salt Rock Gap to Wilderness Falls via trails #474 and #490
Jackson County lists 0.9 mile without explicitly labeling the return distance. This is a route from Salt Rock Gap, not the entire 0.73-mile interior trail segment previously listed.
A descending forest trail with a sharper descent from the ridge. The old direct connection between the falls and Salt Rock is closed; stay on the maintained trails.
Where to start
Use Salt Rock Gap, the west entrance, at 3192 Breedlove Road in Glenville. From Cedar Creek Road turn onto Breedlove Road, continue to the pavement end, then turn left onto the gravel access to the parking area and gate. Do not attempt to drive through the valley from the east entrance.
Timing & water
The reviewed sources do not establish current road or trail conditions. The old Salt Rock shortcut is closed; use the described trail approach.
Before you go
Unknown: fees and reservation requirements are not stated.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- Frolictown FallsMarked Panthertown trails from the Salt Rock Gap accessJackson County, NC0.3 miSE
- Packs FallsJackson County, NC0.7 miNW
- Granny Burrell FallsWest-entrance route and parking researchedJackson County, NC0.8 miE
- Pittypat FallsJackson County, NC0.8 miNW
- Coolidge FallsJackson County, NC0.9 miE
- Panthertown Creek FallsPartial guide: the last section is an off-trail bushwhack with no pathJackson County, NC1.6 miSE
- Maidenhair FallsJackson County, NC1.6 miS
- Twin FallsJackson County, NC1.7 miS
- Twin FallsJackson County, NC1.8 miW