Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Soco Falls - Qualla Boundary


Soco Falls is composed of two waterfalls plunging into a common pool. It is located about 1.4 miles south (compass west) of the Blue Ridge Parkway on US 19. A very small, blue information sign for the falls notes the falls is ½ mile on the left, but it is very easy to miss. There is no sign at the falls where a small, unmarked gravel parking area is located on the left side of the road. A guardrail and chain link fence have been built to keep vehicles and people from falling into the small gorge below the falls. Following the fence uphill will lead to a short dirt path down to a viewing platform overlooking the falls. A steeper trail, complete with a series of rope handrails leads to the bottom of the falls. Below the viewing platform, the trail can be very slick and extreme caution is advised, but the view is worth the effort. We visited in October 2015.

Top of the trail

Stair handrail

Viewing platform

Falls from the platform

Both creeks from lower on the trail

The trail follows the near creek for a bit

More of the near creek

Both falls from the bottom

Soco Creek below the falls

Soco Falls is the name for both waterfalls

A mesmerizing place



A parting view

There is no fee to view Soco Falls.

The Eastern Band of Cherokee tourism website is http://visitcherokeenc.com/.

1 comment:

  1. See, I had to come all the way into the past to find way more waterfalls hikes. This is s pretty. It's on our bucket list too. In fact, if we haven't been to them before (many we have like Juney Whank Falls and most of them in that area) they will go on our bucket list! So many waterfalls, so little time.

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