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Tuesday, July 11, 2017

Big Falls on Elk River - Pisgah National Forest


Big Falls on the Elk River, also known as Elk River Falls, is a 50 to 65 foot vertical plunge waterfall near Elk Park, North Carolina. To reach the trailhead from the boundary between Tennessee and North Carolina on US 19E, drive into North Carolina 0.8 miles to Old Mill Road. A directional sign to Elk River Falls was located at this entrance on my visit in June 2017. Turn left onto Old Mill Road and drive 0.3 miles to Elk River Road. Another directional sign was located at this intersection. Turn left onto Elk River Road and drive 4 miles to the end of the road. The last ¼ mile of Elk River Road is gravel and is located in the Appalachian Ranger District of Pisgah National Forest. Park along the edge of the turnaround at the end of the road. 

The 300 yard (meter) long Big Falls Trail (TR 172) begins at the end of the road. A plank bridge and set of wooden stairs mark the trailhead. After climbing a dozen feet above the river, the trail levels out and quickly reaches the top of the falls. Several people have died or been paralyzed over the years as a result of jumping off the rock bluff into the plunge basin. Just don't do it. Beyond the top of the falls, the trail quickly descends to the base of the falls near the downstream end of the plunge basin. A rock outcrop acts as a dam across most of the river and also provides a relatively safe place to view the falls.

Topographic map with GPS route

Elevation profile

The trail starts by crossing an unnamed creek and climbing stairs

The trail climbs above the Elk River

Rosebay Rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum)

Typical trail conditions

Crossing another drainage on a plank bridge

A relatively flat portion of the trail

Top of Big Falls

View from the top

Plunge basin

Trail descends steeply

Stairs assist with the descent and even more on the return

Timber steps

Big Falls


Entry to Pisgah National Forest is free.

The webpage for the Big Falls Trail is https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/nfsnc/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=48554&actid=50.
The forest website is https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/nfsnc/recarea/?recid=48114.

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