Jones Falls - Cherokee National Forest

The trail to Jones Falls begins at the same parking area as the trail to Big Falls on the Elk River. 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.

Although the trailhead is in North Carolina, the waterfall is in Watauga Ranger District of Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee. The Appalachian Trail was rerouted several years ago to provide better access to Jones Falls.

The roundtrip hike to Jones Falls is 3.2 miles. From the turnaround, either climb the stairs and walk to the clearing where you will find the continuation of Elk River Road or walk around the gate to follow the road directly. The first option is a bit shorter, but has stairs. In 0.7 miles, Elk River Road enters a clearing. As the road veers right and down to ford the river, stay straight through the meadow passing a fire ring before entering the woods near the river at the far end of the clearing.

Proceed about 800 feet along the riverbank along a narrow path through woods, a meadow, and into the woods again. Along the way, pass another fire ring in the woods as the trail widens out. Cross both braids of Jones Branch by rock hopping across the creek. The Elk River makes a broad right turn here.

After crossing the creek, the trail turns up the drainage and climbs steeply for 250 feet to the Appalachian Trail (AT). At this point, you are 0.9 miles from the trailhead. Note the boulders in the AT as a landmark on your return. Turn left and hike 0.6 miles south on the AT utilizing a neat set of timber stairs on a switchback halfway along the AT or 1.2 miles from the trailhead.

At 1.5 miles from the trailhead, turn off the AT to the left at a sign for Jones Falls. Continue down the side path for 500 feet to the falls at 1.6 miles from the trailhead.

From rock hopping Jones Branch to turning off the AT is a steady ascent of about 320 feet or over 8%. The hike is rated as moderate, mostly due to the steep climb. Due to the narrow path along the river, I would not consider this a family friendly hike.

Although we visited in June 2017, we met a few through hikers and one section hiker along the AT.

Trail recap: 3.2 mile roundtrip, greater than 8% grade for about half the hike

• 0.7 miles leave road and find path
• 0.85 miles rock hop across Jones Creek
• 0.9 miles turn left on AT
• 1.2 miles switchback stairs
• 1.5 miles sign for Jones Falls
• 1.6 miles waterfall

Topographic map with GPS route

Elevation profile

One of two trailheads

Elk River Road beyond the gate

Passing under the powerlines

Limbs from a maple tree blown down on the road

The road descends to the right, but the trail stays left

If you get to the ford, you went the wrong way

Trail through the meadow

Entering the woods

The path is about a foot wide here

Rosebay Rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum)

Mountain Spiderwort (Tradescantia subaspera)

Part of the trail is sliding toward the river

Narrow path along the riverbank

Claustrophobic?

Emerging into another clearing

Back in the woods

A small cascade on the Elk River

Elk River turns right

Second fire ring

Approaching Jones Branch

First leg of the rock hop

Second leg of the rock hop

The climb begins immediately

The trail is much more open

Switchback

Keep climbing

Almost to the AT

What a view

Intersection with the Appalachian Trail

Turn left and follow the white blazes on the AT south

Typical conditions on this section of the AT

Timber stairs at the switchback

Possibly Annual Shelf Fungus (Phellinus gilvus)

Continuing to climb

Turn left for the falls

Well maintained side path

Jones Falls

Upper portion of the falls

Lower portion

Drops and slides

Entry to Pisgah and Cherokee National Forests is free.

The Pisgah National Forest website is https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/nfsnc/recarea/?recid=48114.
The Cherokee National Forest website is https://www.fs.usda.gov/cherokee.