For Halloween this year, we headed to the mountains for some scary difficult waterfalls. We left super early and got to the Nantahala Outdoor Center to attempt Townhouse Branch Falls but looks like it is closed to public now. So we headed up the river and parked at the access for Bartram Trail heading to the Cheoah Backcountry Area in Nantahala National Forest. Ledbetter Canyon flowed under the railroad tracks here and the little bridge was scenic.
A path from the picnic area led across the tracks and to the Bartram Trail. Instead of getting on the trail, we went straight to start following Ledbetter Creek upstream.
There were a lot of cascades and small falls all the way up the creek.
With the water level very high, we had to go around some cascades by climbing way up then had to head back down to the creek.
As we got closer to the creek, we came out at Inside Passage Falls. There was significant water flowing through the passage, preventing any chance of climbing up through it, which we needed to continue upstream to Ledbetter Canyon Falls.
We then tried climbing the steep cliffs to see if we could get around the passage but it was just to steep, so we decided not to risk it. Heading back, we got on Bartram Trail and started a steep climb up the ridge. Near the top, an overgrown road to the left split off and descended to Handpole Branch. The road petered out but it was an easy bushwhack to the top of Handpole Branch Falls. A side stream flowed in with a nice 12-foot waterfall at the confluence with Handpole Branch.
From here, we made the extremely steep descent on river right side to a viewpoint 50 or so feet down. The view was mostly obscured by rhododendron.
The waterfall keeps going down, but it was so difficult getting here, we didn't descend any further. The climb back up was equally strenuous and difficult. We finally made it back to the top then back to Bartram Trail. Sandy spotted a grizzly spur-throat grasshopper along the trail.
Continuing on, the trail descended to Ledbetter Creek where we had to wade in high water. Shortly after, was another crossing where we had to wade again. There were more nice cascades along Ledbetter Creek up here.
In high water, it was very scenic though rhododendron blocked the view from the trail. The top of the waterfall was very interesting, but the lighting was poor.
I also climbed down to the base, but way to overgrown for any view of the falls. After some pictures, we made the hike back.
From here, we drove to Robbinsville and checked into the Quality Inn and went to bed after a very long day.
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