Waterfall Hero Hikes: Bear Canyon Falls (Gorges)

Bear Canyon Falls is a 25-foot waterfall on Bearwallow Creek in Transylvania County, North Carolina. The waterfall is located deep in the heart of Gorges State Park near Lake Toxaway.

Hike Length: 9.2 miles
Estimated Time: 6 to 8 hours
Difficulty: Very Difficult
Location: Gorges State Park
Trail Users: Hiking only
Dogs: Only if on a ≤ 6 foot leash, but trail is not dog-friendly
Features: Waterfalls (1)
Crowds: Low
Warnings: There is no trail from Augur Hole Road to the waterfall and the bushwhack is extremely steep and overgrown. The rocks around the waterfalls are very slippery.
Trailhead GPS: 35.10853,-82.88361
Waterfall GPS: 35.08053,-82.91264

Directions:

From Brevard, head west on US-64 for about 9 miles and turn left on Frozen Creek Road. Go 3 miles and the parking for the Frozen Creek access of Gorges State Park will be on the right.

Map:

Hike Description:

From the Frozen Creek Access parking, take the combined Augur Hole Trail/Cane Brake Trail. In 0.7 miles, go right to stay on Augur Hole Trail. At 3.6 miles, the trail crosses Toxaway River at a concrete ford. At 4.4 miles, the trail reaches a ford at Bearwallow Creek. Do not cross, but instead follow a short path upstream on river left to a small cascades on the creek.

From this point, there is absolutely no trail and the bushwhacking is steep with dense rhododendron. Get a little bit above the river and head upstream past a couple smaller cascades and go back down to the creek where it makes a turn to the right. Bear Canyon Falls drops through a small canyon here.