Bear Creek Falls (Cheoah River)

Bear Creek Falls is a 12-foot waterfall on Cheoah River in Graham County, North Carolina.  The waterfall is located in Nantahala National Forest.

Hike Length: < 0.1 miles
Estimated Time: < 1 hour
Difficulty: Easy
Location: Cheoah Ranger District of Nantahala National Forest
Trail Users: N/A
Dogs: Yes
Features: Waterfalls (1+)
Crowds: Moderate
Warnings: The rocks around waterfalls are very slippery.  
Trailhead GPS: 35.44049,-83.92848
Waterfall GPS: 35.44040,-83.92923

Directions:

From Robbinsville, head north on US-129/Tapoco Road for 14.1 miles from the light on Main Street.  There is a pull-off on the left side of the road to park.

Map:

Hike Description:

A scramble path leads down to river level right near the top of the falls.  You can scramble down for a view.  The lighting was poor when I visited, but its pretty scenic.

Just downstream of here, Bear Creek flows into Cheoah River and there's another Bear Creek Falls but completely covered by foliage in summer.

Blog Entries:

07-Jul-2026: Joyce Kilmer Hikes