Waterfall Hero Hikes: Big Beartrap Falls (Middle Prong)

Big Beartrap Falls is a 70-foot waterfall on Big Beartrap Branch, a tributary of Middle Prong West Fork Pigeon River in Haywood County, North Carolina. The waterfall is located in Middle Prong Wilderness.

Hike Length: 6.4 miles
Estimated Time: 3 to 4 hours
Difficulty: Difficult
Location: Middle Prong Wilderness (Pisgah Ranger District of Pisgah National Forest)
Trail Users: Hiking only
Dogs: Yes, but the trail is not dog friendly
Features: Waterfalls (1+)
Crowds: Low
Warnings: The rocks around the waterfalls are very slippery. The last half-mile is off trail and the the route is steep and narrow.

Trailhead GPS: 35.37057,-82.93944
Waterfall GPS: 35.34376,-82.95368

Directions:

Head south on NC-215 from Canton for about 13 miles, passing Lake Logan. Just past Sunburst Campground, turn right into Forest Road 97. If coming from the Blue Ridge Parkway, go north on NC-215 for about 8.5 miles to FR-97 on the left. Go about a quarter-mile to where the road is gated and park, just after the ford. If this gate is open, you could drive about half the way.

Map:

Hike Description:

Hike (or drive) down FR-97 for about a mile and a half to the second switchback (or park here if you could drive). Follow FR-97H, which follows Middle Prong upstream. In under a quarter-mile, the trail will cross over the middle of Little Beartrap Falls and Waterfall on Berry Branch. In just under a mile on FR-97H, there is a fork - go right to get on an unnamed road that runs parallel to FR-97H just above it. Follow this road for about 0.2 miles to where it ends along Big Beartrap Branch. A steep but obvious path on the right goes up and follows the creek upstream from above. The path is narrow in places and steep but fairly easy to follow. Stay on this path for 0.4 miles to the waterfall. The lower section is visible first, but the main upper section is not visible from here.