Waterfall Hero Hikes: Bonas Defeat Waterfalls

There are four waterfalls on Tuckaseegee River in the Bonas Defeat Gorge in Jackson County, North Carolina. The waterfalls are located in the Nantahala Ranger District of Nantahala National Forest. Read the warnings below before attempting.

Hike Length: 3.4 miles
Estimated Time: 6 to 8 hours
Difficulty: Extremely Difficult
Location: Bonas Defeat (Nantahala Ranger District of Nantahala National Forest)
Trail Users: Hiking only
Dogs: Yes they are allowed, but the area is much too difficult and dangerous for them. Do not bring a dog here, the area is named for a dog that died.
Features: Waterfalls (4)
Crowds: Low
Warnings: The rocks around the waterfalls are very slippery. There is no trail and the path through the gorge involves creek-walking, rock-scrambling and ropes. This is one of the most difficult and dangerous areas in the state. The gorge is downstream of the dam on Tanassee Creek Lake; in the event of a water release (which may be unannounced), anyone in the canyon would likely be killed by the flood waters. Do not attempt unless you have experience canyoneering and there is no chance of rain in the forecast.
Trailhead GPS: 35.22477,-83.02070
Waterfall GPS: 35.21552,-83.01510 (Grandmas Kitchen Falls), 35.21428,-83.01201 (Grandmas Pantry Falls), 35.21418,-83.01164 (Talus Cave Falls), 35.21131,-83.00951 (Bonas Defeat Falls)

Directions:

From Brevard, head west on US-64 for about 15 miles and turn right onto Blue Ridge Road (NC-281). Follow NC-281 for 13 miles and turn left on Grays Ridge Road. Go 1 mile and park at the small parking area before the gate.

Map:

Hike Description:

Read the warnings above before attempting this hike. It is among the most difficult and dangerous hikes in the state. From the parking area, hike down the road past the gate. Public access is allowed, but the road goes through private property so stay on the road at all times. At about 0.7 miles, the trail passes a picnic shelter and a bridge over Tuckaseegee River. Cross the bridge and continue on the road a short ways to a path on the right that goes back under the bridge and follows the river upstream. At 0.8 miles, you will reach the confluence of Wolf Creek and Tuckaseegee River. The river is to the right and should have minimal flow. Most of the water is coming from Wolf Creek. If there is significant water flow on the river, turn around as passage through the gorge is impossible.

The first part of the river is relatively flat and easy to rock hop with minimal wading. You will soon come to a swimhole. If you don't want to swim, there is a path on river right to get around the swimhole. At about 1.0 miles, you'll reach the slot canyon. There is another path through the woods on river right to get around this obstacle.

From this point, you want to stay in the river bed and continue upstream by rock-hopping, wading and rock scrambling. The forest service map shows a trail through the gorge (#438) but this doesn't exist. Stay in the river bed. At 1.2 miles, you'll reach Grandmas Kitchen Falls, a cool waterfall through a bunch of potholes.

You can climb up the rocks on river left side of the falls to get to the top. Shortly past here is "Conundrum Rock", point where it seems impossible to go further. On the river left side, you can scramble up a mossy rock to the keyhole and squeeze through to get to the top. It is steep and slippery through the keyhole, so a rope will make this easier. Above conundrum rock is Grandmas Pantry Falls, another waterfall through potholes.

Immediately upstream is Talus Cave Falls, a really neat waterfall that drops through a small cave in the middle of the river. You must get wet for a view of this waterfall.