Camp Branch & Upper Camp Branch Falls (Wayah)

Camp Branch and Upper Camp Branch Falls are two small waterfalls on Camp Branch, a tributary of Wayah Creek, in Macon County, North Carolina.  The waterfalls are located near Wayah Bald in Nantahala National Forest.

Hike Length: 0.6 miles
Estimated Time: 1 hour
Difficulty: Moderate

Location: Wayah Bald (Nantahala Ranger District of Nantahala National Forest)

Trail Users: Hiking only
Dogs: Yes
Features: Waterfalls (2)
Crowds: Low
Warnings: The rocks around waterfalls are slippery.
Trailhead GPS: 35.16512,-83.54069
Waterfall GPS: 35.16797,-83.54187 (Lower Falls), 35.16837,-83.54215 (Upper Falls)

Directions:

From Franklin, head west on US-64 for 3.5 miles past US-441 and turn right on Patton Road.  Go 0.3 miles and turn left on Wayah Road.  Drive 5.3 miles and turn right on FR-316.  Go 0.1 miles to where the road is gated and park.

Map:

Hike Description:

Where FR-316 turns right to cross Camp Branch on a bridge, go straight on an old road to follow Camp Branch upstream on river right side.  In under 0.2 miles, pass an old explosives magazine.

There is another magazine a couple hundred feet further.

The trail then crosses a tributary and side path to the right leads down to Camp Branch Falls.

It's only about 10 feet high, but very scenic with a nice pool at the base.

Here's a video of the falls:

From the main trail, there is a winter view of the falls and a cave above it.

Continue on the main trail another hundred feet or so to Upper Camp Branch Falls.

It's covered in downfall and difficult to get a decent picture.

Blog Entries:

30-Dec-2021: Coweeta Hydrologic Lab

28-Dec-2020: Wayah Road Waterfalls

27-May-2017: Beech Creek Loop Hike