Waterfall Hero Hikes: Cavern Falls (Tanasee Creek Gorge)

Cavern Falls is a 100-foot waterfall on a tributary of Tanasee Creek in Jackson County, North Carolina. There is a lower waterfall on the same tributary, about 20 feet high in two sections. The waterfalls are located in the Nantahala Ranger District of Nantahala National Forest.

Hike Length: 5.4 miles
Estimated Time: 3 to 4 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Location: Nantahala Ranger District of Nantahala National Forest
Trail Users: Hiking only
Dogs: Yes, but the path is not dog friendly.
Features: Waterfalls (2)
Crowds: Low
Warnings: There are two creek crossings that will be a wade. There is no trail to the waterfall, it's a steep bushwhack from the old road. The rocks around the waterfalls are very slippery.
Trailhead GPS: 35.22208,-82.97241
Waterfall GPS: 35.23821,-82.95324 (Lower Cavern Falls), 35.23864,-82.95371 (Cavern Falls)

Directions:

To visit the falls, head north on NC-281 from Lake Toxaway for about 11 miles and turn right on Tanasee Creek Road. The turn is right after the bridge over Tanasee Creek where it starts to form Tanasee Creek Lake. Go 1 mile and turn left/straight onto Wolf Mountain Road. The pull-off will be on the right in 0.4 miles. Note that Wolf Mountain Road becomes 4WD shortly after the pull-off.

Map:

Hike Description:

An old logging road starts from the end of the parking area and follows Tanasee Creek upstream high above the creek. In just over a half-mile you'll come to an open section after crossing a small creek. Go right to stay on National Forest property. Continue another 3/4 of a mile and you'll come to another creek crossing.

Horseshoe Falls is upstream on this tributary. Continue on the old road and at 2 miles from the start, you will need to wade Tanasee Creek. Follow the creek closely on river left for another 0.3 miles and then cross back over. Both creek crossings will require wading except in very dry conditions. The road is quite overgrown at this point and can be confusing. There are two old roads and you want to be on the one further from the creek. I just stayed on the lower one until I could see the upper one and bushwhacked up to it. At 2.6 miles, the upper road will cross another tributary.

Cavern Falls is upstream, but there are a lot of rhodoendron close to the creek. Go 50 feet or so past the crossing and then bushwhack left up, staying away from the rhododendron along the creek. At about 3480 elevation, head over to the creek to see the Lower Cavern Falls.