Waterfall Hero Hikes: Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory

Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory is an outdoor laboratory in Nantahala National Forest in Macon County, the only National Forest outdoor site to carry the "laboratory" title. The site was logged in the early 20th century and the forest service purchased it 1918 and designated it part of Nantahala National Forest. In 1934, it was set aside as the Coweeta Experimental Forest and the Civilian Conservation Corps built buildings, roads, and the initial measurement systems. The site was renamed hydrologic laboratory in 1948. Although primarily for research, the area is open to the public.

Contact Information:

3160 Coweeta Lab Rd

Otto, NC 28763

Phone: (828) 524-2128

Fax: (828) 369-6768

Directions:

From Franklin, head south on US-23/US-441 for about 8 miles and turn right on Coweeta Lab Road. Go 3.1 miles on this road to enter the laboratory area. There are two roads that can be driven - Ball Creek Road (FR-83) to the left and Shope Fork Road (FR-751) to the right.

Points of Interest:

Camprock Branch Falls:

Camprock Branch Falls is a small waterfall on a tributary of Shope Fork.

Weirs:

A number of weirs are found on streams and creeks throughout the laboratory. These devices, many build by the CCC, precisely measure stream flow to study the impact of forestry techniques.