Little Beartrap Falls (Middle Prong)

Little Beartrap Falls is a waterfall in sections on Little Beartrap Branch, a tributary of Middle Prong West Fork Pigeon River in Haywood County, North Carolina.  There is a 15-foot waterfall on the adjacent Berry Branch.  The waterfalls are located just outside Middle Prong Wilderness.

Hike Length: 3.6 miles
Estimated Time: 1 to 2 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Location: Pisgah Ranger District of Pisgah National Forest
Trail Users: Hiking only
Dogs: Yes
Features: Waterfalls (2)
Crowds: Low
Warnings: The rocks around the waterfalls are very slippery.  Climbing up or down the waterfall to see additional sections is difficult.

Trailhead GPS: 35.37057,-82.93944 
Waterfall GPS: 35.35597,-82.94760 (Little Beartrap), 35.35564, -82.94668 (Berry Branch)

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, though it's hard to see much from the trail.  Climbing up the river right side, there is a cascade just above the trail.

The creek is moderately flat above this point to a bend in the creek that flows through a little gorge.  I didn't climb much higher than this.

Climbing down from the trail, there are more cascades below the trail.

From here, climb down and head over to the next drainage to see Berry Branch Falls.

Blog Entries:

26-Mar-2022: Middle Prong Waterfalls

03-Jul-2017: Middle Prong Waterfalls