Lower Bald Springs Falls (Fires Creek)

Lower Bald Springs Falls is a 20-foot waterfall on Bald Springs Branch, a tributary of Fires Creek, in Clay County, North Carolina.  The waterfall is located in the Fires Creek Recreation Area in Nantahala National Forest.

Hike Length: 2.2 miles
Estimated Time: 2 to 3 hours
Difficulty: Difficult
Location: Tusquitee Ranger District of Nantahala National Forest
Trail Users: Hiking only
Dogs: Yes, but the route is not dog friendly
Features: Waterfalls (1+)
Crowds: Low
Warnings: The rocks around waterfalls are very slippery.  There is no trail to the waterfall and the route involves fording Fires Creek and creek-walking Bald Springs Branch.
Trailhead GPS: 35.12538,-83.79408
Waterfall GPS: 35.12755,-83.78217

Directions:

From Hayesville, go north on Tusquitee Street and cross Hiwasee River. Turn left on Fires Creek Road and drive 4.6 miles. Turn right on Fires Creek Wildlife Road and go just under 8 miles to a pull-off on the right. The road becomes gravel and changes to FR-340 as you enter the forest.

Map:

Hike Description:

From the pull-off, hike up FR-340 a short ways to a split, where FR-340C goes to the left. Stay on FR-340, which is gated at this point, and cross Long Branch on a bridge. It is about a mile to where the road makes a sharp turn to the left. Get off the road and bushwhack down to Fires Creek - Bald Springs Branch should flow in right across the creek. Wade the creek, which may be difficult in high water, then creek-walk up Bald Springs Branch to the waterfall.

Blog Entries:

28-May-2017: Murphy Area Waterfalls