Waterfall Hero Hikes: North Shoal Creek Falls (Apalachia)

North Shoal Creek Falls is a beautiful 30-foot waterfall on North Shoal Creek in Cherokee County, North Carolina. The waterfall is located in Nantahala National Forest near Lake Apalachia.

Hike Length: 0.4 miles
Estimated Time: 1 hour
Difficulty: Moderate
Location: Tusquitee Ranger District of Nantahala National Forest
Trail Users: Hiking only
Dogs: Yes
Features: Waterfalls (1)
Crowds: Low
Warnings: The rocks around the waterfalls are very slippery. There is no trail to the waterfall on public property and requires a short bushwhack.
Trailhead GPS: 35.17658,-84.23215
Waterfall GPS: 35.17823,-84.23449

Directions:

From Murphy, head west on US-64 for 7.6 miles and turn right on NC-294 west. Go 8.7 miles and turn right on Hiwasee Dam Road. Drive 9.9 miles, crossing Hiwasee Dam, and turn left on Morrow Road. In 1.6 miles, turn left on gravel Prospect Road. Drive about 0.6 miles and look for a pull-off after crossing into National Forest property.

Map:

Hike Description:

From the pull-off, bushwhack down towards the lake staying on National Forest property. It's very open but steep, so not bad at all for a bushwhack. One down at lake level, turn right and follow a path heading up North Shoal Creek. There are some nice cascades along the creek.