Wallace Branch Falls (Bartram)

Wallace Branch Falls is a waterfall on its namesake in Macon County, North Carolina.  The waterfall is located in the Nantahala Ranger District of Nantahala National Forest.

Hike Length: 0.8 miles

Estimated Time: 1 hour
Difficulty: Moderate

Location: Nantahala Ranger District of Nantahala National Forest

Trail Users: Hiking only
Dogs: Yes
Features: Waterfalls (2)
Crowds: High
Warnings: The rocks around waterfalls are slippery.
Trailhead GPS: 35.18016,-83.43316
Waterfall GPS: 35.18173,-83.43806

Directions:

From Franklin, head west on US-64 from US-441 for 0.6 miles and turn right on Sloan Road.  Go 0.3 miles and turn left on Old Murphy Road and then immediate right on Pressley Road.  Drive a total of 1.7 miles to the parking at the end.  The road changes to Ray Cove Road after a mile.

Map:

Hike Description:

From the parking area, pick up Bartram Trail that crosses Wallace Branch on a footbridge.  In 0.1 miles, the trail crosses an unnamed tributary on another footbridge at the base of Ray Cove Falls.

Shortly after the waterfall, there is a split, where Bartram Trail climbs up and an old overgrown road follows closer to Wallace Branch.  Continue on Bartram Trail for 0.1 miles and Wallace Branch Falls will be down to the left.  It is steep, so leaving the trail for a better view is difficult and there is no good place to view the falls.

To get to the base, return to the split and follow the old overgrown road up to the base.  There is no good view from here either.

Blog Entries:

02-Jan-2021: Wayah Bald