Accessibility – Hard+
Height – 20-22′
Distance – 0.5 miles (out and back)
Beauty – 7
Photo rating – 8
Solitude – 9
GPS Info: LAT 34.77527 LONG -83.14499
Last Updated – 03-30-2025
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Cedar Creek Falls is the upper waterfall of two on this part of the stream, residing a short distance upstream of Blue Hole Falls, which is the more impressive of the two. Reaching Cedar Creek Falls is relatively easy, and the waterfall has a pleasing shape. Cedar Creek Falls derives its name from Cedar Creek, a tributary of the Chauga River.
Where to park: The parking area is roadside on Cedar Creek Ford, a road that Google Maps does not show. The GPS coordinates are: 34.76077, -83.19002. To reach it, drive 3.3 miles on Rich Mountain Road from the intersection with Cassidy Bridge Road. Along the way, at 2.3 miles, you will pass the trailhead for Hurricane Falls – SC. You might want to ensure your vehicle is up to driving beyond this point. Cedar Creek Road is in pretty bad shape. It was no issue for the Jeep, but I’m not sure I’d want to take a CR-V down there. In either case, make a right onto Cedar Creek Road and follow it for 2.5 miles to Cedar Creek Ford. Cedar Creek Ford has a gate, but it was open, allowing me to drive another 0.3 miles to the junction with Blue Hole Road, where I parked in the wide area on the right.
The hike: Begin hiking down Blue Hole Road, which leaves from the right of the parking area, heading downhill. There is another old road that heads up the hill after passing two large boulders. We’ll come to this road later. Almost from the outset, you’ll be able to hear Blue Hole Falls on your left, but there is a towering cliff along the road, and there is no way down from Blue Hole Road. Blue Hole Road bends around Blue Hole Falls, and a trail leaves the left side of the road at a point where hiking on the road would force you to walk under a large tree lying over it. The trail is obvious, and it leads down to Cedar Creek between the two waterfalls. Make a right, and follow the bedrock to the base of Cedar Creek Falls.
Now what? To get to Blue Hole Falls, backtrack to where the trail dumped you onto the dry area of bedrock that extends most of the way across the creek and cross to the other side. This is at the brink of Blue Hole Falls, and if the water is up, I certainly wouldn’t try and cross. Once you cross, it’s all about hugging the bank and making your way downstream without getting too far into the woods. The rocks were wet in places, and there was some downfall to contend with. I don’t have many landmarks to share with you, but you can see the route people take. Once you get around the ‘Blue Hole,’ you will have a nice view of the lower part of the waterfall, but not the 40 feet above the final plunge.
There are several areas of bedrock on the downstream end of the pool, and some boulders on the edge of the pool that make for a nice spot to take a picture. As far as the hike out, you can double back, or you can hike downstream a short distance to clear the end of the cliffs on river left. I climbed up the hillside on river left close to a small drainage, and it wasn’t too bad getting to the top, where I picked up that old road I mentioned earlier, making it into a loop hike. I’m not sure the average family wants to bushwhack up the mountain, but it’s an option, and in high water, it would be another way to get to the falls.
