Accessibility – Medium (6)
Height – 65′
Distance – 2.2 miles (out and back)
Beauty – 5
Photo rating – 5
Solitude – 8
GPS Info: LAT 35.22031 LONG -82.29875
TH GPS: LAT 35.22239 LONG -82.31395
Last visited – 04/15/2026
Last Updated – 04/15/2026
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NOTE: US 176 is closed due to storm damage from Hurricane Helene, and from the looks of it, it may remain this way for some time. The road is blocked by concrete bollards just past the entrance to Pearson’s Falls, adding about 0.4 miles each way of road walking to reach the old TH.
Melrose Falls is one of four on this stretch of Big Fall Creek, with two above and two below the railroad tracks. Melrose Falls is not too far upstream from where the creek empties into the North Pacolet River. The hike to the falls isn’t too bad, and the trail was in decent shape, although a sign at the trailhead warns that the trail is not maintained. The trail down to the cliff viewing area is steep and the rock face viewing area requires caution. The rocky area is big enough to move around some, but the drop is vertical and for sure deadly. You can access the base, but it’s steep as crap, and the view wasn’t that great.
Where to park: There is room to park where US 176 is blocked, not too far from Pearson’s Falls. The GPS for where I parked is: 35.22239, -82.31395. US 176 is only one lane for much of the drive, and there are traffic control signals.
The hike begins by following an old logging road past a series of boulders, heading up the hill. The old road is just before the second bridge over the river. The grade moderates after the initial climb, and wanders up and down for 0.5 miles, passing two cool rock formations on the left side of the trail. The first of which is a high cliff with a huge tree propped against it. I didn’t venture down back in 2016, and I didn’t climb down in 2026 either. The second formation isn’t as impressive, but it is a smaller version of the cliff viewing area. At 0.6 miles from the road, the trail forks. One trail climbs up and away from the creek, one climbs up toward the falls, and the other heads down toward the rocky cliff.
The trail falls off steeply toward the cliff, and you can hear the waterfall off to the right, and there are some poor glimpses through the trees. The trail splits, with a right turn leading to the rock area, while continuing straight leads down the side of the mountain. You can climb onto the rock to take a picture, and the closer you get to the edge, the better the shot. There is also a better chance of falling to a painful death. I didn’t get too close, but that’s just me.
Back in 2016, I undertook the plunge to the base of the falls, and it is the kind of hike that will not suit most. I’m not going to say the view down there isn’t worth it, but it’s a lot of effort, and I did not head back down there in 2026 to know if anything fell on it. If you decide you really need to see the base, enjoy. I would tell you the way, but it was more about picking the best way down. From experience, I can tell you there was a lot of wood nettle and poison ivy. The latter doesn’t bother me, but the former sure does. Do yourself a favor and confine your viewing to the cliff area. Keep your kids and dogs on a short leash. It’s easily 50 feet straight down with nothing to break your fall but boulders.
Nearby stuff on this hike
