Accessibility – Difficult+

Height: Approx 35′

Distance – 0.1 miles (out and back)

Beauty – 6

Photo rating – 6

Solitude – 5

GPS Info: LAT 35.77040 LONG -82.84190

Last updated – 10/07/2018

Home     Alphabetical Listing     Numerical Listing     Location Listing   NC215 Waterfalls

Big Bearwallow Falls is a very nice waterfall and it is close to NC215 but getting to it is not easy. There is no trail but only the way down the steep embankment. About the only insight I can give is, I went over the guardrail from a narrow pullout on the West side of NC215. There is a wide pull out 2.6 miles from US64 on the left (14.5 miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway). From the parking area, continue up the hill (North to the smaller pull out and go over the guardrail.

You’ll know you’re in the right spot if you see a pair of 55 gallon drums that were tossed over the side and are rusting quietly. Make your way past the drums and down the hill toward the sound of falling water. Here’s my take. The further downstream I went, the steeper the cliffs I encountered. I ended up emerging onto the side of the falls. From there is was a matter of climbing down the waterfall, which involved crossing it in the middle. You don’t have to go this route but it was the way I went. You could cross the creek above the falls and come down the bank on river right I suppose or try and get to an area beyond the cliffs. In either case, for a hike of a few hundred feet, it’s a workout. The payoff is nice too. Crappy lighting!