Accessibility – Moderate+
Height – 50′ (maybe more)
Distance – 1.8 miles (out and back)
Beauty – 4
Photo rating – 3
Solitude – 4
GPS Info: LAT 35.69141 LONG -82.20594
Last Updated – 12-26-2024
Home Alphabetical Listing Numerical Listing Location Listing Curtis Creek Road
Where to park: The trailhead parking is along Curtis Creek Road near the Snooks Nose Trailhead. The GPS location is 35.68917, -82.19758, but you may have to park further from the trailhead.
The hike: The trailhead is on the side of the road that faces away from the campground. This is the west side of the road. The Snooks Nose Trail sees some traffic, but very little of it is going to Slick Falls. From the start, the trail is going to ascend, steeply at times toward the top of the ridge. A third of a mile into the hike, the trail crosses slick creek. Nearly 0.6 miles into the climb, the trail will enter a left switchback followed by a right switchback. At the next lefthand switchback, leave the right side of the trail for the push down to the falls. This is where I left the trail: 35.69028, -82.20606.
As far as the bushwhack, you don’t want to head straight down to the creek. The elevation of the falls is very close to the elevation where you left the trail. If you go straight down, you’ll be climbing up to the falls. Around 0.1 after leaving the trail, angle toward the creek, ensuring to come out below the falls but not too far below. It’s really thick down there, and moving in the creek isn’t easy. It’s a big waterfall, but it’ll never be one of my favorites. I haven’t been back since 2021, so I’m not sure how it has fared.
