Accessibility – Moderate+
Height – 12′
Distance – 2.5 miles (out and back)
Beauty – 6
Photo rating – 8
Solitude – 7
GPS Info: LAT 35.18721 LONG -82.85258
Last Updated – 12-23-2024
Home Alphabetical Listing Numerical Listing Location Listing NC215N
Where to park: The parking is on the southbound side of NC215 at this location: 35.18434, -82.84837. This is 4.1 miles north of US64.
Things to consider: There are two factors to consider when planning this hike. The temperature and the water level. On the way to the falls, there is a wide river crossing. In low water, it is above knee deep and the rocks are slippery. This is a great summer hike. I’ve done it in the winter and it wasn’t pleasant. I have not done it in high water, nor would I attempt it.
The hike: It doesn’t show on the map, but here is a trail that descends steeply from the parking area. The hike down to the river is 0.3 of a mile and the trail drops 350 feet in that span, which makes for a fun hike out when you’re done. The trail will flatten out and head upstream for the next mile, making that one deep crossing about a third of a mile from the falls. The condition of the trail drops off once you cross, and it gets hard to follow in places. There is a chance the trail has changed since Helene since it was already being eroded. My last visit was in 2021. The pool below the falls is a great place to swim and enjoy a summer day. Boxcar Falls proves that a waterfall doesn’t have to be a hundred feet high to be awesome. This one will always be one of my favorites.
