861 – Boomer Inn Trib Falls

Height – 10′

Distance – 3.1 (ending up being a loop)

Beauty – 3

Photo rating – 4

Solitude – 8

GPS Info: LAT 35.374769 LONG -82.96728

Last Updated – 01-08-2023

Last Visited – 12-31-2021

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Timing is going to be important when it comes to seeing anything on FR97 since it is only open from September 1 to January 1. The road was in decent shape on my 2022 visit. Boomer Inn Trib Falls is a narrow drop on Boomer Inn Branch above the split with the unnamed trib. This small drop is less than 0.2 above the split.

Directions to Trailhead: To reach the access point, take NC215 North 8.4 miles north of the intersection with the Blue Ridge Parkway. You will see FR97 on the left before the road veers to the right and flattens out. Make the left and follow FR97 4.2 miles to a wide area just before FR97 crosses Boomer Inn on a low water bridge. There is a wide area on the other side of the road where an old road heads up the mountain. I parked here 35.37104, -82.95847.

The hike: The hike began by following the old road from there we parked, electing to take this route to Boomer Inn Falls and above to avoid the creek as long as possible. You can get to Boomer Inn Falls however you choose, but once there, we crossed to river left and climbed above the falls. Boomer Inn Branch forks about 0.25 of a mile above Boomer Inn Falls. If you follow the right hand branch, which is Boomer Inn Branch, it is less than 0.2 to this small drop.