Height – 20′
Distance – 3.7 (out and back)
Beauty – 4
Photo rating – 4
Solitude – 8
GPS Info: LAT 35.38294 LONG -82.95722
Last Updated – 01-08-2023
Last Visited – 12-17-2022
Home Alphabetical Listing Numerical Listing Location Listing FR97
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. If the road is open it is 0.7 of a mile walking the road to reach Queen Creek. None of the waterfalls on this creek are huge, and most won’t find it worth the effort. Queen Creek falls is below the road, and you can get to the base from either side of the creek. It’s an interesting waterfall with a tree growing out of the middle of it.
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 until you reach the gate at the end. I didn’t log the miles but it ended here 35.37648 -8295114. There is a wide area here and a turn around.
The hike: Walk FR97 past the gate 0.7 of a mile to where it crosses Queen Creek. Queen Creek Falls is below the road. I crossed the creek and came down on river left. River right looked about the same difficulty.
