If you love waterfalls, SW NC and NE GA are definitely some of the best places in the country for you to live. First, check out Part 1 and Part 2 of my “The Falls” series which each feature 2 waterfalls from the aforementioned region. In addition, check out my NC Highway 28 edition for more falls. I’ll be covering two more in this edition of Roads Less Traveled: Holcomb Creek Falls in Rabun County, GA and Crabtree Falls on the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina.
Bad Branch Falls
Location: Rabun County
Trail Difficulty: Super-Easy
If you are looking for a remote, rarely visited waterfall then Holcomb Creek Falls is the one for you. Located near Lake Rabun near Minnehaha Falls, it is a remote, decently sized waterfall. During the dry summer months, the flow can get a bit low, but it is still worth a look.
First view of the falls while approaching from the left. The trail is flat with exposed roots being the only real problem you will encounter along your 5 minute or less hike.
A closer look at the falls. It’s height is approximately 20 feet total. This isn’t insanely large but certainly big enough to be great for flowing pictures.
To get there, follow 441 north 2 miles past Tallulah Falls. Turn left onto old 441 for 2.5 miles then turn left onto Lake Rabun Rd. Stay on Lake Rabun for 6 miles and turn left to cross the Lake Seed Dam. Immediately turn right onto Crow Creek Road. Follow CCR for 2.9 miles and you will see a trailhead on the left with a small pull-out nearby. This trail takes you to Bad Branch Falls.
Crabtree Falls
Location: Yancey County, NC
Trail Difficulty: Difficult to Strenuous
Arguably one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the southeast, Crabtree Falls is a 70-foot single drop waterfall located near Mt. Mitchell along the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. It can be accessed via either a hike in and back out (1.2 miles approx) or a 2.5 mile loop trail. The trail is quite steep in spots, especially going back up the ridge on the other side of the falls, but is worth every step. The falls got it’s name from the numerous Crabtrees that used to grow in the area. There are very few around now, but the “tree” description still fits the falls as numerous small rock ledges gives the falls the appearance of tree branches. You can view the falls from a bridge that crosses the creek just in front, but you can also climb the rocks to get closer to (and even touch) the falls.
Crabtree Falls; A makeshift trail can be seen on the right of the rocks. This leads to a viewpoint fairly close to the falls. The easiest “touching” access is via the left side.
Head-on view similar to what is seen from the bridge. The tree on the top left makes a perfect head-on shot practically impossible.
Getting up-close and personal; the view from the trail seen in image 1
A head-on view taken whilst leaning up against the tree mentioned above and getting splattered with spray from the falls. Watch for snakes getting here!
View from the trail as you begin to climb away from Crabtree.
After leaving the falls, you can head back the way you came or continue on the loop up a steep ridge. The trail will cut back towards the top of the falls to a nice rock outcropping, before becoming quite flat and easy the rest of the way out.
Me for scale 🙂
I hope you get a chance to visit both of these falls, along with all others I’ve featured. I’ll continue to feature more as we go forward, and if you have a falls you want me to do shoot me an email at [email protected]
Thanks for reading, and as always I’ll see you on the road……~TW
