Sam Branch Falls is a 90-foot cascade hidden along Sam Branch in the Pisgah National Forest. The hike to this waterfall is extremely strenuous and requires extensive navigating through the creek itself, but the journey will also take you past Lower Sam Branch Falls and the optional Wash Hollow Falls, which adds an extra 0.2 miles. To begin, navigate to the trailhead at 35.3394° N, 82.9009° W on the south end of the outer guard rail. Parking is available along the guardrail. From here, you'll see a steep path ascending up the mountain as shown below.
Trailhead for Lower Sam Branch Falls, Wash Hollow Falls, and Sam Branch Falls.
From the trailhead continue for just under 0.2 miles through the overgrown underbrush until you come to a fork near what looks like a dried up waterfall. You can see this in the image below. This feature is actually the result of a rockslide from Hurricane Helene in 2024 and other weather events. There will appear to be a trail that continues straight parallel to the rockslide, but you'll also find a trail on the left that leads down towards the creek bed. Take the left trail towards the creek you see on the left side of the image below.
Rockslide wreckage from Hurricane Helene in 2024.
From the creek bed, the rockslide will be on your right, while the creek will be on your left. Follow the creek around the fallen trees and at 0.3 miles in you'll see Lower Sam Branch Falls come into view. Below is a photo of it.
From this point, you'll find a rock on the left bank of the creek with what looks like a steeply ascending trail above it. See photo below.
The rock, directly centered, marking the beginning of the trail.
Climb this rock and take the trail up the hill until you reach a forked clearing where the trail levels out. If you would like to see Wash Hollow Falls, go left at this fork until the waterfall comes into view. Doing so will add about 0.2 miles to the hike. To continue to Sam Branch Falls, go right at the fork. You will reach the top of Lower Sam Branch Falls.
Forked clearing.
Once at the top of Lower Sam Branch Falls, immediately to the left you'll find a larger rock to climb over or around and a trail ascending steeply upwards once again from there. This trail is very steep and somewhat overgrown due to little use, but you may see footprints in muddy sections. This trail is sometimes used by rock climbers to reach another area around the creek. You'll notice a large boulder with a metal rope hanging around it as shown below. You're going the correct way.
Rock climbing rope around a boulder.
After just over 0.4 miles in, you'll see the tree pictured below at 35.3402° N, 82.8966° W. If you continue up the path, you'll start drifting away from the creek. Instead, take a right just before the tree and scramble down to the creek.
The double tree signaling to enter the creek.
The rest of the hike will take place in the creek. The first image below will be what you should see once in the creek. Along the way you'll encounter some other cool water features pictured below that you might think are Sam Branch Falls. They are not, but they're still pretty great. Getting around them is the real challenge, and you will need to find your way based on your own climbing abilities and comfortability with risk. After just under 0.5 miles, you'll reach the 90-foot Sam Branch Falls, pictured last.
View after entering the creek.
Sam Branch Falls.
Parking Location: 35.3396° N, 82.9012° W
GPS Location: 35.3443° N, 82.8918° W
Parking: Roadside Pull-off
Total Hike: 1.7 miles
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Admission: Free
Open: 24/7
Swimming: Not recommended
Pets: Yes, with leash
GPS Location: 35.3443° N, 82.8918° W
Parking: Roadside Pull-off
Total Hike: 1.7 miles
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Admission: Free
Open: 24/7
Swimming: Not recommended
Pets: Yes, with leash
