Dill Falls  10-12-2008

1-19-09 - I made an attempt to visit Dill Falls on January 17 and found a locked gate about 1/2 mile from Hwy 215. It appears as if this is one of the forest roads that are closed during the winter months. I guess you could park here and walk the remaining 2 miles to the waterfall. It's a fairly easy walk.   

Dill Falls is on Tanasee Creek just inside Jackson County off of Hwy 215. National Forest land on the left side in Jackson County is Nantahala Forest - the right side of 215 is Pisgah National Forest in Transylvania County. Dill Falls and the nearby Courthouse Falls would be 2 good ones to visit in a trip to this area.

If you are coming from Brevard, take Hwy 64 west out of town and turn right on Hwy 215 at Headwaters Outfitters. Drive 14 miles on 215 north and turn left on Forest Road 4663. Look for a small home that usually has junk in the yard on the left and turn left just after it, between it and the trashed up trailer just after the road. A little sign post may say FR4663, and the gravel road looks like one of the driveways. If you are coming from the Blue Ridge Parkway, drive south on 215 for 2 1/2 miles and turn right on FR4663. These forest roads have been in good shape since the rebuilds after the floods of 2004. You should be able to drive down them in a passenger vehicle under normal conditions. Drive just under 2 miles on FR4663 and bear left on FR4663-B. This turn is easy to miss because it's over a small hump - just enough so you kind of have too lean up and look over your hood to see it. Drive another 1/2 mile and park where 3 older roads meet. I have been to this area several times and have never had a problem and very rarely see anyone else at the waterfalls. I guess the forest service recently contracted someone to block access to ATV's past this point. They have taken a backhoe and dug deep holes on these roads past the parking spot. Not just one or two, but dozens! It literally looks like someone planted dynamite and blew craters in the earth. Anyhow, walk in the woods around these craters and down the road that goes straight ahead and descends towards the creek. It's less than 1/4 mile to the creek and you'll soon hear the waterfall. Just before the creek, look for a side trail that goes up to the right for a closer look. Or continue down to the creek and rock hop up. There's fallen timber in front of the falls, but you can get close enough for a clean shot of the 50' falls if the spray isn't too bad.

Upper Dill Falls isn't too far up the creek, but the easiest way to get there is from where you are parked for Dill Falls. When you arrived at the parking at the end of FR4663-B, an old road turned to the right and headed uphill. Walk up that now cratered road to where it levels off - the creek will be on your left. Keep walking and in a short distance you'll hear the falls. There wasn't trail to the base on my last visit a few years ago, so you'll probably still have to scramble down the bank. This is a nicer waterfall than what I was expecting! It's hard to tell from the following shots, but the waterfall is about 20-25' high. If you can make it down the bank, I think you will be pleased by what you find.

Upper Dill Falls  10-22-2005

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