Dill Falls

10-22-05  Good news! The 2 forest roads leading to Dill Falls have reopened and are in the best shape I've ever seen them in. The roads had been closed due to damage from the hurricanes of 2004. Previous to this, FR4663-B had huge potholes and I had recommended not to go down in a passenger vehicle. This now makes the waterfall easy to drive to and a fairly easy hike. You can also add Upper Dill Falls if you don't mind a bushwhack down a bank to the creek. If you wanted to see Courthouse Falls and found FR140 closed, Dill Falls is a good alternative. (The forest service now advises FR140 won't open until Winter 2006!)

Dill Falls is on Tanasee Creek just inside Jackson County off of Hwy 215. 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 2 junked up homes on the left and turn between the 2. 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. Drive just under 2 miles on FR4663 and bear left on FR 4663-B - this turn is easy to miss. Drive another 1/2 mile and park where 3 older roads meet. Walk down the road that goes straight ahead and descends towards the creek. It's less than 1/4 mile to the creek and waterfall. 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 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's no trail to the base, so you'll have to scramble down the bank. This is a nicer waterfall than what I was expecting! My pals KT and Cathy had been a few years back, but for some reason I had never followed their lead. (I don't claim to be the sharpest knife in the drawer.) Kevin Adams added this falls to his new book and Bernie recently said 'let's go!' after finding the forest roads reopened. 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

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