High Falls
updated 8-13-06 - High Falls on the south fork of Mills River is a 15' falls in a rather remote section of the Pisgah Forest. To get to it requires a 2 mile hike, a water crossing, and another crossing to get a good vantage point.
To get here, head up Hwy 276 10.3 miles past the ranger station and take a right on the gravel FR 1206, about a half mile from the Cradle of Forestry. If you are coming from the Blue Ridge Parkway, FR 1206 is just under 3.5 miles south on the left. Go 3.3 miles down 1206 and turn right on FR 476, then drive another 1.3 miles until the road ends at the parking area. The trail begins at the gated road and is an easy hike following the river. After a mile, the main trail heads to the right and over a concrete bridge. The narrower trail to the High Falls is the middle one and crosses Billy Branch. There is a 20' waterfall on Billy Branch, 'discovered' by KT and Cathy - thanks guys! Take the left trail up Billy Branch for 5-10 minutes and the falls is visible through the trees. It's a scramble down the bank to get to the base. Here's a shot - I like it better than High Falls!
waterfall
on Billy Branch
Back to High Falls directions - after crossing Billy Branch, the trail continues to follow the river and becomes more moderate in difficulty. There are some places that look like they stay wet from seepage and would be icy in cold weather. It took me 35 minutes at a good pace to get to the point where the trail ends and I had to cross the river.There's a large hemlock tree at this point. You will have to get your feet wet at this point! If water levels are high, you won't be able to safely cross. The trail then picks up again and was getting overgrown with dog hobble on my most recent trip. There are also a couple of places where the trail is eroding and you have to watch your footing. It's another 1/4 mile to the falls after the crossing. Along this stretch, another creek feeds in to the river on the opposite side with a taller waterfall, but the trees obscured the view. Once I got to the falls, I had to wade into the river to get the 1st shot above. Just above the falls is a nice cascade pictured below.
