Picklesimer Rock House falls is another lesser known falls that is well worth visiting. The half mile trail is an easy hike and the reward is a 40' free falling waterfall in front of a deeply recessed rock house.

From the intersection of Hwys 64 and 28 in Highlands, drive 5.8 miles south on Hwy 28 and take a sharp right on SR1618 at a sign for the Blue Valley Campground. This road becomes gravel and FR79. Drive 4.2 miles down this well maintained road through the Nantahala National Forest and park at an old logging road heading up to the right. It's gated, but the gate is maybe 50-75 yards up, so we didn't immediately notice it. Hike for less than 1/2 mile to a wildlife clearing. Pass through the clearing to a creek and take the faint trail to the right up the creek a short distance to the falls.

We were here in mid November and the water flow was low, but the setting is absolutely wonderful. Steep hills flank both sides of the falls and the rock house is undercut enough to provide shelter during a rain storm. There were a couple of fire rings at the time of our visit, but no trash and thankfully, no graffiti spray painted on the rocks. Some of the rhododendron drapes over the ledge at the top of the falls, but so does a branch of something else. There were no leaves on it, but it appears to still be alive and hopefully will be green when I revisit in the Spring.

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