GORP and Go: Toms Creek Falls Trail

Toms Creek Falls Trail
Out and Back
0.8 miles
Easy

This is a gem of a hike. It's short, easy, and has a fine payoff at the end: Toms Creek Falls, a high, multi-tiered waterfall.

Toms Creek Falls

The hike begins at a small parking area on Huskins Branch Road in Marion, NC. (Google Map) There's only enough room for four, maybe five cars.

BC and Elijah at the Trail Head.

The path follows an old roadbed for the first half of the trail and is generally flat and easy with a very modest 120' elevation change, most of which is in the final portion of the hike.

There are lots of large rocks along the trail. The boys enjoyed climbing all over them.

BC and Elijah on Toms Falls Creek Trail

There are several camping spots along the way including a very nice site just below the falls.

A nice wooden bridge facilitates the creek crossing.

The trail is covered with Mica, a transparent rock.

Even though I knew it was a short hike, I was surprised at how quickly we arrived at the falls.

Toms Creek Falls - Lower Portion

Toms Creek Falls - Full View

BC rock hopping below the falls

Elijah looking for fish in the pool below the falls

After spending a few minutes admiring the falls from below, BC and I decided to climb to the top. No, we didn't climb up the falls. That would be stupid (not to mention nearly impossible without some serious climbing expertise). We found a small trail that went back to the roadbed and up the hill to the top of the falls. We climbed down a moderate slope and sat at the top of the first drop that can be seen from the bottom of the falls.

Sitting on the edge of the falls.

It looks more dangerous than it is. The next level down was only about 7 feet and had a good lip. Had we fallen, we'd have gotten hurt, but it's not likely that we'd have gotten seriously injured or fallen the full length of the waterfall.

We didn't take the camera up, and it's hard to tell from the base of the falls, but this waterfall is actually a series of smaller falls. On our next trip here, we'll carry the camera to the top and get photos of each of the beautiful drops, including a couple very nice falls that can't be seen from the base.

And there will be another trip! After we got home, I re-read the trail description from HikeWNC and realized that we missed the mineshaft on the other side of the creek. Apparently the mine is full of water now and poses no risk of falling in. I'd also like to see the falls with more water. I'm putting this on my list of hikes to do in the spring.

Just up the bank near the falls is the remnants of a waterwheel (only the supports are left) that was reportedly used to power pumps that kept water out of the mine.

Remnants of the water wheel supports.


BC slid down this rock.

We spent a little bit of time climbing around on the enormous rocks near the base of the falls. Then we made our way back to the car and headed on up to Mount Mitchell.

Here's some more pictures: