Big Laurel Falls Franklin North Carolina

Big Laurel Falls Hike

In a beautiful part of the Nantahala National Forest near Standing Indian Campground is this little jewel of a waterfall called Big Laurel Falls. A short .6 mile hike that follows the path of an old logging railroad, the trail meanders along a raging noisy Big Laurel Branch creek with lots of big boulders. Although most books rate this trail as easy, I would say due to the root rutted trail it is more on the easy side of moderate. There are no steep grades on the hike only mild inclines and descents but the rough trail makes it a cautious hike in some areas making the half mile distance seem further then it is. Once there however, you are rewarded with a beautiful falls and an overall enjoyable a hike with unusal trees and lots of rhodadendron along the way. One warning though, stop to look along the way or you may stumble on this trail. This one is worth the trip.

Fall size:

Beauty Scale: (1-worth seeing-10 awesome)

20'

6

Directions: from Fanklin, North Carolina

Head west on Hwy 64 up over the pass toward Hayesville to West Old Murphy Road a left turn towards Standing Indian campground. It's a beautiful 7.1 mile drive through the Nantahala forest to a pull out on the right at the trail head for Big Laurel Falls. There's a sign there.

Just FYI: At 1.8 miles you will see the entrance to Standing Indian Campground on your right. At 2.4 miles the road turns from paved to gravel.

Directions: from Hayesville, North Carolina

Head east on Hwy 64 20.7 miles up the pass toward Franklin to West Old Murphy Road a left turn towards Standing Indian campground. It's a beautiful 7.1 mile drive through the Nantahala forest to a pull out on the right at the trail head for Big Laurel Falls. There's a sign there.

Just FYI: At 1.8 miles you will see the entrance to Standing Indian Campground on your right. At 2.4 miles the road turns from paved to gravel.

Fees:

none

Closest town:

Between Franklin North Carolina and Hayesville North Carolina

Wayah Ranger District
90 Sloan Road
Franklin, NC 28734
828-524-6441
(Turn at sign on U.S. 64, west of Franklin)