SALUDA, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Only a few minutes off the interstate in the Green River Gorge are a pair of twin waterfall hikes. While Big Bradley Falls bears the distinction of signage and a parking area, across the street, Little Bradley Falls offers a short, rewarding trip to a breathtaking 50-foot cascade. While hikers should prepare for several creek crossings and tricky terrain, the mile-long trek is a worthwhile adventure.
Fast facts
- Parking for Little Bradley Falls is located along the side of the road at 5336 Holbert Cove Road in Saluda, N.C.
- The Little Bradley Falls Trail requires several creek crossings, as well as navigating around fallen trees, steep slopes and a collection of treacherous rocks. Bring sturdy, waterproof shoes for the hike.
- The trail is about 1.9 miles total.
- Watch carefully for the red blazes. The trail will occasionally wind off in other directions, but tree trunks marked with red paint are the ones to follow.
Creek crossings, rock yards and a waterfall view
The Little Bradley Falls Trail is a whole lot of fun. The trip is short, technical and worth every second, even if your hands get a little dirty and your boots a little wet.
The trail begins up a series of eroded, makeshift steps made of stones and fallen tree trunks. Ascending those, hikers will travel the route of Cove Creek below, which will be crossed several times over the course of the route.
Along the trail, rhododendron bushes are everywhere, giving the path the impression of a brown streak of paint over a bumpy emerald canvas. Maybe it was painted by a an artistically-inclined woodland spirit: At one juncture, the trail curves down and around a rhododendron-heavy bend, where a tiny, ceramic fairy used to sit on one of the branches. She’s since disappeared, but her work remains.
Watch carefully for the red blazes. The first of the Cove Creek crossings will take place to the right of the trail, leading hikers down a leafy slope to carefully make their way across the stream. For those who want to avoid the chance of falling in, a sturdy tree trunk has fallen over the creek, ready to be shimmied over.
The second of the creek crossings comes soon after. This section of Cove Creek is much wider, leaving hikers to choose the safest path they can spot across the rocks to make it to the other side.
Above the creek, a great wall of dried green vines slopes up to the road.
The most difficult part of the hike is a tumble of rough-hewn rocks. Hikers may carefully pick their way over them via two main routes: upper and lower. I found the upper path to be easiest on the way to the falls, while the lower path was simpler to navigate on the way back. Several rocks are unstable, so watch your step and use your hands when possible.
After navigating the rocks, it’s just a short distance to the waterfall. Fallen trees have made a kind of autumnal tunnel along one section of the trail, with branches still sporting red and yellow leaves for light fixtures.
Make sure to step off the trail to check out the remnants of an old stone building. Two carefully stacked piles of rocks are all that remain of the structure, but they are worth a look.
The waterfall itself can be heard from here. The falls have a large, clear pool at the bottom and several seating options at different levels. Make your way up the trail to the right of the falls to access them.
