Maidenhair Falls

The waterfall starts as a short free-fall of about 15 or 20 feet high, then cascades down another 15 feet or so over some steep, layered rock into a crevice holding a pool. There are some smaller cascades just downstream. The stream has a fair amount of water flow under normal conditions, so the falls can be loud - at least more than just a showery spray. Nearly perfect for photography under the right conditions (meaning cloudy) - at other times the sun shines directly on the falls, as the sky is open above.

Directions

Driving

Located on private property, this falls was for years accessed by locals over a not-so-legal route. Now, hiking is allowed - the landowner has graciously granted access over a specific route - and it is possible for visitors to hike to the falls without too much difficulty. Parking for the hike is a different story.

From the intersection of US Hwys. 276 and 64 in downtown Brevard (Broad and Main), follow US 276 South (E. Main) for 2.3 miles and turn left on Becky Mountain Rd. Private Reeves Road is on the left after 0.2mi, just beyond a bridge and pasture. This is where the hike begins. However, there is NO PARKING at that intersection. And do not drive up Reeves Road - there is NO PARKING and only foot traffic is allowed.

To be perfectly safe, you should probably catch a ride from Brevard and have someone drop you off at the start of Reeves Road. But 0.1mi before Reeves Road is a gravel pull off on the left at the driveway for the church up on the hill. Most people suggest parking in that pull off. There is plenty of room to park without blocking the church drive, but I'll let you decide if you want to risk it since technically that is within the road right-of-way where you could get towed.

Trail

Overall, the hike is about 1 mile long and moderate in difficulty. Bigger kids will have no problems with it.

From the intersection with Becky Mountain Road, hike up Reeves Road, which is a gravel drive. There are signs indicating that this is private property, and you are allowed to proceed on foot at your own risk. Be considerate, stay on the marked path, don't bring dogs, don't litter, and don't make lots of noise. You'll have the pasture on your left and houses on your right.

Reeves Road narrows after a short distance and goes into some white pine trees. After coming out of the pines, the lane curves right and there is a gate in the fence with a yellow sign for the falls on the left. There are nice signs at all possible junctions from here on to the falls. Enter the pasture (close the gate!) and continue up the fence line. Cross a small footbridge, following the yellow blocks marking the way. Another gate is on the right past the footbridge; exit the pasture here.

Continue up the fence line on the well-signed and nicely maintained trail. The trail merges with an old 4-wheeler road beyond the pasture. It goes right and uphill - just keep following the signs. The trail is in a mature white pine & hemlock forest; the large hemlocks are all mostly dead and there are a few dead pines, too. Use extreme caution here and don't come on a windy day - there are some huge, dead trees which will start shedding limbs more frequently in the next few years.

The trail comes back down to the creek and crosses it on a nice footbridge, then continues uphill on the left side. After a few more minutes of moderate climbing, you'll hear and see the falls on your right, and a right turn at the sign takes you down to the base. There is a scramble down some root steps at the very end to get down onto the rocks below the falls.