'Hidden Falls' of Highlands, NC

‘Hidden Falls’ Hidden Waterfall of Highlands, North Carolina

Described as “being in a bowl of beauty”, the Hidden Fall of Highlands, NC (Macon County) is located on private property that may only be accessed by guests of Creeksong Cabin – Highlands Hilltop Retreat. The waterfall is tucked away and hidden by both National Forest Service Land and Private Land. Hidden Falls 17’ tall cascade parts two massive cliffs of roughly 80’ on either side and has a constant gushing flow. The strong flow and rock walls make for a loud and lovely sound which provided the appellation for the private estate; ‘Creeksong Cabin’.

There are many wonderful features of this untouched waterfall, the three greatest being it’s seclusion, the wonderful swimming hole, and the uniqueness. The natural swimming hole is about 30’ long and 25’ wide with varying depths. Directly beneath the falls is said to be more than 10’ deep. Swimmers should be careful. The swimming hole feeds into another waterfall, so swimmers should steer clear from that area.

This beautiful waterfall gains in uniqueness by having a narrow cascade. While most waterfalls release the water from a flat open area, Hidden Falls has a tight spillway in the shape of a V, quite literally cutting through the two cliff-sides. This feature is incredibly rare and is one of the main reason’s waterfall hunters flock to the cabin whenever availability allows.

Waterfall hunters are not the only weekend warriors with Hidden Falls on their bucket list… Fly-fishing aficionados from around the US have enjoyed fishing at Hidden Falls where Rainbow, Brook and Brown Trout are all common. This is a great fly-fishing location in Highlands for trout due to the natural rock formations and private access. Since only guests of the cozy Cabin may access the waterfall and fishing area, it is relatively untouched and will never become over-fished. The survey of brook trout by the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission has more interesting details on Trout in Buck Creek, the river feeding Hidden Falls. http://www.mainspringconserves.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/3-2014-Brook-Trout-Report.pdf

Guests of Creeksong Cabin are given clear instructions for accessing this amazing gem. In addition to instruction on locating the falls, all guests must adhere to these rules when enjoying the untouched falls.

· Safety first, as with all parts of the property, enjoy at your own risk

o Make sure someone knows where you are going and when you will be back

o Take a walking stick and walk carefully, trail is often VERY slippery

· Leave only footprints

· Remove any rubbish you see anywhere on your hike

· Fishing is permitted, but fish may not be killed or taken

· Report trespassers

Hidden Falls remains on private property. Only guests of the cabin may access the area, all others are trespassing. The property owners and their guests frequent the waterfall and enforce the no- trespassing policy.

Interested in booking a stay to experience Hidden Falls?

Contact Sally and Jerry Mass at 828-421-4587 (sallymass2@gmail.com) or visit: https://www.vrbo.com/2239549