Twin Falls Henry Branch

Twin Falls is two pretty tall waterfalls, very close to each other.   The Falls are pretty, and the hike out to them is one of the nicer hikes in Pisgah National Forest, but neither of them are very photogenic due to the amount of debris that has fallen around them.   Regardless still a really nice waterfall hike, especially if you are hiking to see to Avery Creek Falls as well.  The overall hike is 4 miles roundtrip.

Location: In Pisgah National Forest on FR477, off Highway 276 between Brevard and the Blue Ridge Parkway
Roundtrip Distance: 4 miles
Difficulty: Moderate – The very first part is downhill, but it then flattens out. The short side trail down is falls is steep.
Handicap Accessible: No
Dog-Friendly: Yes
Features: Waterfalls, Forest, nice and scenic backroads drive
Directions: From The Blue Ridge Parkway, take the NC Highway 276 exit at MP412.2. Take 276 South right at 4 miles, and turn left on FR477. Follow FR477 for 4.5 miles, until you reach some small pull over areas, the trailhead for Avery Creek Trail your left. Park in the small gravel pull-overs to the side.
Recommended Gear: Standard Day hiking essentials, [easyazon_link identifier=”1566953324″ locale=”US” tag=”blueridgemountainlife-20″]Pisgah National Forest Ranger District Trail Map[/easyazon_link]
Map:

Hiking to Twin Falls on Henry Branch

The best place to start this hike is from the Avery Creek Trailhead on FR477, as this will allow you to visit Avery Creek Falls, which is .5 miles up the trail, then continue the additional 3.5 miles to Twin Falls.   This allows you to see three waterfalls in one 4 mile roundtrip hike.  This is an absolutely wonderful hike in the spring, due to this being an excellent wildflower area.

You can also start this hike at the Buckhorn Gap Trail trailhead, just a little ways from the Avery Creek Trailhead on FR477.   Starting here will provide a view of Avery Creek Falls, but you won’t be able to easily access it.

If you started from Avery Creek Trailhead, continue up past Avery Creek Falls until you reach the junction with Buckhorn Gap Trail.  Turn right here and cross Avery Creek.   The blaze color for Buckhorn Gap Trail is orange.  A horse trail will merge in from the right.  Stay left and follow alongside the creek.  The majority of the creek crossings with have both a horse ford/mountain bike crossing and then a nearby footbridge.   We recommend using the footbridges to stay dry.

You’ll soon reach the junction of Twin Falls trail, which will head to the left and will have a yellow blaze.  After turning on the trail, you’ll almost immediately cross Henry Branch.  About 0.4 miles up the trail, a small path will lead to the left, and head up.  

This 500′ path leads to a small waterfall, that really isn’t worth the hike up, unless it’s been raining.  The small unnamed waterfall is typically mostly dry, with only a slow trickle.  But, if there was a recent heavy rain or in the spring, it might be worth a look.

Continue on up Twin Falls Trail.  After about 200 feet or so, you’ll reach a fairly large campsite.  In the winter, with no foliage, you can see both of the falls in the distance.  During other seasons, you should be able to hear them from here.

A small trail leads down from the campground to the left waterfall.  There is another trail near the base, and close to the campground that takes you over to the right waterfall.

Twin Falls on Henry Branch

Left side falls

The waterfalls themselves are pretty, even more so after a heavy rain and during the spring when the water flow is heavy.   Reaching the falls, and getting good photos is difficult due to the amount of debris that has fallen at the base and down the creek.  Unfortunately, this will be here for a long time to come.

We did this hike in the summer and were unable to even get close to the left waterfall due to a large yellow jacket nest on up the scramble trail to the top.

At the top of the right side falls

You can reach the base of the right side waterfall, but the trail up is steep and narrow, so be very careful.  Rocks at the top are also slick.   The view from the bottom is a better photo spot anyway, for both of the waterfalls.

You’ll return to your car the same way you came up.  

Twin Falls Henry Branch
Right side falls

Nearby Waterfalls

Other nearby Waterfalls include Looking Glass Falls, Moore Cove Falls, Avery Creek Falls, and Sliding Rock.   See our full list of Waterfall guides on our Top Waterfalls Page.

About the author

Larry Deane is co-owner of Blue Ridge Mountain Life. He has spent more than 20 years exploring the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains and has a deep passion for nature, history, storytelling, and adventure. Along with his wife Jenn, they combined these passions to create Blue Ridge Mountain Life, a travel guide to these stunning mountains they are fortunate to call home.

Larry has more than 20 years of experience as a writer and journalist, and has established himself as a leading voice and expert for Blue Ridge Mountains. He is also an avid hiker, photographer, and videographer. He loves sharing his mountain adventures and knowledge with more than 500,000 people per month on Blue Ridge Mountain Life.


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