Wildcat Falls is a 60-foot waterfall in Pisgah National Forest, just a mile from the Blue Ridge Parkway on the Forest Heritage Scenic Byway (NC Highway 215). Since it's on a small tributary to the West Fork of the Pigeon River, it's best after good rains. This high elevation waterfall (above 5,000 feet) is just a trickle during dry speils.
The 1.5-mile easy roundtrip hike starts at a small parking area at a campsite. From the intersection of NC Highway 215 and the Blue Ridge Parkway, go north on NC 215 for 8/10 of a mile and watch for the small steep drive on the right (marked with a tiny roadside sign "BR 1"). There's only room for 2-3 cars. There is additional roadside parking about 4/10 of a mile down the road. There are no signs for the waterfall.
From the campsite, the unmarked Flat Laurel Creek Trail starts to the right via on old logging road and railroad grade. There's a slight incline on the hike, but it's mostly wooded and easy. While trains and trucks once followed this path, it's now only a narrow trail in sections.
Soon after starting your hike, you'll step across Bubbling Spring Branch on stones without getting your feet wet. In about 1/4 of a mile, you'll pass a pair of small cascades on the right. Keep walking and all of a sudden a nice concrete bridge magically appears! It certainly seems out of place since most of the evidence of the former road is gone.
See the top section of Wildcat Falls from the bridge. Then you can carefully and slowly venture down a steep side trail past the bridge on the left down for a view of the falls beneath the bridge.
Mountain biking is permitted on this trail and there are several campsites along the way.
FYI: Flat Laurel Creek Trail continues from Wildcat Falls to Black Balsam parking area off the Blue Ridge Parkway (about 3 more miles ahead).
Driving Directions
Exit the Blue Ridge Parkway (near Milepost 423) onto NC 215 and go north 8/10 of a mile. Or, from Brevard take US Highway 64 west out of town (nine miles from downtown Brevard) and turn right on NC Highway 215 at Headwaters Outfitters in Rosman. Drive about 17.3 miles on NC 215 north (parking is on the right about 8/10 of a mile past the Blue Ridge Parkway).
More Waterfalls
Continue north on Highway 215 one mile for Bubbling Spring Branch Cascades and 3.5 miles for Sunburst Falls. Head south on Highway 215 for Dill Falls, Courthouse Falls and French Broad, Mill Shoal and Cathedral Falls. Nearby on the Parkway are the waterfalls at Graveyard Fields and Skinny Dip Falls.
