Rufus Morgan Trail and Falls Franklin, NC 28734

"This trail was such a suprise. Took the short detour over on the way to Wayah Bald, the scenic byway to get there is a beautiful drive, and the trail itself is relatively easy. Did the loop trail and online I read it's 1 mile, but it felt more like 2. The payoff with the waterfall is so worth it. Was not expecting such a beautiful feature, seems to be sort of "under the radar" considering how few people we saw there on a sunday afternoon."

"1 mile hike that I would rate on the easy side of moderate. We took the right loop out and back because our little one struggle on the bigger creek crossing with slippery rocks. The falls are beautiful! The first bit is a small climb and then it mostly levels out. Some roots on the trails and 2 minor creek crossings. Just watch your steps carefully."

"Great, short hike. It's a loop, or an out-and-back if you want. Just be sure to continue to the main waterfall after you get to the smaller one. Once you get to the dirt roads, it's about an 8 minute drive to the parking area."

"This was our first hike of the week and really set the tone for great family hikes. It's probably only a mile round trip and our 4 and 5 year olds handled it on their own minus needing a little help with a few small water crossings. Our two dogs handled the hike with ease too. The waterfall itself is pretty spectacular and it's nice that you hike up to falls and hike down on the way back. Mid-March was perfect as we had the trail and the falls to ourselves. If you're looking for a great family friendly hike in the Nantahala, definitely check this one out. It's also just a short way down the road from the Appalachian Trail."

"My best friend and I stayed in NC for the week and this was our first introduction to the trails up there. What started as some confusion, ended with an amazing waterfall. Upon arriving, we quickly realized parking is minimal but relatively easy to get in an out of. There’s space for 3-4 cars pending people’s parking jobs. We followed what we thought was the trail based on the blue markers but were quickly turned around by fallen trees. After some further looking around, we figured out that if you go through the gate (to left of parking if looking at mountain) that says “no motorized vehicles” and head up, you’re on the right path! The hike is relatively easy and mostly shaded but definitely recommend bringing water and maybe some snacks. I want to say it took about 45 min or so, maybe an hour, to get to the top once we sorted out the right trail. The waterfall is gorgeous and if you wanted, you could probably stand in/under it. No swimming area as it continues to decline down the mountain. The trail circles back down to the original spot we started at. It was a little messy getting down around the fallen tree requiring a smidge of off trail maneuvering but it takes you right back to where the cars are. Definitely a good place to check out if you’re in the area."