About this spot
Alarka Falls is a roughly 200-foot series of cascades and slides on Alarka Creek in Nantahala National Forest, about 20 minutes from Bryson City. From US-74 exit 64, Alarka Road runs about 10 miles to a turnaround; a rocky, moderately difficult trail of under a half-mile leads to the base. The falls are long and tiered, making the full drop hard to see at once, and the approach gets slick near the water. No trip reports document swimming or jumping here, so it reads as a scenic hiking destination rather than an established swimming hole. Treat any water access as unverified and use caution on wet rock.
Safety first. Cliff jumping is inherently dangerous and can cause serious injury or death. Conditions — water depth, submerged hazards, and access — change constantly. CliffScout is community-sourced reference information, not a guarantee a spot is safe. Always assess the conditions yourself before jumping, and never jump where you're unsure. You assume all risk.