About this spot
Falling Water Branch Falls sits on its namesake creek near Murchison outside Burnsville, in the Mount Mitchell State Park vicinity. Access is via NC 197 south from US 19E onto Ewart Wilson Road; park at a gated dirt road about 12 miles in, then follow an old roadbed past a homesite before it crosses the branch and climbs upstream. This is a hiker's waterfall documented by North Carolina waterfall photographers rather than an established swimming hole, and no cliff-jumping or swim culture is documented here. Expect an unmarked route, slick rock, and cold mountain water; treat footing near the drop as hazardous.
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.
