About this spot
Pot Branch Falls is a real, well-documented 25-foot, three-tier waterfall on Pot Branch in the South Mountains Game Land near Casar, NC, reached by a moderate 1.1-mile hike with roughly 88 feet of elevation gain. Multiple independent hiking and waterfall guides (AllTrails, ncwaterfalls.com, Waterfall Hero, HD Carolina) describe it as a popular local swimming hole and summer hangout: water-sculpted rock basins ("pots") form natural bathtub pools at the top and base of the falls. A steep scramble path drops to the main pool. The rock underfoot is notoriously slick when wet, and the game land has no lifeguard or facilities, so footing near the creek is the hazard that matters most. Access is public (NC Wildlife Resources Commission game land); no permit is required, though hunting seasons may affect visits.