About this spot
Pothole Falls (also called Potholes Falls) is a short, roughly 15-ft cascade over sculpted rock directly under the Bull Pen Road bridge over the upper Chattooga River, near the Jackson/Macon County line southwest of Highlands. Access is via unpaved Bull Pen Road off Whiteside Cove Road; park before the bridge and take stone steps down on the far side, scrambling over slippery rocks to reach the falls. This stretch of the Chattooga headwaters is documented as a swimming destination in regional hiking guides, which describe boulder-strewn pools and unusual rock potholes nearby, though sources describe wading and scrambling rather than an established cliff-jumping spot. Rocks are notoriously slick and the current can run swift and cold.
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.