About this spot
Clear Creek Falls is a real, well-documented roughly 40-foot waterfall on Clear Creek near Nantahala Lake in Nantahala National Forest, Clay County. Reach it by boat across the lake or by driving Tusquitee Road (SR 1307) about 10 miles from Hayesville to its gravel end, then hiking roughly a mile along an old roadbed, fording two creeks. The base forms a plunge pool used for swimming and tubing by lake visitors, per multiple independent trip reports, and Nantahala Lake itself is known regionally for swimming and cliff jumping. Hazards: the final road stretch is steep and rough, creek fords can run high after rain, and rocks near the plunge pool are slippery. This is backcountry National Forest land with no lifeguards or facilities; access is legal, but check depth and submerged rocks before jumping.