Big Bradley Falls Overlook, Green River Game Lands

Like its partner, Little Bradley Falls, this hike is found in a remote corner of the Green River Game Lands near Saluda, NC that enables you to enjoy beautiful waterfalls. Big Bradley Trail follows Cove Creek along its path to an eventual meeting with Green River, but before it gets there, it free-falls 75 feet over the stone precipice at Big Bradley Falls. Bring your water shoes for this hike for the wet crossing of Cove Creek. I visited this area on Thursday, April 21, 2016 beginning at 10:30AM and ending about 12:00PM. My plan was to take the Big Bradley Trail to Big Bradley Falls, then return.

Hike Length: 2.2 miles Hike Duration: 1.5 hours Blaze: Blue

Hike Rating: Easy, but you will get your feet wet. Hike Configuration: Out and back

Elevation Change: 195 feet Elevation Start: 1,575 feet

Trail Condition: Very Good. Some erosion, and a brief, steep descent to the overlook. Otherwise, this is a nice gentle trail through hardwood forest.

Starting Point: Parking area along Holbert Cove Road.

Trail Traffic: I encountered six other hikers on this beautiful Spring day.

How to Get There: Take I-26 to the Saluda, NC exit. Turn north (away from Saluda) on Holbert Cove Road and go 3.3 miles. At the bottom of the hill, there is a pullout on the left with enough room for 8-10 cars. The trailhead is also on the left.

 

 

 

It should be noted that this trail has been closed by the North Carolina Department of Wildlife in 2020 due to excessive danger.

If you’ve been to Little Bradley Falls before, the trailhead for Big Bradley is right across Holbert Cove Road. It opens up into a multi-acre meadow with a couple of heirloom apple trees. After the first hundred feet or so, the trail splits into left and straight ahead forks. Either will eventually get you to the same place.

I prefer going straight ahead first because it follows along closer to Cove Creek, and offers some nice creekside views, whereas the alternative route just winds through the woods. They rejoin perhaps an eighth of a mile later. There are signs throughout warning to be careful around wet rocks and ledges, posted by a company or organization called Avisco. A rudimentary Google search comes up empty, but at least that is more information than is found over on the Little Bradley side. I don’t know if Avisco is affiliated in any way with Green River Game Lands.

You pass a small four-ledge waterfall that was just barely trickling on the day I was there. We definitely need more rain around here. About a quarter mile from the trailhead you reach a wet crossing of Cove Creek. In true Meanderthals fashion, I came prepared with water shoes, so the 10″ deep water was a piece of cake. There are no rocks to hop here, so you must plunge right in. Think of it as refreshment for your toes.

Almost as soon as I was safely on the other side, the trail was lined with beautiful white rhododendron carolinianum in full blossom… a nice surprise. I had kinda forgotten how early this particular variety of the ubiquitous rhodos arrives. It was definitely a nice treat. Other wildflower delights included crested dwarf iris, daisies, wild geranium, and various colors of violets.

 

If you take the right fork in the meadow, this is the reward... a delightful view upstream of Cove Creek surrounded by a greening tree canopy.

If you take the right fork in the meadow, this is the reward… a delightful view upstream of Cove Creek surrounded by a greening tree canopy.

 

The trail makes a short uphill climb for a few hundred yards, but for the most part it is level. Cove Creek itself enters a gnarly gorge, so that is the reason for the ascent to a ridge above.

You will begin noticing volunteer trails heading down into the gorge every couple hundred yards, each accompanied by one of those Avisco warning signs. Ostensibly, these trails go to the base of the falls, but not really. They go to a point on a ledge high above the creek. The bottom is only accessible by rope. Perhaps when I was younger and braver I might give it a shot. I am adventurous, but no. I’m enjoying retirement too much to do something stupid.

So resist the temptation to explore these spur trails. Stay up on the ridge until later. There is a nice overlook just a little ways further. Occasionally the trees will open up just enough to offer outstanding views of the mountains that surround this rugged gorge.

Just after climbing a small hill at the one-mile mark, there is a larger, more obviously apparent spur trail that dives off to the left. It is wider than the others and nearly all dirt. This is the one to the overlook. It’s pretty darn steep, so watch your step, but within 60-70 feet you will be at the rock outcropping that peers down into the gorge and surveys Big Bradley Falls.

The last 10 feet I had to scooch down on my butt because of the steepness. The outcrop overlook itself is reasonably level and perhaps 10 feet by 10 feet in size, enough for perhaps 3-4 concurrent people. There is a natural bench in the rock facing the waterfall that makes an excellent seat. I setup my tripod for pictures, pulled out a sandwich, and enjoyed the moment.

Unfortunately on this day, Big Bradley Falls was only half of its normal water flow because of the dry conditions this spring. The free-fall cascade was nearly hidden behind a dead hemlock tree because of this, but the roar of the plunge was quite evident. I made a mental note to make my next visit after a few days of hard rain.

Still, it’s quite a lovely spot, and the view of the gorge downstream is reminiscent of a miniature version of Linville Gorge. Just a warning here: the rim of the overlook is straight down at least 50 feet, so please be careful as you’re moving about.

I stayed for 20-30 minutes and had it all to myself. I saw other hikers on the way there, and on the way back, but for those few minutes I was fortunate enough to experience Big Bradley Falls in solitude. I have seen photos of more daring folks than I rappelling over the waterfall’s precipice. I have also seen photos of a slack line setup across the plunge basin. So if you’re bold and fearless there is definitely more to try here.

On the way back I didn’t stop for nearly as many flower pictures, so I was back to the car within a half hour. This is a great hike if you want to get out there for a couple hours or less, perhaps after work some day. I think I would leave the little kids at home for this one. There is definite exposure at the overlook. You would hate to lose a frolicking toddler over the edge. If you suffer vertigo or acrophobia you may want to skip this one too.

If you want to make a longer venture of it, combine both Little Bradley Falls and Big Bradley on the same day. For that matter, the Big Bradley Trail even continues beyond the overlook. Having not yet tried that, I don’t know what’s out there. Perhaps some kind reader will leave a comment below and fill us all in.

 

 

This post was created by Jeff Clark. Please feel free to use the sharing icons below, or add your thoughts to the comments. Pack it in, pack it out. Preserve the past. Respect other hikers. Let nature prevail. Leave no trace.

 

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3 Comments

  1. Your were so right about this place not being good for children and folks with fear of heights. People have died here. Caution is the norm here. I was there five years ago, and the falls were much more active. We took the trail to the bottom, and that was worth the whole thing. Very circuitous to get down there, but not difficult. The climb back up was a little tiring. We had to jump from boulder to boulder to get over the creek, but there must have been a better spot to cross. Seems like I remember a vertical rock wall that we had to use the existing knotted rope to continue down, and then climb back up. It was about ten feet. I’ll find my pics and do a blog post. Well worth the effort, and we were totally alone the day we were there. Great post and super picks. Thanks so much.

    • Perhaps some day I will venture down into the gorge. Definitely want to have a partner along just in case. I also want to go farther out the trail beyond the overlook.

  2. Cindy Baer

    Hiked to Bradley Falls back in Feb 2016. I’m doing the WC 100. Had never hiked it before so wasn’t sure what to expect at the creek. Had to take our shoes off to cross. Coldest water ever! Never felt pain like that before! Hiked on to the overlook but did not go to the base of the falls. Looked a little too dangerous. Did hike a little further up the trail past the overlook but couldn’t really make out much of a trail. Didn’t see any blazes. Several other hikers out even though it was February.

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