An Amazing Off-Trail Waterfall Deep in the Backcountry of Big South Fork on a Cold Winter’s Day!

There’s definitely magic in the backcountry of Big South Fork! On a cold winter’s day it revealed itself as a spectacular waterfall nestled into a hard to access canyon. At first look this waterfall doesn’t seem real. When I stepped around the corner and into the canyon it was like sitting in a movie theater, front row center, and looking up at some amazing scenery created by Hollywood magic! But this was very real! There aren’t many places like this I’ve ever seen. I could only stand there and take it all in for a while before getting closer. There is at least one more nice waterfall nearby. Due to the cold, short winter day getting out of there meant leaving the area too soon. I will be back when the hours of daylight increase and the temperature is a bit warmer. How on Earth can I not?

[@JamesRobertSmith]

What a strikingly pretty waterfall!

[@papawinthewoods]

It’s one of those things that looks better in person too. Thanks and take care!

[@Packsalot]

Nice hike and exploring the area. Those were some beautiful waterfall along your route. Cool to see all the icicles forming. That is neat how those roots grow into and around the cliff. Even though is was a cold day for you at least it wasn't snowing. Looked like a great day. Take care and have a wonderful day.

[@papawinthewoods]

Sorry Steve about taking so long and kind of disappearing. I have had some health issues that’ll require a medical procedure soon, plus I battled strep and Covid again. Luckily I had 4 videos stacked up that I could post. I’m back to hiking again. I’ll get all caught up soon! Take care, stay healthy and be safe!

[@joyceharsson1937]

I just learned of your channel today! Looking forward to watching all your videos!

[@papawinthewoods]

I sure hope you’ll enjoy more of them! I’m mostly an off trail hiker and search out rarely seen, seldom visited features and historic sites in my area. Thank for coming over to my channel and please do come on back!

[@roysanders4801]

Love your videos Papaw. Wish I was with y'all. Thank you Sir.

[@papawinthewoods]

If you ever get back here Roy give me a holler. We’ll go to anything you want to see! I’d be happy to help you out. Thanks Roy, take care my friend!

[@karlo8093]

You guys had a pretty good day from the looks of it. That tree sure was clinging to that cliff line. Nature amazes me in that aspect. What a beautiful waterfall!! Well worth the Mountain Laurel hike!. I'm gonna have to hunt that one down some day. Sure is amazing. Nice Video Papaw! Really enjoyed. Hope you're doing well.

[@danielhutchison-zz4qf]

Hello Sir, we did this adventure recently, and was amazed. I’ve been to hundreds of waterfalls on and off trail, and this one blew my mind. We came in a different way and creekwalked up stream about a mile, that was brutal. Apparently we came out the same way you did, and it was much easier. I’m thankful we came in like we did or we would have never saw the lowest falls on the creek, which was absolutely amazing too.

[@papawinthewoods]

There wasn’t enough daylight to see the lower falls on this cold winter’s day! I have to go back for sure. It’s not a bad hike from the top at all Daniel. I’m just waiting on a little more rain! Thanks Daniel, please take care and be safe!

[@JimHayesHiking]

Just a tad chilly that day but the waterfall was amazing! Take care my friend.

[@papawinthewoods]

It was chilly but it wasn’t bad after dropping of the ridge top and getting out of the wind. This is my first time going to this falls. It is amazing. I’ll be going back for sure! Be good Jim! Stay healthy and safe my friend!

[@EventyrsorenDenmark]

Amazing place. Nature is magic here 😊😊😊

[@papawinthewoods]

Big South Fork is loaded with little known but absolutely amazing things Eventyrsoren. Yet, it’s so underrated and under promoted. It really has a lot of magic in these hills and hollows. Thanks my friend, take care and be safe!

[@NicoleHikesalot]

yes, such an amazing waterfall, you will have to take us sometime. Miss you and I am thinking of you.

[@papawinthewoods]

It’s the nicest waterfall in BSF and that’s saying something! You don’t know how much I enjoyed seeing you and Tim a couple of weeks ago. That was an unexpected and wonderful experience! The next time you guys are in BSF I promise to take you to Middle Creek Falls. I miss you too Nicole. Please take care, stay healthy and safe! It means a lot to me!

[@homesteadingwithsadie]

cold but you got some great video and pics

[@papawinthewoods]

Thank you so much! I have to get back down there soon. There are more waterfalls close by that we didn’t have time to get too. It’s warmer now and the days are longer. That’s just perfect! Thank you Robin. Take care and be safe!

[@hershelcausey8599]

Awesome waterfall, Thanks for sharing.

[@papawinthewoods]

Thank you Hershel. This is the finest waterfall I’ve ever seen in these parts. If there is anything else close to this one, I’ll be out there looking for it. Take care and stay safe.

[@MinuteontheMountain]

What a beautiful waterfall. Thanks for sharing.

[@papawinthewoods]

This is a really impressive waterfall for sure. I had never been to it before this. I’ll be going back to see some other waterfalls close by. Of course I’ll have to revisit this one too! Thank you John. Please take care, stay healthy and safe.

[@ihrescue]

USA has thousands of quaint beautiful spots that give you an opportunity to enjoy a walk in the woods to get to them. Thanks for you sharing what you see with the added benefit of your thoughtful commentary.

[@papawinthewoods]

Thank you ihrescue. Sometimes I think I need to talk less, a lot less.. lol .. I like the added aspect of waking in the woods totally off trail. I never encounter any other people out there, just me and my hiking partners and nature. Occasionally I’m out there solo. I love it! Take care! I appreciate your really supportive comment.

[@wendingourway]

WOW!! That indeed is quite the amazing sight!! And that sound...just tremendous!!

[@papawinthewoods]

This is the finest waterfall in our area, hands down. It’s secluded in a small horseshoe canyon. When I turned the corner and first saw it I had to stand there for a couple of minutes and take it in… it didn’t look real! And the sound of the water, both loud and soothing. Just an amazing experience for sure. Thanks Bruce. Take Care and stay safe.

[@nicholenewport5395]

Awesome video!! She is definitely a beauty!!😊

[@papawinthewoods]

Thank you Nichole! She is a beauty… and you made this video possible! Take care my friend!

[@jimmystaffey3625]

Awesome. Better flow than when I was there.

[@papawinthewoods]

This waterfall would be amazing in anything more than a trickle! Thanks Jimmy!

[@TheChristianOutdoorsman496]

Thanks for taking us along Papaw.

[@papawinthewoods]

I appreciate it ChristianOutdoorsman. I love what I do and am always happy when someone likes my videos. I’m really just sharing the beauty of this area with anyone who may want to come here someday or wants to see the beauty of Big South Fork. She’s a jewel! Take care, stay healthy and be safe!

[@joshscarborough697]

I appreciate you sharing these videos with us. I cant tell you how many new things I have discovered through your videos. Many of them I have gone on to explore for myself. I hope you continue to makes these for years to come.

[@papawinthewoods]

I don’t know what to say to that Josh. I normally try to at least give some kind of directions on where I go and how to get there. If my videos are helpful then I’m very humbled… I’ll keep on hiking and making videos for as long as I possibly can. I’m not a young man anymore 😂. I think I have some more left in the tank! Right now I already have two videos to be edited and uploaded. Hopefully you’ll enjoy these too. Thank you so much Josh. Take care and stay safe.

[@grgdavis2]

Glad you got to see that one Randy! Nichole is a great trail friend to have! :)

[@papawinthewoods]

Absolutely Greg. She’s tireless, patient and always positive. Can’t say enough good things about hiking with her. She made this possible for me. Thanks Greg. Take care my friend.

[@reneebar123]

Wow!

[@papawinthewoods]

Yep, that’s absolutely right. It’s stunning!

[@willieoakley2336]

Hey Iam glad you are making these videos cause I really enjoy watching everyone of them thank you so much for making them and sharing them with your subscribers to your KZbin channel please keep making them God bless you and thank the heavenly Father for this beautiful creation we call the big south fork

[@papawinthewoods]

Thank you Willie. We are very blessed to have all this so close to us. I’ll keep making these videos as long as people keep watching them. I’m happy to do it! If Big South Fork could afford to build and maintain 6 to 8 more trails it would become one of the most popular parks in the Eastern United States! I firmly believe that. There’s just way too many amazing things to be seen!

[@TheWanderingWulfs]

We love waterfall hikes and this one was a beauty! ❤ It'a nice that the sun was out since it was cold! 🥶 Lovely hike!

[@papawinthewoods]

It was cold! 🥶 I didn’t feel it at all while I was at the waterfall. It sure takes away any other concerns you may have. Without the sun that day it would have been unbearable! That’s just part of Winter hiking. Thank you WanderingWulfs. I really appreciate it. Take care and stay safe.

[@TheWanderingWulfs]

@@papawinthewoods You're very welcome! We subscribed about a month ago but are just now getting around to watching some of your videos! Never a dull moment, for sure! We love winter hiking too and usually take our micro-spikes along just in case there's ice. We can see how the waterfall would make you forget about the cold or any other worries. It was beautiful! Have a great day and week! 👍

[@johnsignore1615]

Wow. I'd love to go to this one someday

[@papawinthewoods]

This is one incredible sight! It’s off trail and a bit difficult to get too but you won’t remember that when you first lay eyes on this waterfall. Thanks John, take care!

[@price-points]

Thanks for sharing! I recently heard of this waterfall on Middle Creek. Which way did you start when heading off trail?

[@price-points]

Thank you!!! I’ll let you know how it goes.

[@tughoward]

Randy I think that may be the most incredible waterfall I’ve seen in the BSF. If you go back and need a hiking companion let me know, I’d love to see it.

[@papawinthewoods]

I think the same thing Chris. I’d be happy to hike there with you. When you’re coming here and you want to go just me leave me a message and we’ll go! We didn’t have time to see the awesome waterfall just below this one. I need to go back! Take care and let me know!

[@tughoward]

@@papawinthewoods will do!

[@scottangel6462]

Awesome video!! I wish I had a nickel for all the mtn laurel that I have crawled thru growing up in WNC lol!! That is definitely tough going for sure!!

[@papawinthewoods]

Thanks Scott. Mtn. Laurel makes you pay a price for off trail hiking for sure. It’s not as bad here as some of the other places I’ve been! I see it as a necessity evil.. lol.. Take care and stay safe!

[@kerrywoolbright5716]

Wow that ranks up there as one of the best. Like we always said , the best is off trail and requires mt laurel!

[@papawinthewoods]

Mt. Laurel and Rhododendron seem to be a big obstacle to any find in BSF. It makes you pay with skin and blood for your efforts!

[@danjones5010]

Great find, what is the name of this waterfall?

[@papawinthewoods]

Hey Dan, this waterfall isn’t on any landform site so it doesn’t have an official name. It’s being called Middle Creek Falls because of the stream and watershed it’s on. It’s safe to say that’s what it’ll be known as from now on. Take care Dan.

[@danjones5010]

@@papawinthewoods that is amazing, that is one heck of a waterfall for nobody to have named. It's hard to imagine in this day and age that something like that right in your backyard has not been documented!

[@danjones5010]

@@papawinthewoods Cynthia and I would love to hike it with you when you go back.

[@papawinthewoods]

@@danjones5010 I heard from a pretty reliable friend that it was catalogued by the US Army Corps of Engineers right after the Big South Fork NRRA was established in 1974. It was not added to the map so I guess there wasn’t any need for it to be named. It’s becoming quite popular now, and rightfully so. There’s only one safe way to get down the cliff row that surrounds it and that’s about a half mile away. But it’s well worth the effort as you can see. I suspect there will be a fairly well worn trail down the gap when spring comes around.

[@papawinthewoods]

@@danjones5010 I don’t know exactly when that’ll be Dan. I need to go back before the leaves have grown back, possibly in March. I’ll keep it in mind and message you back when it happens. You two will love it!