Perhaps the most spectacular waterfall view in North Carolina, Bird Falls along the North Fork of the French Broad River near Balsam Grove is beyond breathtaking. A hike of about four-tenths of a mile leads wide-eyed visitors to a 20-foot waterfall that then flows right under and past a massive cliff complete with colorful sediment striations in the rock face.

Come along with us on this 0.8-mile (total out and back) hike that features not one, but FIVE waterfalls, the most stunning of which is Bird Rock Falls found at the end of the short trail.

Google/torie quismundo

The hike begins on a gravel road found just below the red house seen here.

Google/Aimee Lim

At just over 500 feet into the hike visitors are wowed by twin waterfalls from opposing creeks that converge at this very point. The falls are each 15 feet high and the sound, alone, is enough to sooth away any worries of the day.

Google/Suzie Pressley The waterfall nearest to the red house is called Shoal Creek Falls; while the other waterfall is called French Broad Falls. Together, the twin falls are called Mill Shoals Falls.

The trail continues on with much to see and admire. Small water crossings are easy to negotiate on this short and easy trail with so little elevation change it’s hardly noticeable.

AllTrails/Graeme McGufficke

After a set of stairs and yet two more smaller waterfalls, hikers are completely in awe of Bird Rock Falls.

AllTrails/Nadji Li

Bird Rock Falls is a rolling cascade that tumbles 20 feet over a smooth rock surface.

AllTrails/Miro Stulik As beautiful as the sight of the falls is, there’s more to see than just the waterfall! A ginormous rock ledge with the bottom carved out over time by the raging waters of the North Fork of the French Broad River clearly turns this waterfall view into much more.

Hikers are hard-pressed to find anything else quite like Bird Rock Falls anywhere in North Carolina.

Google/torie quismundo

It’s worthy to note that Bird Rock Falls and access to all five of these waterfalls is on private property belonging to Living Waters Ministry. However, the ministry does generously allow the public access to enjoy this wonderful hike (hiking is at your own risk, though).

AllTrails/Michael Elsner

The only ask from the ministry is that public parking for hikers should be utilized only on the shoulder of NC Highway 215. The parking lot behind the Ministry is reserved for Ministry guests. Can you imagine the sight of this spectacular waterfall view in North Carolina? What are you waiting for? Hit the road and go see Bird Rock Falls in person!

Google/torie quismundo

Google/Aimee Lim

Google/Suzie Pressley

The waterfall nearest to the red house is called Shoal Creek Falls; while the other waterfall is called French Broad Falls. Together, the twin falls are called Mill Shoals Falls.

AllTrails/Graeme McGufficke

AllTrails/Nadji Li

AllTrails/Miro Stulik

As beautiful as the sight of the falls is, there’s more to see than just the waterfall! A ginormous rock ledge with the bottom carved out over time by the raging waters of the North Fork of the French Broad River clearly turns this waterfall view into much more.

AllTrails/Michael Elsner

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Address: Bird Rock Falls, North Carolina 28708, USA