Skip to content
Byway
JoinOpen app
Waterfall · North Carolina

Tom Branch Falls

Tom Branch Falls, seen from above at true elevation

Tom Branch Falls is a waterfall in North Carolina, at a modelled elevation of 560 m. Kuwohi stands 2,025 m to the north-northwest, 7.7 miles off. The nearest named place is Juney Whank Falls, a waterfall 0.3 miles away. Nantahala Byway passes 2.0 miles off.

The record

What the record says

Height
15 m
Getting there

How to reach it

Driving directionsPlan a drive around it
Coordinates35.46660, -83.42986

Overlooks nearby

Around it

Named places within 25 miles

Peaks
Waterfalls: 59
  • Juney Whank Falls: 0.3 mi
  • Indian Creek Falls: 0.4 mi
  • Little Creek Falls: 4.2 mi
  • Rock Slab Falls: 6.9 mi
  • J. Johnson Falls: 7.1 mi
Attractions: 59
Parks: 51
  • Swain County Recreation Park: 2.2 mi
  • Ela Tuckkasegee River Public Access: 2.3 mi
  • Bryson City Island Park: 2.5 mi
  • MacNeill Park: 2.7 mi
  • Riverfront Park: 2.8 mi
Museums: 21
Historic sites: 19
Cliffs: 15
Picnic sites: 11
  • Deep Creek Picnic Area: 0.6 mi
  • Deep Creek Picnic Pavilion: 0.7 mi
  • Chimneys Picnic Area: 12.2 mi
  • Heintooga Picnic Area: 15.8 mi
  • Greenbrier Picnic Pavilion: 16.5 mi
Artworks: 9
Gardens: 6
Ghost towns: 3
Nature reserves: 3
Rest areas: 3
Springs: 3
Covered bridges: 2
On the horizon

Summits around it

The highest named summits within 8.8 miles of Tom Branch Falls. Elevation from each summit’s own record; bearing measured between the two coordinates.

SummitBearingElevationDistance
KuwohiNNW2,025 m7.7 mi
Mt. BuckleyNNW2,004 m7.9 mi
Mount LoveNNW1,956 m7.8 mi
Mount CollinsNNW1,889 m8.6 mi
Andrews BaldNW1,801 m6.2 mi
Round Top KnobNNW1,574 m5.9 mi
Newton BaldNE1,571 m6.7 mi
Nettle Creek BaldNNE1,568 m7.5 mi
Conditions

When to go

Light through the year

DateSunriseGolden hourSunset
March equinox07:3819:1219:46
June solstice06:2020:1520:53
September equinox07:2218:5919:32
December solstice07:4016:4617:25

Local time (America/New_York).

Climate normals

Months averaging 50–80 °F: Apr–Oct.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Avg °F374047556370737367574740
Precip in5.35.35.45.05.25.15.14.44.13.24.56.1

1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, NOAA NCEI — Bryson City 4, 2 mi away.

Streamflow

Months at or above the year’s average flow: Dec–May — fullest in Mar, leanest in Oct.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Mean cfs2,0282,2942,4892,1841,7641,3841,2451,1389889441,0921,649

USGS monthly mean discharge at gauge Tuckasegee River AT Bryson City, NC, 3 mi away — the nearest gauge, which can sit on a different stream.

In the park

Inside the official boundary of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Quietest months by visitation: Jan and Feb; busiest: Oct.

NPS visitation statistics, monthly averages 2021–2025 (2020 excluded).

Sources

Where this comes from

Location and category confirmed against OpenStreetMap.

OpenStreetMap

OpenStreetMap element node/2454566083

More waterfalls in North Carolina

Drive to it

Byway plans a real route around stops like this one.

Plan a driveMore waterfalls
Private beta · Free to join

Take the scenic way to Tom Branch Falls.

Byway plans around your taste, mapped places, real weather and opening hours — then opens every leg in Google Maps with one tap.

Private beta · Free to join · No card · Invite when a spot opens