Big Bradley Falls
North Carolina · 75-foot drop · Green River Game Lands · Last verified 2026-05-23
Flow at Big Bradley Falls is light today (6 cfs) — visit for the geology, not the volume.
Right now
Streamflow
5.5 cfs
NORTH SALUDA RIVER NEAR · 1h ago
Overnight
64°F
Partly Cloudy
Sunday
89°F
Partly Sunny
Today's daylight
Sunrise 6:14 AM · Sunset 8:41 PM · 14h 27m
Snapshot built 20m ago. Sources: USGS · NWS GSP.
No verified photo yet
Big Bradley Falls is a 75-foot plunge into a narrow gorge on Cove Creek in the Green River Game Lands, just east of Saluda. The overlook is reachable by a 2.2-mile out-and-back; the trail to the base, which involved a roped 25-foot near-vertical descent, was closed by NC Wildlife in 2020 after eight people died here since 2000. Stick to the overlook. The view from above is the safest one in the area.
The trail
2.2 miles each way, rated moderate with 250 feet of elevation gain. Holbert Cove Rd parking pull-off — free. Game Land access; no fee.
Is the water flowing right now?
Most waterfall sites don't tell you this. The waterfall itself is almost never gauged, but a USGS streamgage in the same watershed can tell you whether snowmelt has started, peaked, or run dry.
USGS gage 021623950 · 8.1 mi away
NORTH SALUDA RIVER NEAR HIGHLAND, SC
View live discharge data →
30-day streamflow
Below 30-day average↻ Same date last year: 12.6 cfs · 43% of last year — significantly drier
Compare to nearby falls
If this one isn't the right fit, here's how it stacks up against the closest documented falls. Every column is filterable on the site — not buried in 13,000 reviews.
| Waterfall | Distance | Height | Trail | Dogs | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Bradley Falls (this page) | — | 75 ft | moderate · 2.2 mi | Y | Free |
| Little Bradley Falls | 1 mi | 49 ft | — | — | — |
| Milton Bradley Falls | 1 mi | — | — | — | — |
| Bradley Cooper Falls | 1 mi | — | — | — | — |
| Marilou Bradley Falls | 1 mi | — | — | — | — |
| Loobie Falls | 2 mi | — | — | — | — |
Related waterfalls
Similar height (~75 ft)
- Curtain Falls75 ft
- Dead Point Falls75 ft
- Drift Creek Falls75 ft
- Great Falls75 ft
- Hamma Hamma Falls75 ft
Same best season in North Carolina
- Bridal Veil Falls60 ft
- Toxaway Falls150 ft
Questions visitors ask about Big Bradley Falls
Answers built from our structured data. If a question isn't here, the fact is unverified — we'd rather omit than guess.
How tall is Big Bradley Falls?
Big Bradley Falls is 75 feet (23 m) tall. Height is sourced from NC Waterfalls.
Is Big Bradley Falls in a national or state park?
Yes — Big Bradley Falls is inside Green River Game Lands. See the park page for fees, hours, and current conditions.
Can I bring my dog to Big Bradley Falls?
Yes — dogs are allowed (Green River Game Lands permits leashed dogs in most areas). Always leash and pack out waste.
Can you swim at Big Bradley Falls?
No — swimming is not safe or not allowed at Big Bradley Falls. The base of the falls is a narrow rocky gorge with no safe access — the death toll here makes that clear.
When is the best time to visit Big Bradley Falls?
Peak flow is typically March, April, May, October, November, December. Season-wise: spring, fall, winter. Snowmelt and recent rain affect day-to-day volume.
Is there a fee to visit Big Bradley Falls?
No entrance fee. Green River Game Lands is free to access. Some trailheads may charge a parking fee separately.
How far is Big Bradley Falls from a major city?
Big Bradley Falls is 4 miles from Saluda (about 5 minutes' drive).
More waterfalls in North Carolina
Where it is
35.2680, -82.2916
Sources and live status
Where we got the data, and where to check current conditions before you drive.
Last verified by Fallspots: 2026-05-23
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