Beechflat
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| | Raps:7+2 slides, max ↨280ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:None Vehicle:Passenger Rock type:Granite | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Best season: | Spring to Autumn
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35.3637, -83.0003
35.3629, -82.9922
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Waterflow
Introduction
Highest point on the Blue Ridge Parkway Mile Marker 431.4 Beechflat creek in the Nantahala National Forest with a 280 foot continuous rappel near the end but starts out at the (MST) Mountains to the Sea trail. Tumbling off Judaculla Ridge for 1000 feet below the parkway. Typically done as an out and back trip and is typically lower flow being one of the Highest in the East. However,the creek should be moderate water levels to enjoy the full experience of Class C otherwise it’s a training canyon but group should have extensive experience rappelling due to the 280 foot rappel which can be bypassed on DCL then with a uphill hike on a old forest road for 60-90 mins.
Approach
Park at the highest point on the Blue Ridge Parkway Richland Balsam parking lot and walk left along side of the road for a 1/4 mile. Til you arrive at a side path on left to hike down here 35.36616, -82.99428. It’s pretty well worn so just keep descending approximately 1/2 mile til it intersects the MST and veer right for a couple minutes til you arrive at the drop in point here 35.36367, -83.00033 on left to enter just below Steve’s Platter named after the individual who brought these waterfalls in the limelight.
Descent
R1-After entering @ Steve’s Platter creekwalk buttslide 250 feet to 1st anchor on Birch tree DCR 60 feet into a shallow pothole Walk 300 feet
R2-60 feet Bolted quick link anchors DCL just out owater course
Walk 15 feet to next anchor DCR behind rock facing DC out of watercourse
R3-115 feet down sloping waterfall Turn around next anchor DCR
R4-40 feet Downclimb and Walk 300 feet to 12 foot slide whole staying in the creek for 20 more feet
R-5 to next anchor DCR tree slung down 78 foot sloping waterfall
Then immediately slide 40 feet into a waist deep pool Creekwalk down canyon hopping in and out of the creek for .2 this is what you came here for “The Big Bold Beechflat 300 footer”
R-6 Two bolted ring anchors DCR just out of watercourse rappel a huge 280 feet. PG rated not cause it’s hard or very vertical but because it’s 280 feet and as a great training canyon unless High Flow (which is how it should be run, as stated above). it’s still a risk that should be known and evaluated, bailout opportunities on DCL easily. We fiddlesticked it since water was low but have approbate means given the situation If you had a 100 meter it more than likely would reach the bottom of Rappel #7
R-7 immediately it’s semi flat to get off rope Shuffle DCL to a slung tree rappel 30 feet into a waist deep pool. Creek hop to next little swimming hole to slide into and beyond. Creekwalk .2 and exit stage right (DCR) here (35.35991, -83.01081)
Exit
Once out of the creek at the very bottom after rappel #7,change and get out of wetsuits for the uphill as you get back on the old forest road (it soon veers uphill and to the left not to worry as it climbs and hangs a hard right up toward the Parkway) It’s the old road you were briefly on at the start follow it all the way up to the MST then hang a left here 35.36392, -82.99995 to continue 1/2 mile up to the Blue Ridge Parkway and your vehicle.
Making the right and continuing back up to the Parkway is only 1.9 miles hiking back up the old forest road so bout 1 hour to hour and half hiking uphill depending how much gear your hauling.
Note: Alternately you could leave a car at the bottom, here (35.34809, -83.01888) but it won’t save you any time unless you are camping at the end of Carey fork road. Since it’s nearly another mile waking the road downhill in the opposite direction and then your have to shuttle up to the Parkway as well. That was years ago and now there’s private property concerns crossing at the very bottom so it’s best to turn around after rappel 7 as there’s no other drops below. If all that wasn’t enough there’s an old bridge that was on its way out below years ago, if you even make it across it!
Red tape
None, other than the frequent closing of the Blue Ridge Parkway in the Winter but can always be accessed by the hiking a long distance on the MST. Check Blue Ridge Parkway websites for road status and closures
https://www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/roadclosures.htm
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Trip reports and media
Background
First Known Technical Descent in September 2025 by John Podlewski, Tyler, Jack, Scotty and Oliver Beckett