Wolf Creek Falls (Paradise Falls)
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| | Raps:1, max ↨120ft
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| Best season: | Anytime (avg for this region)
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35.2246, -83.0055
35.2256, -83.0036
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Introduction
One of WNC's best "standalone" rappels, Paradise Falls is quite the drop - featuring amazing pothole geology, a big rappel, deep swimming holes, and ample cliff jumping opportunities from 12ft up to 60ft. Although extremely popular with locals, college students, and everyone in between, this is still a worthy excursion and a great first low commitment (but still big) waterfall rap for friends/family. If you're looking to get on ropes for funsies and have a chill half day, this is your ticket.
The standard, local approach with this drop is to come in from above, setup, then break it all down on your way out. Leave nothing behind; it's already kind of a junk show rope course around the trails there.
Approach
Near Wolf Creek Lake, park at the large, gravel pull out located here: 35.22555, -83.00355
If you're looking at the parking lot from the road, take the trail that begins at the far right end. It's likely not the trail that you'll see most folks take, but this one contours better and takes you to the top of the falls, instead of the bottom like the more obvious trail that begins near the center/left side.
After dropping in from the parking, you'll immediately gain an old logging road that contours the mountain. In 0.25mi, take the obvious spur to the left and down towards the creek. Cross Wolf Creek and pick up the trail on the other side. In a couple minutes, you'll be at the top of the waterfall. Alternatively, you can still in the creek and follow the watercourse to the top of the falls once you hit the creek.
Descent
There are many options to rappel off trees either DCL or DCR. Make sure they aren't dead, though. Most folks typically rap DCR to "stay out of the way", and it offers dry lines in case water levels are high.
- R1 110ft (33m) off trees to the big ledge below. Cool place to walk behind the veil. Scramble DCR to the lower ledge below in order to access the lower potholes.
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- S1 4ft (1.2m) into the first pothole. Send your most confident team member first, then have them spot everyone else into the pothole. Swim/scramble across the pothole and into the next, then to the brink of the jump.
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- J1 12ft (4m) over the small waterfall and into the deep (20ft) pothole. Bonus points if you cut a flip.
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Swim across the huge swimming area and wade your way past the college students/tourists to gain the shore. This area has a plethora of cliff jumps, spanning all sorts of heights - if that's your thing. When you're finished at the main swimming area, take the heavily eroded trail system up and eventually left back to the top of the waterfall.
Run more laps or clean it up and pack it out.
Exit
From the top of Paradise Falls, backtrack the approach hike in.