August 3rd, 2008 -  I hadn't been to Red Fork Falls in quite some time so I decided to make a quick trip right before dusk on Sunday.  This is one of my favorite waterfalls of the region, and after the heavy rains from the day before, I was able to see it with plenty of flow.  The climb down to the base is always fun, but be cautious (see directions below).  You can actually climb down even further to view more cascades and smaller falls, but I didn't do that today as daylight was running out on me.        

Total Miles Hiked:  0.5 

Getting There:  

Driving - From I-26, take exit #32 (Unicoi). At the end of ramp turn toward town.  Then at the stop sign turn right onto Unicoi Road.  Proceed for 0.7 miles and turn left (at Jones Hardware) onto Rt. 107 (Limestone Cove Road).  Go 7.8 miles and turn right on Red Fork Road. Go 1.2 miles to a small parking area on your right.  You'll see a tree marked with red paint here.  The road is paved to this point.        

Trails - You'll descend from the parking area down a wide trail until you come to a stream.  Ford this stream and bear to the right, where you'll almost immediately have to ford a second stream.  Both of these crossings may require hopping from rock to rock so prepare to possibly get your feet wet.  Once you ford the second time you'll turn right and head downstream.  After a short distance you'll come upon the top of Red Fork Falls, where you have to make an almost vertical descent to the base.  This requires some careful climbing in a few spots, but there are plenty of handholds and footholds via limbs, roots, and rocks.  I would also make sure to wear shoes or hiking boots with good soles because it can be slippery in places.  It's not an extremely difficult descent, and it's not overly dangerous if you simply take your time, but I wouldn't recommend it for children.  I would think it could also be intimidating even for some adults, but you'll be fine if you just take it slow.  

One final note:  don't be tempted to go out on the rock ledges at the top of falls.  These can be extremely slippery, and people have died at these falls doing that exact thing.