Barnardsville is an unincorporated community that was a small town in Buncombe County, North Carolina, USA, near Asheville until its disincorporation in 1970.  It is located at Latitude 35.762741 Longitude -82.433296.  Barnardsville is home to Forest Service Road 74.    Access is via NC 197 from I-26 north of Asheville.

This area is also accessed by following FR 63 from the Craggy Gardens Picnic area on the Blue Ridge Parkway, however, we found it gated because the road had caved in during the winter.  So we went a bit further down the parkway to Bull Gap and exited at Ox Creek Rd.  Follow Ox Creek Rd. to a right turn where it meets Reems Creek Rd.(CR 1003).   Reems Creek Rd. makes a hard left at a bridge and turns into Maney Branch Rd. but is still CR 1003.  It will then turn into Pain Fork Rd.  (Still CR1003).  Follow it to NC 197 and turn right. This is Barnardsville.  Then turn right in about 100 yards on Dillingham Rd.  (CR 2173).  Follow it to the end where it turns into FR 74 and gravel.

The original intention was to visit Walker Falls, however, I found out that Douglas Falls was also at the end of this road.  It’s about 13 miles from NC 197 to the end of FR 74.  The beginning several miles is paved, as it meanders through local farmland and residential areas.  Turning to gravel and beginning FR 74,  Walker Falls is 5.2 miles on the left.

If you are more than a waterfall enthusiast and enjoy wildflowers, I highly suggest a trip here and plan to spend the day.  There are so many varieties and large patches it’s just amazing.

There are also more waterfalls, cascades and water features here, and they are pretty photogenic for the most part.  I ended up scrambling down into a couple of creeks here, but most are just on the side of the road.

Here are two galleries from the day.  Thanks for looking.

Waterfall Gallery

Wildflower Gallery