South Fork Koger Creek Falls

South Fork Koger Creek Falls is located in McCreary County, Kentucky, not too far off an old service road in the Daniel Boone National Forest. This is a road that at one time was gated but is no longer gated. Occasionally, a private landowner nearby will prop the gate up to make it appear like the road is closed, and you might run into trouble as he thinks this is his special place even though it is located on public land within the national forest.

I can’t exactly remember who originally told me about this, but I know it had been visited by several people as somebody had even flagged a route through the forest, littering survey tape on the trees and bushes so they wouldn’t lose their way to get to the base of the falls. It is a very short hike, but it is down a hill through a thicket of rhododendron and forest.

One of the unique things about this waterfall is there used to be this massive hemlock right there that fell and was propped up for years against the top of the rock shelter and cliff line. The dead tree has now fallen completely over, which actually makes the view of the waterfall that much better. What’s really unique about this waterfall is it has a rock shelter behind it, and the rock shelter goes back for over a hundred feet from the face of the cliff. Most photographs you will see of this waterfall will be from way back up in there looking out into the daylight, into the forest, with the waterfall tumbling over. You’re really seeing the backside of the waterfall.

If you’re in McCreary County and you haven’t visited this waterfall before, I recommend adding it to your list. It is an easy hike to a special place with a cool rock shelter and a tall plunge type waterfall in a very beautiful forest setting.

The waterfall: South Fork Koger Creek Falls, McCreary County