Trail to Little Bradley waterfall - head upstream

Give It A Go Bakes

While the waterfall is beautiful, the hike isn't really too accessible. There are places where you have to climb over rocks, we ended up having to pull up all trails map to make sure we stayed on the right path. This is NOT dog friendly or small child friendly. We also saw a water moccasin, which is part of nature, duh but I just wasn't expecting it and it was on a small narrow part of the path. Still on the shorter side but know it isn't leisurely.

Chase Eliason

USE THE APP ALL TRAILS.... The amount of reviews saying they got lost or it was dangerous. Very simple trail follow the water upstream. To hard? Download All trails and you can have pinpoint navigation and expert advise from people like me at your fingertips. The hike is easy, the views are great but the foot traffic of this popular trail is obnoxious. There are two trails, one is closed for construction so the parking area is blocked off. Parking is along the road, please don't park in the road. Please pick up your trash and let people who are moving faster than you get by. The trail starts on the right side of the road, going upstream, and immediately left. There is a downed tree over the start of the trail, yes that is the start of the trail. Red circles are random but are the trail markers. There are two water crossings, roundtrip was a little over three miles but the trail is easy minus one section. That section of the trail leads into the top of a ravine and has slick rocks, just take your time. If you take what looks like the lower trail along the water, it is longer and more overgrown. You will have to creek walk some, you will probably also annoy any people fishing or relaxing . The waterfall and rock features are beautiful. Please don't stand in the way of every other person trying to take pictures, we obviously want to enjoy the nature not your obnoxious family. Enjoy and bring water shoes....

shawn heater

Follow the red blazes and stay to the right at first stream crossing. Nice 2 mile trip out and back. We went on a Friday around 1:30 and there were minimal people at the falls. The trail is narrow in places and I recommend shoes with good tread.

J 8

Ok so firstly, if you go, make sure you go to “little” Bradley, unless your up for an adventure, that is very much “NOT” pet friendly, ( due mostly to the climbing and grades of decent/assent). Big Bradley is a blast to hike, but the falls of little Bradley are just amazing! The trail is relaxing, and as we get into the colder days, definitely take the immediate trail up and to your immediate left,( it’s oddly hard to see at first, but when you do it’s like oh? But just follow tree markers). Otherwise your going straight ahead to start hopping and climbing around some sketchy rocks along the creek; however a lot of fun if you are a rock hopping enthusiast. Anyways, the trail will take you to a split where the lower rock hop trail and upper”left” trail meet, and yep your crossing that wide creek bed, (do not go up the left trail.. it leads to private property and some not so polite people :(.. then, up, down, up and around an amazing Forrest-scape and trickling mountain streams. The next large crossing of the creek you can avoid by stone stepping, across the upper part of the little rapids, by going a little left and rock hopping on the much dryer path that will lead you to some nice “rooted” steps to the main trail. After, it’s a beautiful short trail to the falls.. they are gorgeous, and freezing all year round, and worth climbing up, (there have been deaths and injuries doing so, but you’ll see how reckless you’d have to be to be injured). it’s a really fun climb up, century old roots and vines, with the help of ropes and tethers placed by some of our awesome “locals”. In conclusion, a complete hidden gem, and one of the most picturesque waterfalls, that can be both private and crowded. It’s very family friendly, except for maybe grandma, or grandpa who will be tentative about a lot of slick rocks, small gaps, and having to bend, climb-over, and crawl around the downed trees. Last thought: *for summer months only* if you have an adventurous four legged companion, some sturdy water fairing shoes, or just want the unbeaten path, you can totally just walk the creek bed all the way up