Bad Branch Falls
- Height
- 60 ft
- Road
- Paved
- Permit
- Not required
- Dogs
- Not allowed
Bad Branch Falls drops about 60 ft in Letcher County, Kentucky.
Closures and warnings
Trail to the falls becomes steeper near 100-foot sandstone cliffs; pets, picnicking, fires, and collecting are prohibited in state nature preserves. As of September 30, 2026.
The falls
| Height | 60 ft |
|---|---|
| Flow note | 60-foot waterfall tumbling over sandstone cliffs in Bad Branch Gorge (Kentucky State Nature Preserves). |
Access
| Road | Paved |
|---|---|
| Road note | Bad Branch State Nature Preserve, Letcher County (Kentucky State Nature Preserves). |
| Fee | No day-use fee published for Bad Branch State Nature Preserve. |
| Hours | Sunrise to sunset (Kentucky State Nature Preserves brochure rules). |
| Reservation or permit | Not required |
| Managed by | Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet (Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission) |
| Note | Foot-traffic-only preserve; no facilities on site (EEC). |
|---|
Rules
| Dogs | Not allowed |
|---|---|
| Camping | Not allowed |
| Fires | Not allowed |
Common questions
Common questions
Is Bad Branch Falls open?
Trail to the falls becomes steeper near 100-foot sandstone cliffs; pets, picnicking, fires, and collecting are prohibited in state nature preserves. As of September 30, 2026. Hours: Sunrise to sunset (Kentucky State Nature Preserves brochure rules).
How tall is Bad Branch Falls?
Bad Branch Falls drops about 60 ft.
How do you get to Bad Branch Falls?
The road in is paved. Bad Branch State Nature Preserve, Letcher County (Kentucky State Nature Preserves).
Do you need a reservation for Bad Branch Falls?
No reservation or permit is required.
Is there a fee at Bad Branch Falls?
The fee is No day-use fee published for Bad Branch State Nature Preserve.
When is Bad Branch Falls flowing?
60-foot waterfall tumbling over sandstone cliffs in Bad Branch Gorge (Kentucky State Nature Preserves).
What are the rules at Bad Branch Falls?
Dogs are not allowed, camping is not allowed, and fires are not allowed.
Nearby
Sources
2
- https://eec.ky.gov/Nature-Preserves/Locations/Pages/Bad-Branch.aspx (accessed September 30, 2026; backs manager / waterfall.heightFt / waterfall.flowNote / access.roadNote, access.fee / access.permitRequired / access.amenities.note, waterfall.ephemeral, access.roadSurface)
- https://eec.ky.gov/Nature-Preserves/Brochures/BadBranchbrochure_color.pdf (accessed September 30, 2026; backs access.hours / rules.dogs / rules.fires / rules.camping / hazardNote)
More: Kentucky waterfalls