A 60-foot waterfall in a protected preserve, moderate hike with no facilities or fees.
No fee; preserve has no facilities
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Bad Branch Falls is a 60-foot waterfall located within the Bad Branch State Nature Preserve in Letcher County. The preserve is managed by the Kentucky Office of Nature Preserves and The Nature Conservancy, and access is free. The main trail to the falls is described as moderate difficulty and covers approximately 2.2 miles round trip.
The preserve has no facilities such as restrooms or water, so plan accordingly. The trail is well-maintained and leads directly to the waterfall. Given the preserve’s protected status, this is a good destination if you want to see Kentucky waterfalls in a natural, low-development setting.
Parking is available near the trailhead. The location is in eastern Kentucky’s Letcher County, not far from Whitesburg. Check the official Kentucky Nature Preserves website for any updates before visiting.
Year-round access; no seasonal restrictions noted.
You need facilities like restrooms or parking amenities.
No fee; preserve has no facilities
Via a 2.2-mile round-trip trail rated moderate by the managing agency.
We track 4 waterfalls in Bluegrass Nature Preserves.
eec.ky.gov
Height, coordinates, county, and description from the official Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet / Kentucky Nature Preserves page, checked 2026-09-04 — no closures noted. Trail length: Letcher County Tourism's official page describes the main trail as 'a little over a mile (one way)'; doubled here for round trip (~2.2 mi).
Checked September 2026.