Ranger Falls is a 30 ft set of falls on Skitty Creek. It’s a short 2.4 mile round trip hike worthy of your time! After .4 mile you’ll come to a fork in the trail, take the Left fork (downhill) to the falls. In approx. .6 miles the trail splits again, stay to the Right and do not cross the creek via the Left trail. In approximately .8 mile you will arrive at Ranger Falls. Sorry for the poor waterfall image! We got totally soaked as soon as we started cooking our lunch!
We revisited on a very clear day and changed the waterfall picture! We also took the time to go all the way up to Flat Top Mountain, where we found a great open area in the sun suitable for a helicopter to land! – it was a great addition and made our round trip about 4.5 miles. We also found a large, fresh track – comment if you know what it is.
Directions: Take U.S. Hwy- 23/441 toward Dillsboro and Franklin. Take 441 to Franklin to Hwy 64 East towards Highlands. Then after approx. 12 miles Cliffside Lake Recreation Area entrance will be on your Left with 
the sign on the Right side of U.S. 64 East. Follow this paved road for approx. 1 mile until you reach the gate and the pay station. There is a $5 fee to park and picnic/fish/swim/hike/etc. After you pay, continue through the gate keeping straight/left for another 0.5 miles until you see parking lots on your right. Take a left into the top parking area and drive to the back of the lot. You’ll find the trailhead for Ranger Falls here. Park and head on up the trail to the ridge.
