No reference indicates how Merry Falls got its name. But, you can’t help but feel a little merry after seeing this small (well, it’s actually 25 feet tall) gem of a waterfall. And it’s roadside.
From the NC/SC state line take, US 276 north for about a mile and a half til you see the Cedar Mountain Fire Department on your right. That’s Cascade Lake Road coming in at the fire department. Turn right and follow the road for 4.4 miles. Just after you pass Staton Road on your right, Cascade Lake Road turns to gravel.
At the 4.4 mile mark, you’ll notice the stream, which has been flowing at road level, is suddenly not there any more. You’re there but there is no place to park. About 50 yards further down the road, there is a pull-off on the left just before a power line right-of-way. Park in the pull-off and walk back up to the falls.
As you begin your walk, you’ll hear considerable water noise down below you and, if it is winter, you can see a good-sized waterslide falls down below you; however, there is no trail and the slope is very steep…so keep walking. At Merry Falls, it is a short scramble down to the base of the falls where you’ll be presented with a very nice vista of this split flow plunge, left greater than right. The configuration is about half tiers, half plunge.
And don’t forget to check out the nice sluice draining the base pool. You can get a good photo showing the sluice with the waterfall in the background.
Back at the road, you’ll notice the creek uses a small waterslide before it reaches the brink of the falls. This roadside view provides an interesting view of the waterfall looking down the edge of the water flow.
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