Between Big Bald Cove and Little Bald Cove, an unmarked wet-weather tributary drops steeply into the Brasstown Creek gorge. This tributary is home to a series of waterfalls, with Golden Grotto Falls, the first one, located just 0.1 mile from Brasstown Creek. This imposing 50-foot waterfall has a very small watershed, but in wet weather, it is rather picturesque. The waterfall is named for a magnificent rock shelter located on the north side of the falls. Note that this Brasstown Creek tributary is not shown on topographic maps.

Reaching Golden Grotto Falls requires a long, challenging bushwhack across treacherous cross-country terrain, regardless of the route you take. The only way to reach this waterfall and all others in the upper Brasstown Creek watershed via public land is to bushwhack down from the Wagon Train Trail high atop Brasstown Bald. Astute map readers will observe that the easier access to this waterfall could have otherwise been from downstream along Brasstown Creek. Unfortunately, this access point is entirely blocked by private property and houses at the end of Upper Plott Town Road. There is zero national forest access from this road. 

To learn about more waterfalls in the Hiawassee area, see chapter 7 in Mark Ozboyd's "Waterfalls of Georgia" guidebook.