Maney Branch Falls is a steep 60-foot waterfall located along Maney Branch on the northeast side of Nell Ridge. It lies in an area of the Southern Nantahala Wilderness that is almost entirely landlocked by private property. There are no trails whatsoever to this waterfall, and it is extremely difficult to reach using public land. 

The main public access point to the area lies across the mountain on Eagle Mountain's northwest slopes. Here you'll find a trailhead at the end of Bell Gap Road (FR 829), which branches off Upper Bell Creek Road north of Hiawassee. A series of unmarked trails leads to the summit of Eagle Mountain, where panoramic mountain views are found. From there, it would be a long, difficult, and extremely steep bushwhack down to Maney Branch Falls. 

To the best of my knowledge, there are no ways to legally enter the Southern Nantahala Wilderness from the ends of Scataway Road or Hall Creek Road without crossing private property.

Click here to visit Bruce Roberts' Southern Nantahala Wilderness photo page.

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