By Jeremy Patton
Big Dog Falls is located in Daniel Boone National Forest, Laurel County, Kentucky.
From Interstate 75 in London, exit 38, drive west on KY-192 for about 5.5 miles. Turn right onto Line Creek Road just before Cold Hill Grocery. Bear left at the junction of Forest Road 781. Turn left onto Forest Road 119. Turn right onto Forest Road 457. Follow FR 457 until it dead-ends at McFadden Cemetery.
Take a few minutes at McFadden Cemetery to walk among the handful of tombstones, the earliest of which belonging to John McFadden, a war veteran born in 1819. The largest tombstone states:
“Johnny Mac Cemetery”
“John McFadden 1819-1894”
“Millie McFadden 1848-1861”
“Phillard McFadden 1889-1916”
“George Ball 1844-“
“2 Ball Infants”
“6 Infants of P.L. “Bob” McFadden”
Walk past the gate and move downhill along a wide trail, likely a former logging road. It is about 0.5 miles to Big Dog Branch. The hike downhill is easy, but the return trip is difficult. The hill is not steep enough to require you to climb on all-fours, but it is challenging.
The trail is a segment of Sheltowee Trace. A few makers are posted on trees near Big Dog Branch, which is good because there are numerous side paths.
You must ford Big Dog Branch. On November 29, 2015, I was able to do so without getting wet, after about 24 hours of rain. You should take waders just in case. In order to obtain good views of the waterfall, you will probably need to ford the creek again and also Little Dog Branch.
After crossing Big Dog Branch, keep the water to your left and watch for a narrow side path that emerges at the crest of Big Dog Falls. You will also notice that Big Dog Falls is technically two separate waterfalls that overlap, the second waterfall created by Little Dog Branch as it empties into the larger creek. Both are year-around waterfalls with small rock shelters at both sides of the confluence.
It will take work to obtain unobstructed views of Big Dog Falls. Bush-whacking and creek-crossing will be required. The effort is worth it.
Thank you Jimmy for informing me about McFadden Cemetery.
Added 11/29/15 – Updated 1/9/19