James Hardy Falls (Mount Magazine Part 2)

James Hardy Culvert and Falls

(See Ernst, Waterfall Guide 2nd Ed, p262)

Folks often ask us: What waterfalls can I see if I have limited mobility?   One of those answers is James Hardy Falls, located on the Backside of Mount Magazine, highway 309.

Apart from the fact that you can see it from you car -- the 8 foot Hardy Falls is not in itself, deeply impressive. the setting is. Hardy falls feeds into a double barreled rock tunnel (designed by James Hardy in the 1930's) that itself is a work of art. Two headwater creeks meet in the vicinity of 309, then tunnel under the road, unseen. Jestice Creek, drops quickly down a cascading rut,  Waters spit in the Spring. (There are actually three tubes, but you have to search for the third one a half a block away.)

We discovered the Falls on a lark.  We saw a car pulled to the side of tight curve, and looked to see what they were looking at.  Turns out they were parked right in front of Hardy Falls, a stop we had marked for survey just the the day before.  There is no clear sign for Hardy Falls or the culvert into which it drains. Apart from driving with your windows down and listening for rushing water, Hardy Falls is found 6.3 miles downhill (Southish) from the visitor center at the intersection of Mount Magazine Road and Highway 309, or is found 4 miles north on 309 when driving north from Havana up the mountain.