Same as my review for Dupont State Forest where this trail & waterfall are located. Great park with…read morea variety of hiking trails and some beautiful waterfalls to check out. The trails are well marked, but you'll want to either download the trails map ahead of time from their website, or take a photo of the park map at the parking lot, because they don't have maps along the trails & there are several trails to chose from. We hiked to High Falls and then Triple Falls, which is a bit further (both beautiful!), which I would say are moderate-level difficulty due to the inclines & some portions of the trail are loose gravel. Easy for The Hubs and I, but a tad more of a challenge for my in-laws. There are some spots with rocks just the right size to sit on and have a rest if you need a break. There are restrooms at the High Falls trailhead parking lot, and a gift shop. I'm not sure about restrooms elsewhere in the park.

Been here twice in one month because it was just that awesome. High falls is just one waterfall in…read morethis park, there are 2 more. Easy trails, not too much incline or decline, pretty short hike down to high falls and lots of rocks to lounge on.

There are a variety of places to hike around the area. This would be the short hike with bang for…read moreyour buck. I made a loop in 45 minutes or so from the parking area with what is apparently an established food stand. There isn't a lot of space between the parking area and the side of the highway, so be ready. The scenery revolves around several waterfalls, the highest of which surprised me with its size. There is an excellent variety of terrain for a short scamper, and while it is an incline, people with milder mobility limitations could still reasonably expect to get to the falls in time. There is no charge to enter, and plenty of reason to make the falls part of your day.

Family hike #9; yay! Hubby and the boys hiked this trail back in October 2024 while we were…read morecamping, but I decided not to join, because my then nearly 2-year-old toddler was a sprinter (still is) and I didn't trust to take her on this journey. Didn't take her with us this time either; haha. Anyway, they were nice enough to agree to return to Wildcat Wayside with me. 3 waterfalls for the price of 1, except there is no price, because it's free! The hike was lush with foliage and a lot of the rhododendron blossoms had already fallen on the trail; I never knew they were so pretty. Saw lots of snails on leaves, millipedes, mushrooms; it was fantastic finding living treasures! Upper Wildcat Branch Falls was a slight disappointment to me as I expected more of a rush of water since it rained quite a bit the couple of days before, but it's height is still impressive. My boys also found salamanders and even a tiny baby axolotl in the water! I was blown away. To me the hiking trail was easy even with the stairs. I think I finally have built up a tolerance, because my legs no longer hurt after hikes I go on. It's only about a mile long, so it's not too bad, but there is elevation change and people who aren't used to it may find it somewhat challenging depending on stamina. I wonder if Pauly's Gourmet Peanuts Truck still comes around on the weekends, because it wasn't there on a Wednesday; would've liked to check it out. The trail was somewhat busy with hikers, but definitely not overrun. The weather was perfect for hiking, but it was cooler than expected. I should have been brave and joined the polar bear club with cold immersion in the swimming hole at Lower WBF, but alas; hopefully next time. No bathroom facilities are available here, so go before you come. On to hike #10! Happy yelping!

Gorgeous place, easy parking on the side of the roads with multiple stopping areas. Dog friendly…read moreand people friendly. Able to swim and to walk around (very cautiously) on rocks. Relaxing to just lay on a massive rock and listen to the waterfall.

5-Stars for simply being a beautiful waterfall relatively close to town and located just a few…read moreshort steps from the road, no hiking required. There are 3 viewpoints: road level, mid-level down a short set of stairs, and at the base down a second set of stairs. This is a great option for people with little kids, people with limited mobility, or those just short on time. There is limited roadside parking. Free to visit. No restroom. Easy peasy.

If you like the outdoors and some big rocks and cliffs, come check out this State Park. The park…read moreis one of the cooler State parks in North Carolina that I have had the pleasure of experiencing. I am a mountain type of person and I am really glad that public access has been provided to these cliffs and this Area. Rumbling Bald park host several great hiking trails through massive boulder fields and spectacular hardwood forests. The main draw for the park has to be for Bouldering and Rock Climbing. While hiking or walking through the woods in the winter/spring it is certain you'll see lots of people climbing up and down rocks. Thanks to the park staff for creating a viable parking lot for the park too. When you come here make sure to try and park as closely together as you can. It can get packed on the weekends. Also, don't double park or block anyone, or else you'll get a ticket. I really hope they access can be opened to the other cliff areas around the lake, like Ghost Town and the Darkside, which are currently closed.. 1 suggestion is to avoid this place in the summer, as it turns into a oven with the south-facing rocks, and there is poison ivy all over the place. Go enjoy the outdoor wander around some rocks.

This park is perfect for climbers and bouldering. The hike during the summer months does not…read moreprovide views unless you're willing to do a little climbing to escape the canopy. However, it's a beautiful trail, and I would bet full of views in the winter.

This was a surprise for me that there was a sweet little waterfall so close to my sister's new…read morehometown. It's located in a park, yet there's no where to picnic. It's just the falls, unless I missed some hidden walking trails. Nonetheless, the falls are calming, and not at all congested like Looking Glass Falls in Pisgah National Park.

Undoubtedly a beautiful & scenic location as two creeks (Carson Creek and Batson Creek) separately…read morefall into one of North Carolina's mini-gorges to form a third waterfall known as "the silver slip". The formation of the falls collectively is a "Y-shape" as Connestee Falls meets Batson Creek Falls to form Silver Slip Falls. It is one of the most unique waterfalls I've ever come across and would be much better photographed with a drone. There is an overlook on the Batson Creek side that faces Carson Creek, however, it is only accessible from a private trail in nearby Connestee Falls Subdivision. Thusly, the best view you will get as a non-resident will be from this nicely constructed boardwalk. The boardwalk hangs over Connestee Falls, so your view is very limited. Batson Creek Falls is visible, but not in its entirety as trees block most of the upper half of this nearly 100 foot tall sliding beauty. Topography maps show the elevation around Connestee Falls dropping roughly 65 feet before merging with Batson Creek Falls. Sliver Slip Falls is nearly impossible to see with the exception of the crest. [ FINAL THOUGHTS ] A staff member from our hotel told me about this waterfall and I'm so happy he did. It was our very last stop on a waterfall chasing weekend that included Upper White Water Falls, Toxaway Falls, Gorges State Park, Looking Glass Falls & Skinny Dip Falls. While it isn't a destination waterfall and rather difficult to properly view, it most certainly is a nice add-on when touring the area. 2021 / 67

The river walk amounts to a bit of infrastructure connecting the street to the stream, with stairs…read moreand bridges and a somewhat continuous trail that allows one to walk over the rocky river here. It's good for splashing around; not comparable to some of the other sights nearby but it's good that the town has made the water accessible.

So fun! We loved walking along the water and seeing all the people up top eating at the different…read morerestaurants. The water was nice and crisp. There are a couple areas with large rocks to sit on and relax.

Love this hike so much. I do have to say it was quite shocking To go back after not visiting for h…read moreyears- there has been a lot of maintenance since the storms washed the bridge out last year (!?). Still a beauty though. The parking lot has space for about 15 but you can park on the side of the road if you need. It's pretty safe and spacious. This hike is great for everyone- small incline and easy 1 mile ish to a fall. Where you can swim if you wish (maybe not skinny dip though- it's pretty popular). Dog friendly. Some rocks at the end but there are alternative ways and it's not unsafe or unstable. Lots of roots but overall the pathways are lovely and wide. . You can also see the semi famous wnc dragon tree :)

SKINNY DIP FALLS is by no means a sizable waterfall and if I'm being honest, I thought it would be…read moremuch larger and more impressive! However, it is indeed a gorgeous waterfall located in a beautiful & scenic section of the forest. The trailhead to the falls is directly across the Blue Ridge Parkway from LOOKING GLASS ROCK OVERLOOK. It is a white blazed trail and although it tends to fork off to smaller, well established side trails, the main trail is pretty obvious. When in doubt, stay on the largest/widest path. The trail starts off fairly level with only minimal ups and downs, but just past the DRAGON TREE begins a significant downhill descent as it drops from an elevation of 4505 feet to 4,325 feet at the bridge. That's 180 feet in just under 1/3rd of a mile. The trail itself is a rocky and heavily-rooted one, so it is important to watch your step considering all the natural tripping hazards. Still, despite the return elevation gain, trail tripping hazards and its small size in comparison to other nearby waterfalls, it is truly a hidden beauty worthy of any waterfall hunters list! It is located on a creek known as Yellowstone Prong and it won't be hard to see where it gets its name. The stones and boulders surrounding the falls are GORGEOUS in color as collectively they take on a golden hue. It is in fact one of the prettiest natural stone settings I've seen in all my waterfall travels. There are plenty of large boulders to sit and enjoy the falls as well as different levels of the falls for everyone to have their own space. Those that climb further to the top will find tranquil hot tub sized pools of turquoise clear water at each level. Towards the bottom is the most significant fall (about 12 feet) that immediately flows into a V-shaped rock channel cutting under the bridge and into two more pools of ultra-clear water! It is a wonderfully flat area great for smaller children to safely explore, under parental supervision of course. *** PRO TIP - I didn't know it during my visit, but even further up the creek is Yellowstone Falls. I'm not absolutely certain you can reach it by climbing from Skinny Dip Falls, but online reports say it IS possible. However, the elevation gains to get to those falls is around 300 feet according to topography maps and would require some bushwhacking to reach Yellowstone Falls from Skinny Dip Falls. But if you are the adventurous type, photos definitely show a very worthy and attractive waterfall awaits. *** [ THINGS TO KNOW ] Total Hiking Distance: 1 mile (round trip) Difficulty: Easy on the way, but a tad more difficult on the return Creek Crossings: YES (bridged) Elevation Gain: 200 feet (if you climb the falls) ~ parking elevation: 4,490' ~ base of falls elevation: 4,325' Waterfall Height: around 35 feet overall counting all the tiers Waterfall source: Yellowstone Prong WATERFALL ATTRACTIVENESS - 8 out of 10 TRAIL ATTRACTIVENESS - 6 out of 10 Access to top of falls: YES Access to base of falls: YES Pool of water @ base of Falls: YES (many) Sitting areas @ base: YES RESTROOM FACILITIES: NO PARKING: YES (space for about 20-25 cars) *** [ WHY IS THIS WATERFALL SO WONDERFUL ] A) Parking for the trailhead is at one of the most beautiful overlooks on the parkway (Looking Glass Rock). B) While the trail is a calorie burner on the return, it is not a long hike and bridges, as well as man-made steps, make it useful to most any hiking ability. C) Bring swimwear and picnic supplies because you're gonna want to stay a while. D) Levels make it possible for many families to have their OWN SECTION of the falls to enjoy, making it one of the easiest waterfalls to practice social distancing when crowds are low. E) The stones, water clarity, and overall venue are simply fabulous. F) Family & pet friendly! *** [ FINAL THOUGHTS ] SKINNY DIP FALLS has been on my radar for over a decade, so I am happy to finally cross it off my list! But make no mistake about it, I will be back again in the summer to enjoy its beauty with the younger members of our family. RICHARD RECOMMENDED :-) 2021 / 63

Wow! Breathtaking!!! The weather was a little chilly but I can imagine sitting out here reading a…read morebook or just star gazing in 70 degree weather. No graffiti allowed but clearly people didnt follow that rule. Lol It was still pretty cool to see it on the rocks minus the expletives The view is to die for. No, literally and physically speaking. Lol If you walk down far enough and you're clumsy like me, prepare yourself for a continuous roll.

Beautiful as always and much cleaner due to the new hike in to see it. My only suggestion is the…read moresignage needs improvement. 290 Persimmon Road ..the gravel road could be marked better. And the trail markings definitely could be better. There are small hidden tripping stumps along the way which could easily be cut out. We enjoyed the stroll through the woods to Bald Rock. Didn't see the glass as we had in the past.. no evidence of fires as in the past. Seemed nicer.