During busy times you may have problems finding parking (paid area) The trail starts off with a…read morecouple of flights of stairs. When you reach the top the left side is the "easier" side up to the top and the right side is more stone stairs that is a shorter distance, but tougher climb. We took the left side going up and down. There are large rock areas along the way, which might make it difficult if you have mobility problems. Otherwise, it was a bit wet on the path in places, but it had rained a good bit of the day before. The whole path is a light incline the entire way up, but an easy decline on the way down. There are no sitting areas along the path when you reached the top there are two overlooked areas. The better view is the one all the way to the right there is a sign, noting the continental divide on either side of White side Mountain very cool. It was definitely worth the hike. It took us about 30 minutes to get to the top. I saw people with dogs and children a lot. It is a very family friendly activity.

This might be my new favorite trail! The parking lot was very busy but we did not see many people…read moreon the trail. There are lots of look outs and the views are amazing! Bathrooms are pretty gross.

Another hidden gem in Pisgah National Forest is this place. To enter, you need to go through the…read moregated entrance which is currently unmanned until the tourist season begins which I believe is coming up soon. Then it will be $5 per person, not car. It was nice watching people enjoy the water.

This site definitely did not disappoint! We enjoyed a wonderful afternoon with the family. I was…read moresurprised that my granddaughters were not afraid to go down the rock slide. I was the family photographer. I certainly had lots to photograph! There was ever a great rock to lean against for taking pictures. My suggestion is that you bring along a change of clothes, wet shoes, snacks, a camera, sunscreen and life jackets for the little ones. I forgot my wet shoes and my son forgot a change of clothes. There is a rest room where you can change clothes. There are also lifeguards until 5 PM. They stayed open after 5, but did not charge admission. When we return we will go later in the afternoon. The lines are shorter and after 5 you don't have to pay the $5 per person admission charge. I definitely will return when we visit the area again. We enjoyed a great time!

Very cool but a bit hard to find. GPS takes you to the road above. We had to find a better view…read morethrough some unmarked roads. Good luck

I truly find it unbelievable that I can come into an area and wrack up so many FTR's (first to…read morereview) locations. Am I seriously the only yelper who hikes in North Carolina? I'm even more surprised this particular waterfall had no Yelp page! It has a commanding presence that you absolutely cannot miss AND no hike is required to view it, so you would think SOMEONE would have yelped it by now. TOXAWAY FALLS is a gigantic roadside waterfall downstream of the Toxaway Lake Dam. Nearly the entire waterfall is surrounded by either CRAZY STEEP terrain or private property and the only way to really get a head-on shot of the falls is by drone or helicopter! There is a pull-off east of the bridge that give you a decent side view, but doesn't show the depth of the falls like a frontal view would! You can also visit nearby Toxaway Cafe for lunch and an incredible, but distant side view of the falls. It's the best frontal view you're gonna get unless you happen to rent one of the nearby homes facing the falls. While Toxaway Falls looks more like an enormous water slide, topography maps show the falls begin at around 2,953 feet just below the bridge and the overall terrain drops to an elevation of 2,658 in just under a quarter of a mile for a total decline of 295 feet. The main fall drops 80 feet, from 2,920 feet to 2,840 into a pool of water then continues to cascade over significant drops for the next 1,000 feet (about 3.33 football fields). *** [ THINGS TO KNOW ] Total Hiking Distance: 0 miles (roadside) Difficulty: Easy (viewing platform) Creek Crossings: NO Elevation Gain: 0 feet Waterfall Height: about 90 feet initial drop and over 275 total with cascades. Waterfall source: Toxaway River WATERFALL ATTRACTIVENESS - 7 out of 10 TRAIL ATTRACTIVENESS - n/a Access to top of falls: YES Access to base of falls: NOT REALLY Pool of water @ base of Falls: YES Sitting areas @ base: YES if it were accessible RESTROOM FACILITIES: NO PARKING: YES (space for about 8-10 cars) *** [ FINAL THOUGHTS ] TOXAWAY FALLS is a wonder to behold. MASSIVE in size, but difficult to view in all its glory. Still a worthy stop if you happen to be passing through Hogback, NC on Hwy 64. IF you want to see its true size, click on the link below for a drone video of the falls. ENJOY! Drone video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AW-Bj7jSUv0 2021 / 59

I didn't realize just how massive Gorges State Park was until I read more about it. It spans over…read more8,000 acres and has 26 waterfalls. We hiked to Rainbow Falls and Turtleback Falls, both of which were well worth the effort. Unfortunately, we didn't make it to Drift Falls (I'll blame the IPAs from the night before and my hiking attire). It's located on private property, but from what I've read, the views are still good. The hike is moderately challenging, so come prepared with proper footwear and plenty of water. The trails can be demanding, but the waterfalls and scenery make every step worth it.

I'm not sure I can add anything more to the story than these pictures tell. ABSOLUTELY worth the…read moredrive and hike! COMPLETELY stunning!!!

This gem of a waterfall isn't even listed in the brochure of SC waterfalls that I got at Lake…read moreKeowee last year. Good thing I had it bookmarked on here thankx to Richard R. I would have ventured here on my own with my 3 crazy children, but thankfully a friend met us here with her child. Very thankful indeed. The parking area is very small, allowing a few spots for cars. Had no problem finding space on a Tuesday afternoon. The trail to the waterfall is very short, maybe 3-5 minutes. Not difficult at all so that even older folks and toddlers can manage it. The waterfall is gorgeous! There is a small wading area at the base, so we strapped on our water shoes and explored. It's not quite large enough to swim around comfortably, but does become deeper the closer you go to the falls. I did manage to climb up some of the rocks on the left side, but it was quite slippery so I took my time. Apparently, there is access to climb up to the top on the right side as well, but that looked too dangerous for me. We even saw a not-so-small crayfish in the water with its claws. We had this place to ourselves for a good 25 minutes before a young couple showed up. I'm sure it wasn't the romantic moment they were looking for. I really hope the guy wasn't planning a proposal, because when we finally left another family with floats was already heading that way. Haha. Maybe it's not as secluded as I thought. We ended up heading to another waterfall, but on the way there I saw a strange Wild West style town on Hwy. 76. Can anyone tell me what that is all about?? I tried to Google it, but couldn't find it and I need to know that I'm not going crazy and seeing ghost towns. Thank you in advance! Planning on coming back here very soon with my hubby and boys. Happy yelping!

Great spot too spend a couple hours. Beautiful water views great hiking trails Love the fact it's…read moreusually not crowded

MERRY FALLS is a beautiful roadside waterfall found along the gravel portion of Cascade Lake Road…read morejust outside the boundaries of the beautiful & rugged Dupont State Recreational Forest of North Carolina. The exact GPS location is 35.200645, -82.643481, but if you are skilled at reading maps, the waterfall is located just north of where the East Fork of Laurel Creek merges with a lesser no-named creek or about 500 feet south of where the East Fork merges with the main Laurel Creek. There is no hiking required to view the falls, but if you wanted a closer, more in-person pic at the base it would require a fairly easy goat scramble down the semi-steep roadside embankment. Different hiking websites claim the falls to be anywhere from 30 to 50 feet. However, using the topography lines on AllTrails I have calculated the height of the waterfall to be approx. 47 feet tall from top to the lower cascade. The main two tiered fall itself is approx. 35 feet tall with another 12 feet of cascades from the base. On the day I visited the falls it had rained 4 of the previous 6 days, so the falls were full and beautiful! FINAL THOUGHTS This is not a typical destination waterfall, but it IS an excellent bonus stop when touring the larger high volume waterfalls in the area such as nearby Triple Falls, High Falls, Hooker Falls and Raven Cliff Falls. You could also visit the spill wall of the Cascade Lake Dam approximately 2.25 miles north of Merry Falls on Cascade Lake Road. It is built in such a way that by itself it is a beautiful drive-worthy waterfall. ENJOY!!! 2021 / 42

THE FIRST THING YOU NEED TO KNOW is this is one of the most uniquely beautiful waterfalls I've ever…read morehad the pleasure of visiting in the South, but it is not for the casual hiker. You absolutely need a basic understanding of how to follow blazes and navigate faint areas of the trail that might be overgrown. You also need to be in fairly good physical shape, because this trail is a WORKOUT... but the payoff is so worth it!!! ***** We completed our hike on Saturday 11/12/2022. While most other website reviews say they didn't encounter any other hikers, we actually came across several. At the falls we met a famous hiker and his crew repelling down the vertical drop section of Flat Creek Falls. I was kinda fanboying in the moment because I've used a number of his hiking notes over the years to guide me to many of the more difficult and less populated trails. On our return hike we also encounter THREE other couples separately headed to the falls. Must have been something in the air that day!!! It rained most of the week prior to our hike, so the falls were flowing nicely. But unfortunately the rain knocked all the remaining fall leaves off the trees, so my photos weren't as fall-tacular as I was hoping. The trail itself is rather boring with no scenic views other than the steep downhill section within the last mile where you can get a glimpse of Bear Lake. It can be a rather tricky trail to follow, but there are enough blazes to keep you on track. This is the first trail of hundreds that I've hiked where strips of a terrycloth towel were used as blaze markers... LOL! But hey, they were REALLY helpful! [ NOTES ] * Flat Creek Falls is broken into sections. The main visible fall is a sheer freefall of about 100 feet. Next it cascades heavily down the mountain, lengthening its overall look. Above the waterfall and out of view is another 30+ feet of sliding cascades, adding to its overall height. A drone would allow the best pic of the full glory of this waterfall. Check out this drone video by Seth Hogan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nT9TiFQtNgE * Lots of blown down trees to climb over/around. * THIS IS A WET HIKE!!! There is almost no way of avoiding getting your shoes or boots wet, so bring extra socks and shoes for the ride home. * Trail can get a little tricky in parts for inexperienced hikers even with the blazes, so be sure to download the offline map. * ALLTRAILS map ends at the lowest decent viewing point. You will still need to boulder jump several more yards to get the best vantage point. * VERY surprised by the "WARNING: BEAR SANCTUARY" markers along the steep downhill section of the trail. * Don't miss NELLIE FALLS which can be accessed along a spur trail near the parking area. DO NOT FOLLOW the wide Flat Creek Road trail. It does not lead to Nellie Falls. Instead, find an unmarked opening in the trees about 100 feet from the parking area AFTER crossing the creek . It looks rather sketchy but follow this trail. It will split in about 1/3rd of a mile and you will continue on the left trail that goes downhill. Once you reach Nellie Falls, you must cross through the river and continue the trail up the left side of a very large boulder to get the best view of Nellie. The hike to Nellie will add about 2 miles to your overall Flat Creek Falls hiking distance. [ NAVIGATION NOTES ] DO NOT... I REPEAT... DO NOT USE GPS NAVIGATION through Panthertown along Forrest Service Road 4670. You WILL NOT get through! Instead, use Hwy 281 to Rock Bridge Rd. The parking area will be at the end of Rock Bridge Road. Also, it is important to download this trail map prior to arriving. Mobile coverage is very weak past Lake Toxaway: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/north-carolina/flat-creek-road-flat-creek-falls/print?grid_format=decimal&map_center_lat=35.2159563039431&map_center_lon=-83.03239512200847&map_type=alltrailsOutdoorsV2&map_zoom=14.007959882271786&paper_orientation=portrait&paper_size=letter [ FINAL THOUGHTS ] Maybe it is because I haven't hiked much this year and I'm no longer in hiking shape, but this trail really burned out my legs. I don't remember being this exhausted after a hike since I did Mounte LeConte in Gatlinburg via Alum Cave Trail. ALLTRAILS lists the hiking distance @ 5.8 miles round trip, but I don't believe that is accurate. My iPhone walking tracker logged me at 11.1 miles for the day (which also included the 2 miles round trip to Nellie Falls). Other than walking to my truck in my driveway, inside a restaurant after the hike, and to my shower when I got home... I did no other walking that day. TOTAL HIKE TIME - 5 hours 15 minutes It was a blessing to witness these two spectacular natural piece of art with my own eyes. They've been on my list for the past year and did not disappoint! Thank you Jess L for always being willing to tackle ANY trail with me! 2022 / 116

DANIEL RIDGE FALLS is also known as Tom's Spring Branch Falls and Jackson Falls. It is located in…read morethe Pisgah National Forest along the Daniel Ridge Loop Trail. This magical 150 foot waterfall is an easy family-friendly half mile hike from the parking area. The gravel road leading to the parking area was in very good condition on our April 11th, 2021 visit, but be forewarned this is a popular hiking AND camping destination, so the decent sized parking area fills up quickly on weekends. PRO TIP - The best overall picture of the falls is from the main trail and not from the side trail leading to the base. There is also a secondary trail once at the base of the falls that takes you about 12 feet higher. [ THE HIKE ] Walk toward the gate on the north end of the parking area. The entire trail to the falls is a wonderfully wide and well maintained forest service road. Approximately 325 feet past the gate you will encounter an iron bridge allowing you to cross Davidson River. It is here along the riverbanks we notice a half dozen hikers had set up camp for the night. About 145 feet past the bridge the trail will split. Follow the trail to the right, which is also marked with an arrow pointing towards the falls. Between the split and the falls is where you will have the majority of the elevation gain, but that being said, it is very minimal. Just before you reach the falls, you will see a small trail on the left leading upwards. Take this to reach the base of the falls, but for the best view of the falls, stay on the main trail. I love using ALLTRAILS for the topography maps which show elevation changes using sweeping lines. According to the map, the crest of the fall begins around 2920 feet and reaches the base around 2756 feet, where it still continues to drop an additional 15 feet to the main trail. This would make the Daniel Creek Falls approximately 179 feet tall, but only about 125 feet of it is visible from the trail. A drone video I saw on one website shows it in it's entirety and WOWZA, this is a very tall waterfall! The upper tiers are recessed back out of view, but it doesn't really matter because what IS visible is stunning enough. You can continue to hike the entire loop of this trail which will add 4 miles to your hike or simply walk the way you came back to the parking area making your total roundtrip hike1.1 miles. [ THINGS TO KNOW ] Total Hiking Distance: 1.1 miles Difficulty: Easy and family/pet friendly Creek Crossings: YES (1 bridge) Elevation Gain: 135 feet Waterfall Height: 150+ feet WATERFALL ATTRACTIVENESS - 8 out of 10 TRAIL ATTRACTIVENESS - 6.5 out of 10 Access to top of falls: NO Access to base of falls: YES Pool of water @ base of Falls: NO Sitting areas @ base: YES (limited) RESTROOMS: NO PARKING: YES (room for about a dozen car + more space along road) [ FINAL THOUGHTS ] Easy waterfall hike that could be coupled with several other nearby hikes in the area such as Moore Cove Falls, Looking Glass Falls, Caney Bottom Falls and Cove Creek Falls. This is a BEAUTIFUL section of the Pisgah National Forest where you will be just as pleased with all the trails as you will be with the waterfalls they lead you to find. No matter if you are a beginner or have been hiking for years, the waterfalls I mentioned here are sure to please! Bring your family, friends, pets and favorite snack and enjoy hours of gorgeous nature! 2021 / 48