North Carolina Waterfall Tour

# 🌄 4‑Day North Carolina Waterfall Adventure

Trip Dates: April 8–12 Start: Lexington, KY

# DAY 1 — Wed Apr 8

Lexington → Pineola Lodge (overnight) Sunrise: ~7:03 AM • Sunset: ~7:55 PM Usable light: until ~8:25 PM • Full dark: ~8:55 PM
Drive Lexington → Pineola (~5.5 hrs). Lodging: Pineola Lodge Address: 3085 Linville Falls Hwy, Newland, NC 28657

# DAY 2 — Thu Apr 9

Pineola → Linville Falls → Catawba Falls → Brevard Sunrise: ~7:02 AM • Sunset: ~7:56 PM Usable light: until ~8:26 PM • Full dark: ~8:56 PM
Start: 8:00 AM Total hiking: ~4.6 mi • ~4 hrs Total driving: ~2.5 hrs

### Linville Falls

Opening time: Dawn P: NC‑183 Gravel Lot ONLY GPS: 35.9529,‑81.9305 1.6 mi RT • Moderate hike • ~150 ft • Large watershed Time at falls: 60–75 min • Official parking: ~25 spaces • Real‑world: ~35 cars • Closest town: Linville, NC Alternate parking: – None (NC‑183 lot is the only legal access) – If full: wait for turnover Movie: Region used in The Last of the Mohicans

### Catawba Falls

Opening time: Dawn P: 3074 Catawba River Rd GPS: 35.6136,‑82.2733 3.0 mi RT • Moderate hike • ~100 ft • Medium‑large watershed Time at falls: 60–75 min • Official parking: ~45 spaces • Real‑world: ~65 cars • Closest town: Old Fort, NC Alternate parking: – None (roadside parking prohibited) – If full: wait for turnover

### Lodging — Night of Apr 9

Hampton Inn Brevard Address: 275 Forest Gate Dr, Pisgah Forest, NC 28768**

# DAY 3 — Fri Apr 10

Dupont → Highlands → Looking Glass → Fryingpan → Brevard Sunrise: ~7:00 AM • Sunset: ~7:57 PM Usable light: until ~8:27 PM • Full dark: ~8:57 PM
Start: 7:30 AM Total hiking: ~9.2 mi • ~7 hrs Total driving: ~4.75 hrs

### High Falls (Dupont State Forest)

Opening time: 5:00 AM P: 1999 Buck Forest Rd GPS: 35.2029,‑82.6223 1.5–2.0 mi RT • Moderate hike • ~120 ft • Medium‑large watershed Time at falls: 30–40 min • Official parking: ~80 spaces • Real‑world: ~110 cars • Closest town: Cedar Mountain, NC Alternate parking: – Hooker Falls lot (0.4–0.5 mi road walk) – Guion Farm lot (adds mileage; last resort) Movie: The Hunger Games

### Triple Falls (Dupont)

Opening time: 5:00 AM Same parking 1.0–1.5 mi RT • Moderate hike • ~120 ft total • Medium‑large watershed Time at falls: 30–40 min • Official parking: ~80 spaces • Real‑world: ~110 cars • Closest town: Cedar Mountain, NC Alternate parking: – Hooker Falls lot (0.4–0.5 mi road walk) – Guion Farm (longer; last resort) Movie: The Hunger Games

### Hooker Falls (Dupont)

Opening time: 5:00 AM P: Hooker Falls Access Area GPS: 35.2020,‑82.6205 0.8–1.0 mi RT • Easy hike • 12 ft • Medium watershed Time at falls: 20–30 min • Official parking: ~45 spaces • Real‑world: ~60 cars • Closest town: Cedar Mountain, NC Alternate parking: – High Falls/Triple Falls lot (0.4‑mi downhill road walk) – Easiest and safest overflow option

### Bridal Veil Falls (Dupont)

Opening time: 5:00 AM Access from Buck Forest Rd 4–4.5 mi RT • Moderate hike • ~45 ft • Medium watershed Time at falls: 20–30 min • Official parking: ~80 spaces • Real‑world: ~110 cars • Closest town: Cedar Mountain, NC Alternate parking: – High Falls/Triple Falls lot – No better alternates exist Movie: The Last of the Mohicans

### Bridal Veil Falls (Highlands)

Opening time: Always open (roadside) P: US‑64 pull‑off GPS: 35.0716,‑83.2290 0.1 mi RT • Easy hike • ~60 ft • Medium watershed Time at falls: 15–20 min • Official parking: ~8 spaces • Real‑world: ~15 cars • Closest town: Highlands, NC Alternate parking: – Small shoulder pull‑offs 0.1–0.2 mi away – Safe if fully off the road

### Looking Glass Falls

Opening time: Always open (roadside) P: US‑276 roadside GPS: 35.2969,‑82.7684 0.1–0.2 mi RT • Easy hike • ~60 ft • Large watershed Time at falls: 20–30 min • Official parking: ~20 spaces • Real‑world: ~35 cars • Closest town: Brevard, NC Alternate parking: – Multiple roadside pull‑offs – High turnover

### Fryingpan Mountain Lookout Tower

Opening time: Dawn P: FS Rd 450 GPS: 35.3905,‑82.8179 1.5 mi RT • Moderate hike • Tower overlook Time at summit: 30–40 min • Official parking: ~10 spaces • Real‑world: ~18 cars • Closest town: Pisgah Forest, NC Alternate parking: – Roadside shoulder before the gate – Adds 0.1–0.2 mi
Return to Hampton Inn Brevard.

# DAY 4 — Sat Apr 11

Gorges State Park → Upper Whitewater → Glen → Dry → Cullasaja Sunrise: ~6:59 AM • Sunset: ~7:58 PM Usable light: until ~8:28 PM • Full dark: ~8:58 PM
Recommended departure: Leave Brevard 7:15 AM (arrive 7:45–7:50 AM). Total hiking: ~8.3 mi • ~6.5 hrs Total driving: ~2.5 hrs

### Rainbow Falls

Opening time: 7:00 AM P: 976 Grassy Ridge Rd GPS: 35.0976,‑82.9514 3.5–4.0 mi RT • Moderate hike • ~150 ft • Large watershed Time at falls: 40–60 min • Official parking: ~35 spaces • Real‑world: ~50 cars • Closest town: Sapphire, NC Alternate parking: – None (no roadside parking allowed) – If full: wait for turnover

### Turtleback Falls

Opening time: 7:00 AM Same trail +0.3–0.5 mi RT • Moderate hike • ~20 ft • Large watershed Time at falls: 20–30 min • Official parking: ~35 spaces • Real‑world: ~50 cars • Closest town: Sapphire, NC Alternate parking: – None

### Drift Falls Viewpoint

Opening time: 7:00 AM Same trail +0.5 mi RT • Moderate hike • ~80 ft (distant) • Large watershed Time at viewpoint: 10–15 min • Official parking: ~35 spaces • Real‑world: ~50 cars • Closest town: Sapphire, NC Alternate parking: – None

### Stairway Falls

Opening time: 7:00 AM Same access 1.0 mi RT • Moderate hike • Cascades • Medium watershed Time at falls: 20–30 min • Official parking: ~35 spaces • Real‑world: ~50 cars • Closest town: Sapphire, NC Alternate parking: – None

### Upper Whitewater Falls

Opening time: Dawn P: Upper Whitewater Falls parking GPS: 35.0312,‑82.9970 0.6 mi RT • Easy hike • 411 ft • Large watershed Time at falls: 30–40 min • Official parking: ~50 spaces • Real‑world: ~70 cars • Closest town: Sapphire, NC Alternate parking: – Overflow gravel area before main lot – Holds ~20–25 cars

### Glen Falls

Opening time: Dawn P: End of Glen Falls Rd GPS: 35.0350,‑83.2410 2.4 mi RT • Moderate hike • ~70+ ft multi‑drop • Medium watershed Time at falls: 40–60 min • Official parking: ~20 spaces • Real‑world: ~30 cars • Closest town: Highlands, NC Alternate parking: – Roadside shoulder along Glen Falls Rd – Adds 0.1–0.3 mi

### Dry Falls

Opening time: Dawn P: 2468 Dry Falls Rd GPS: 35.0684,‑83.2380 0.2 mi RT • Easy hike • 75 ft • Medium‑large watershed Time at falls: 20–30 min • Official parking: ~35 spaces • Real‑world: ~50 cars • Closest town: Highlands, NC Alternate parking: – Roadside shoulder east of entrance – Adds 0.1–0.2 mi

### Cullasaja Falls

Opening time: Always open (roadside) P: US‑64 roadside pull‑offs GPS: 35.1490,‑83.2760 0.1 mi RT • Easy hike • ~250 ft total • Large watershed Time at falls: 10–15 min • Official parking: ~6 spaces • Real‑world: ~12 cars • Closest town: Franklin, NC Alternate parking: – Multiple staggered pull‑offs – High turnover

# DAY 5 — Sun Apr 12

Return to Lexington, KY Sunrise: ~6:58 AM • Sunset: ~7:59 PM Usable light: until ~8:29 PM • Full dark: ~8:59 PM
Easy travel day home.