Hiking Hotspot: Triple Falls at Dupont State Forest
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The Western North Carolina region is loaded with breathtaking waterfalls. From roadside wonders, to those requiring a hard trek along an unmaintained trail, there is a diverse range of cascading beauties to add to your bucket list. I put in a lot of miles hiking in my 2 years living in the region. One of my favorite trails to recommend to first time visitors is the Triple Falls trailhead. This one is moderate in intensity and I love that you get to see 3 waterfalls plus a covered bridge in one hike. I feel that you get a lot more than you put in for this one. The Dupont State Forest is a beautiful place; the woodsy scenery along the way is just as impressive as the waterfalls.
If you find yourself visiting a nearby city like Greenville or Asheville, this trailhead is an easy 1 hour drive from either, and well worth the daytrip. While these 2 cities are super fun with lots of fun shops, events, and foodie restaurants, I recommend pulling yourself away from the action for a bit to explore the natural wonders of this incredible region. This hike is challenging enough to provide a decent workout, yet not tough enough to draw away beginning hikers.
The Dupont State Forest
This 10,400 acre forest is located between Transylvania and Henderson counties in the small community of Cedar Mountain. Mountain biking, hiking, kayaking, and horseback riding are great activities to consider over the mild spring and summer months. Diverse habitat includes cove forests, Upland oak forests, riparian areas, granite domes, mountain bogs, lakes, streams, and waterfalls. Learn more about the forest ecosystem on the state forest website.
There are over 80 miles of trails to explore, the most iconic being the Triple Falls hike. This trail draws heavy tourist traffic, due to the immense beauty and easy access from numerous tourist cities. I think this hike is a wonderful day trip for nature lovers, photographers, and fitness enthusiasts alike.
During my time living here, I learned that the state has seen a boost in tourism due to the immense popularity of The Hunger Games franchise. This popular movie was filmed at various locations throughout this area, including the Triple Falls base as you will see below. Regardless of whether or not you are a fan (it’s not one of my favorites to be honest), this is one of the best bang-for-your-buck waterfalls hikes in the region!
The hike to see all 3 is just a little over 3 miles round-trip. Of course, you can decide to turn around at any point. Seeing just one of these beautiful falls justifies the drive over in my opinion.
High Falls
From the High Falls parking lot (located next to the visitor’s center), the trek to see High Falls, a stunning waterfall with a 120 foot drop, is just 0.6 miles. You can stop here, turn around, and simply enjoy the 1 mile hike to this gorgeous waterfall, or continue on to the base. There is a great overlook here where you can take some nice photos. You can also hike a bit further to the base for an up close view. This is my favorite waterfall of the 3 and it’s even more stunning in person.
A short 0.2 mile detour brings you to a historic covered bridge. It’s worth the side trek to see this gorgeous landmark. I really love covered bridges so there was no way I was skipping an easy detour. As more of these historic landmarks disappear each year, you may want to see one while you still can. You can check out my guide to some fabulous covered bridges I’ve seen around the country.
Triple Falls
After hiking another 0.7 miles or so, you will arrive at the spectacular overlook for Triple Falls. This is a spectacular three-tiered, 125 foot drop waterfall. Really, an incredible sight to see in person. I imagine it would be even more stunning surrounded with bright foliage. Unfortunately, we had so many incredible falls on our bucket list each weekend that we never made it here during peak.
There is a staircase which goes down to the base of the falls. This scene may seem familiar as it was featured in The Hunger Games.
Hooker Falls
From Triple Falls, you can continue on a bit over a half mile to Hooker Falls. Although I would say this one isn’t as impressive the others, you might as well see the last waterfall while you are already this far along. Despite the waterfall being just 14 feet tall, it’s very wide and holds an impressive volume of water. Although this is the smallest falls of the 3, the setting is very peaceful, making this a great place to relax for a bit or grab a snack before embarking on the return route.
On a side note, this trail is supposedly really gorgeous during the fall season. I am not surprised as every hike I’ve timed just right in this region has been a fabulous leaf peeping destinations. Unfortunately, we hiked just past peak and only caught a few glimpses of the remaining colorful leaves.
Additional info
Location: The visitor’s center is located at 89 Buck Forest Rd. in Cedar Mountain, NC.
Parking is free.
Dogs are allowed although they must be kept leashed at all times.
Pickinicking available at the Triple Falls shelter. There is a nice overlook of the waterfall here.
I also recommend hiking Wintergreen either while you are here or on a separate day depending on your fitness level. This is an underrated ~1 mile hike to a gorgeous waterfall in a beautiful forested setting.
Tips for a great hike
- Plan at least a few hours for the entire hike.
- Bring with a few snacks and plenty of water.
- The trail is often muddy, so hiking shoes come in handy. I always carry a hiking stick too.
- Also, there are no restaurants in close proximity, so it’s best to fill up with a great breakfast or lunch before heading out for this hike. If you are staying in Asheville, there are no shortage of wonderful local options. For a quick bite, I recommend Biscuit Head. If you love a great cup of joe, you can’t go wrong with All Day Darling.
