Dupont Waterfalls and Lakes Tour Hike

On this hike, you'll visit up to 5 of the 6 major waterfalls and 3 of the beautiful lakes in Dupont State Forest. It starts as an easy path to some of the most spectacular waterfalls in the area: Hooker, Triple, and High Falls. Covered picnic shelters with views of the falls make for excellent family outing possibilities. If you wish to continue, this will become a moderate hike taking you to Bridal Veil Falls. You'll cross the big covered bridge and pass three beautiful mountain lakes on the way there - well worth the extra effort!

Directions

From Asheville, take I-240 west to I-26 east to the exit for Asheville Airport (exit 40). Head south (right) on NC 280 (4-lane highway) toward Brevard for 16 miles. Turn left on US 64 East and drive 3.7 miles. Turn right on Crab Creek Road. Drive 4.3 miles and turn right on Dupont Road. The road will climb and change names to Staton Road, then begin a long downhill, at the bottom of which is the bridge over the Little River. The parking area is on the right just before the bridge. The trail to Triple and High Falls starts on the other side of the bridge.

Directions on Google Maps

Details

Hike Description

This hike, which is divided into several parts, includes some of the best points of interest at Dupont State Recreational Forest. You may turn around at any time, or visit them all. While the first half of the hike is easy and perfect for families with kids, continuing on to second half is suitable for those wanting a more rigorous workout with plenty of scenic attractions.

The surface on most of the trails on this hike is gravel, with only a short section of dirt trail with some obstacles (a few rocks and roots on the Pitch Pine and Three Lakes trails). Distances shown are round trip back to the parking lot on the shortest path, not including side trails.

Note: You can easily rack up an extra mile or three visiting the base of the various waterfalls and side paths to points of interest on this hike, so keep that in mind when figuring distances!

Preamble: To Hooker Falls (Easy, 0.75 mi, negligible climb)

Though the falls is nothing spectacular since it's not very high (about 15 feet), it is pretty, and well worth the leg-stretcher required to get to it. Take the gated trail to the right of the sign board (Hooker Falls trail), and bear left at the first intersection. The trail, which is mostly level, leads about 1/4 mile through a forest of white pines and hemlocks. Some of the hemlocks have been treated for the Wooly Adelgid and are in great shape.

The trail leads to a viewpoint at the top of the falls, then continues down a small hill and turns left to reach a restored area along the river at its base, popular for swimming and sunbathing. Return to the bridge and parking lot when you're done viewing the falls.

Section 1: To Triple Falls (Easy, 0.7 mi, 120 ft climb)

Note: Distances for sections 1-5 are there and back from the parking lot, and do not include the Preamble trip to Hooker Falls, so add 3/4 mile to your total hike if you decide to visit Hooker Falls first!

Begin by crossing the new wood and steel trail bridge over the Little River, which was added in July 2013 so hikers don't have to cross on the highway bridge anymore. On the other side, turn left on the Triple Falls trail and go under the highway bridge. The trail follows the Little River upstream into the forest.

Soon, you'll begin a short but quite steep climb up to the viewing area for Triple Falls, which is on the left directly beside the trail about 0.35 mi from the bridge. This is one of the best overlooks for the falls.

There are two points of interest past the overlook you might also want to check out: the picnic shelter (on the right) and the trail to the close-up view of the falls (on the left).

First is a short path leading to a picnic shelter with another excellent view of the falls - a great spot for a family lunch stop. Bring a picnic!

Next is the path leading down to the middle of the falls, via a long set of steps. Hear the roar of the river as it plunges from two tiers above you to a swirling pool at your level, and feel the ample wind and mist from the middle falls. You can explore the falls up-close from there, but stay on the large, dry, flat rock areas above where the lower cascade drops to the riverbed below.

Do NOT climb the rocks or go into the water. It's illegal, and people have been severely injured doing that here! Rocks that stay wet with spray can get slimy and very slippery, so stay on the dry areas.

Once you're done exploring Triple Falls, continuing on to High Falls is highly recommended. However, you may turn around here and return to your vehicle for an easy overall hike.

Section 2: To High Falls (Easy to Moderate, 1.9 mi, 240 ft climb)

High Falls is a spectacular sight. The water slides down a 150 ft high dome of exposed rock almost as wide; at several points, rooster tails launch streams of water into the air. To get to it, starting from the Triple Falls picnic shelter, go uphill on the gravel road for about 0.1 mi and take a left onto the High Falls trail.

This trail is mostly level, smooth and wide, with a few wet spots and a few rocks. The trail follows the Little River closely and it is amazing how calm and level it is between the two falls. About 0.3 mi from the turn, you'll reach the junction with the River Bend trail.

The best view of the falls is to the right on the High Falls trail after 0.2 mi steeply uphill.

To reach the base of High Falls, go left on the Riverbend Trail. The path starts out wide and level as it goes along the river, but gets a bit rockier and narrower as it comes out on the rocks around the pool at the base of the falls 0.32 mi from the High Falls trail.

Don't try to climb the rocks near the falls - there are plenty of safe places to enjoy the view. Use extreme caution if you decide to get in the water as many people do - the currents can be significant. When you're done exploring, return down the River Bend trail to the High Falls trail intersection. This adds about 0.6 mi to the hike.

You could return to your vehicle from here to keep this an easy hike; or, turn left on the High Falls trail to begin the moderate climb up to the High Falls overlook in 0.2 mi.

Just past the overlook, you can take the set of steps and a path uphill to the right to reach another picnic shelter, again with a great view.

If you are turning around here, backtrack on the High Falls trail to the Triple Falls trail. Turn right and follow the Little River back to the steel bridge and the parking area.

Section 3: to the Covered Bridge over the Little River (Moderate, 2.75 mi, 375 ft climb)

To get to the Covered Bridge visible above High Falls, follow either of the trails from the High Falls overlook or the picnic shelter uphill. Both trails join together in about 0.1 mi. Continue straight on the High Falls trail (a gentle climb on a gravel road) for 280 ft. to the Covered Bridge trail intersection. Turn left onto the Covered Bridge trail.

Covered Bridge trail climbs a bit more, goes back downhill, and then reaches Buck Forest Road in just under 1/4 mi. Turn left onto the wide Buck Forest Road to cross the covered bridge at the top of High Falls. On the right, you'll get a view of the calm, smooth river above the falls. On the left, you can see the river as it spills over the brink of High Falls.

Return by backtracking the Covered Bridge, High Falls, and Triple Falls trails if you're ending the hike here.

Section 4: To Lake Dense (Moderate, 4.5 mi, 525 ft climb)

The way to Lake Dense - called Conservation Road - was also planned to be a main subdivision road. Cross the covered bridge on Buck Forest Road and in about 250 ft, turn right onto Conservation Road. The road is level, wide, and kinda boring to hike. In less than 0.1 mi, turn left onto the Pitch Pine trail to follow a more interesting route to the lake. The Pitch Pine trail winds around through the forest, past some neat rock outcrops in cove and ridge settings, to reach Joanna Road in about 0.6 mi.

Cross Joanna Road and pick up the Pitch Pine trail again on the other side. The trail twists and turns down to Lake Dense, follows its northern shore in a westerly direction for a bit and then ends on the Three Lakes trail near the picnic shelter and dam, 0.35 mi from Joanna Road.

Lake Dense is a real gem. The water is crystal-clear, at least in cooler months (it greens up a bit in summer), and Joanna Mountain rising above the lake in the background makes for a spectacular scene. Bring your bathing suit - swimming is allowed and very inviting on a hot day! Hang out on the docks or perhaps enjoy a snack in the picnic shelter.

You may also continue along the same trail, across the dam, and through through the pines for another 0.3 mi on the Three Lakes trail to reach Lake Alford. This tiny pond is spring-fed and you can see right through its waters to the small fish which live in it.

If you're turning around here, the easiest route back is to skip the Pitch Pine trail, and instead take the Three Lakes trail back to Joanna Road; turn left; turn right on Conservation Road, then backtrack on Buck Forest Road, Covered Bridge Trail, High Falls Trail, and Triple Falls Trail.

Section 5: To Bridal Veil Falls (Moderate, 7.25 mi, 625 ft climb)

There is one more waterfall in the heart of DuPont: Bridal Veil Falls. To see it, take the Three Lakes trail past Lake Alford in 0.3 mi and continue uphill, south, past the spring feeding the small pond. The trail winds to the west past an arm of Lake Julia and then the spillway channel before reaching Conservation Road about 0.4 mi past Lake Alford.

Turn left on Conservation Road to cross the spillway on a bridge and traverse the old Reasonover Creek stream bed below the Lake Julia dam. Past the dam, the trail climbs a bit. About 0.45 mi from the Three Lakes trail, you'll reach the intersection with the Bridal Veil Falls at the horse barn area. This "trail" is another gravel road; turn right.

It's just over 1/2 mi to the falls; the gently rolling road ends in a roundabout and an easy gravel path continues straight toward the falls. Just past the Corn Mill Shoals trail junction, the path rounds a switchback to the base of the falls.

After you've seen enough - or you're forced to leave because of the time, like I always am - return to the parking area. The easiest route is to follow Bridal Veil Falls trail back to the horse barn; turn left on Conservation Road (skip the Three Lakes and Pitch Pine trails this time) and then backtrack on Buck Forest Road, Covered Bridge Trail, High Falls Trail, and Triple Falls Trail.

All Photos from This Hike

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Map

Green highlight indicates the route to follow within the trail network for this hike.

Tip: Printing this map? You can pan and zoom the map as desired before printing to show the area you need.