Trails in the Dupont State Forest Trailhead Area

Here is a list of all trails in the Dupont State Forest Trailhead area.

Each trail has its own printable page with all the information and links, including (where available):

• directions to the starting point
• difficulty
• length
• elevation change
• a map
• photos from along the way, and
• a detailed description and trail directions.

For general information about the Dupont State Forest trailhead, see the Dupont State Forest Trailhead page.

Need to find trails by another method? Go back to Trails.

Airstrip Trail

• The lower end of this trail is brand-new; winds slowly up the dry slope below the airstrip on a moderate grade. The rest of this trail follows the old airstrip itself with a nice view. That part is not recommended, though on a hot, sunny day!
• 1.01mi, Climbs Gently, Some Obstacles

Barn Trail

• Travels from the horse barn near Bridal Veil Falls, past the scenic pastures, and uphill past a small creek to join with the Shelter Rock trail near the bottom of the Airstrip trail. Quickest way to get from the airstrip (and Fawn Lake parking area)...
• 0.45mi, Climbs Gently, Some Obstacles

Big Rock Trail

• Trail is rocky and moderately rough at lower end. Middle part passes over solid granite domes, offering up some nice views of areas within Dupont State Forest and over toward Pisgah. Winds thru dry pine/oak forest near jct. with Cedar Rock trail....
• 0.84mi, Hilly, Moderately Rough

Boundary Trail

• Easy path, old road bed. Connects Rifle, Guion, and Hickory Mountain trails, forming a small loop.
• 0.3mi, Climbs Gently, Some Obstacles

Bridal Overlook Trail

• 0.49mi, ,

Bridal Veil Falls Road Trail

• Gravel road occasionally used by forest service vehicles. Passes the horse stables and terminates at a loop, where a short path continues around a switchback to an overlook, and then the base of Bridal Veil Falls.
• 0.56mi, Some Hills, Paved/Graveled

Briery Fork Trail

• 1.47mi, ,

Buck Forest Road Trail

• Gated, wide, maintained gravel road occasionally used by park and private vehicles (by permit) on the western end down to the Grassy Creek bridge. Rest is an unmaintained old roadbed.
• 3.18mi, Climbs Moderately, Some Obstacles

Buckhorn Creek Road Trail

• 1.14mi, ,

Buck Ridge Road Trail

• 0.72mi, ,

Burnt Mountain Trail

• Southeast end is mostly on an old road bed, high above the Little River at first. Then switches back and climbs up near the nondescript summit of Burnt Mountain, on and off the old road bed. Steeper on northwest end with some rocks & roots.
• 2.20mi, Hilly, Moderately Rough

Camp Summit Road Trail

• 0.55mi, ,

Cannon Creek Trail

• 1.36mi, ,

Cart Trail

• Steep in places. This trail is now closed to bikes and horses.
• 0.52mi, ,

Cascade Trail

• Connects Cascade Lake Road to the Pine Tree & Sheep Mountain trails.
• 0.85mi, Climbs Moderately, Some Obstacles

Cedar Rock Trail

• Interesting trail passes over the granitic dome of Cedar Rock Mtn. Although the mountain is small by mountain standards, this trail provides some great views and an interesting environment. There are some rocky sections near the bottom; rest is...
• 1.43mi, Hilly, Moderately Rough

Chestnut Oak Road Trail

• 0.46mi, ,

Conservation Road Trail

• This is a wide, graded, maintained gravel road, which is gated but occasionally used by park vehicles, and private vehicles for visiting the waterfalls (by permit). Passes the old airstrip.
• 2.61mi, Hilly, Paved/Graveled

Corn Mill Shoals Trail

• Old roadbed; no longer maintained. Mostly hardpacked, but some places are rocky, highly eroded, or sandy. Starting from the Corn Mill Shoals parking area, the trail fords the Little River at Corn Mill Shoals. Use extreme caution if you cross here:...
• 2.43mi, Hilly, Some Obstacles

Covered Bridge Trail

• Connects the High Falls trail to the covered bridge on Buck Forest Road. Gravel road surface.
• 0.22mi, Climbs Moderately, Few Obstacles

Farmhouse Trail

• 0.56mi, ,

Fawn Lake Loop Trail

• 0.60mi, ,

Fawn Lake Road Trail

• Gravel road occasionally used by vehicles. Scenic; loops around Fawn Lake.
• 0.74mi, Climbs Gently, Paved/Graveled

Flat Rock Trail

• 0.49mi, ,

Flatwoods Trail

• 0.19mi, ,

Frank Street Trail

• 0.45mi, ,

Galax Trail

• **Note:** This trail was closed permanently in 2010. Use the Triple Falls trail instead. Newer, short trail winds up through several switchbacks from the Hooker Falls parking area up the hill to the picnic area at Triple Falls. Named for large...
• 0.27mi, Climbs Moderately, Some Obstacles

Grassy Creek Trail

• 0.76mi, ,

Grassy Creek Falls Trail

• Very short; travels down to the falls. Convoluted trail right before you get to the falls with lots of roots and rocks.
• 0.28mi, Climbs Moderately, Moderately Rough

Grassy Dam Trail

• This trail is no longer maintained.
• 0.37mi, ,

Grassy Meadow Trail

• From the eastern end, the trail - which is an old road - ascends slightly, then crosses a tributary of Briery Fork before going through its eponymous meadow, surrounded by a forest filled with white pine. It descends again to the west junction with...
• 0.83mi, Climbs Gently, Some Obstacles

Guion Trail

• 0.52mi, ,

Hickory Mountain Loop Trail

• This trail was rebuilt in the spring of 2014 by Elevated Trail Design. Climbs past an open meadow through some switchbacks before winding around atop Hickory Mountain a bit, and crossing the summit in a nondescript forest setting. There are a couple...
• 1.06mi, Climbs Moderately, Some Obstacles

Hickory Mountain Road Trail

• Old gravel road travels from the meadow near Guion Farm to the bottom of Hickory Mountain, where it connects to Hickory Mountain Loop and Ridgeline. Mostly gravel; travels through pine forest. Passes through another clearing near the upper end with a...
• 2.76mi, Climbs Gently, Graveled

High Falls Trail

• This "trail" has a several different parts to it. Starting at the High Falls parking area, a new section of footpath parallels Buck Forest Road and leads to the south intersection with the Triple Falls trail near the covered bridge. It's nice because...
• 0.73mi, Climbs Moderately, Some Obstacles

Hilltop Loop Trail

• 0.42mi, ,

Holly Road Trail

• 1.22mi, ,

Hooker Creek Trail

• 1.08mi, ,

Hooker Falls Road Trail

• Old roadbed follows Little River to Hooker Falls. Mostly flat; drops a bit right at the falls to reach the base.
• 0.25mi, Some Hills, Few Obstacles

Hooker Ridge Road Trail

• 0.46mi, ,

Isaac Heath Trail

• 0.79mi, ,

Jim Branch Trail

• 1.29mi, ,

Joanna Mountain Trail

• Dead-ends on the backside of Joanna Mountain. Would make a great trail if it traveled to the overlooks on the front of the mountain, but you'll have to bushwhack to get there for now. This trail is no longer maintained and is closed to bikes and...
• 0.27mi, Hilly, Some Obstacles

Joanna Road Trail

• Upgraded gravel road occasionally used by forest service vehicles.
• 4.24mi, Climbs Moderately, Paved/Graveled

Lake Dense Trail

• This has been renamed the Three Lakes trail.
• 0.46mi, Some Hills, Few Obstacles

Lake Imaging Road Trail

• Passes Lake Imaging and winds up at Grassy Creek Falls & Buck Forest Road; popular area for horseback riders.
• 1.53mi, ,

Lake Julia Road Trail

• Gravel road occaionally used by forest service vehicles.
• 0.4mi, Some Hills, Paved/Graveled

Lake View Loop Trail

• 0.23mi, ,

Laurel Trail

• This trail is now closed.
• 0.25mi, ,

Laurel Ridge Trail

• Nice trail has been re-routed along much of its length. Travels sidehill below the summit of a steep ridge. Mixed hardwood forest.
• 0.85mi, Few Hills, Some Obstacles

Little Briery Trail

• This trail is no longer maintained.
• 0.46mi, ,

Little River Trail

• Follows an old roadbed. Mostly smooth with some sand and rocks, and one creek crossing (Tom Creek) with a log bridge. Not much in the way of elevation change. Follows the river in places. Ends at the State Forest boundary above Bridal Veil Falls. The...
• 1.17mi, Climbs Gently, Some Obstacles

Locust Trail

• 0.42mi, ,

Longside Trail

• 0.75mi, ,

Micajah Trail

• 0.82mi, ,

Mine Mountain Trail

• 1.42mi, ,

Moore Cemetery Road Trail

• 0.15mi, ,

Nooks Trail

• A little-used trail which dead-ends in the Nooks, a spit of land formed by the Little River's meanderings.
• 0.42mi, Some Hills, Some Obstacles

Oak Tree Trail

• 0.51mi, ,

Pine Tree Trail

• 1.58mi, ,

Pitch Pine Trail

• A scenic trail with gentle grades. West of Joanna Road, the trail goes through second-growth forest with only a few bigger trees (mostly white pines). There are some nice areas of galax, and a couple of neat, mossy rocks beside the trail. East of...
• 0.39mi, Climbs Moderately, Some Obstacles

Plantation Trail

• 1.16mi, ,

Poplar Trail

• Short connector descends from White Pine Loop to Rifle trail. Old forest road surface.
• 0.33mi, Climbs Moderately, Some Obstacles

Poplar Hill Loop Trail

• 1.39mi, ,

Reasonover Creek Trail

• 3.27mi, ,

Ridgeline Trail

• 1.21mi, ,

Rifle Trail

• 0.47mi, ,

River Bend Trail

• Provides access to the base of High Falls. An old road bed leading along the river fades into a narrower path before ending at the pool below the falls. Rocky in spots near the base of the falls.
• 0.27mi, Climbs Gently, Some Obstacles

Rock Quarry Road Trail

• 1.27mi, ,

Rocky Ridge Trail

• 1.26mi, ,

Sandy Trail

• 0.55mi, ,

Scarlet Oak Trail

• 0.16mi, ,

Sheep Mountain Trail

• 1.55mi, ,

Shelter Rock Trail

• 0.62mi, ,

Shoal Creek Trail

• 1.19mi, ,

Shoals Trail

• 0.44mi, ,

Shortcut Trail

• 0.28mi, ,

Stone Mountain Trail

• Ascends the southwest side of Stone Mountain, the highest point in DuPont State Forest at 3620 ft and a great place to catch a view of the forest 1000 ft below and to the south. Most of the trail follows an old road bed on a moderate grade up to a...
• 0.97mi, Climbs Steeply, Moderately Rough

Switchback Trail

• 0.63mi, ,

Table Rock Trail

• A nice stroll through the woods, but don't expect a view like the name might suggest. There's not really any rock visible on the small mountain known as Table Rock, and it is tree-covered.
• 0.88mi, Climbs Gently, Few Obstacles

Tarkiln Branch Road Trail

• 1.39mi, ,

Thomas Cemetery Road Trail

• 1.60mi, ,

Three Lakes Trail

• From Lake Dense, the trail follows an old road bed past the picnic shelter, across the dam, and over to Lake Alford. It has moderate grades, and goes through a pine/hemlock forest where many of the hemlocks are dying. There is a great view of Joanna...
• mi, Climbs Moderately, Some Obstacles

Triple Falls Trail

• Travels from the Hooker Falls parking area up to Triple Falls. Near the parking area the trail is level with a few rocks and wet places; near the falls it climbs very steeply but the surface is mostly smooth.
• 1.03mi, Climbs Moderately, Some Obstacles

Turkey Knob Road Trail

• This old road is reverting back to a singletrack trail. The new extension from Pinnacle Mountain Road down to Briery Fork trail (a true trail, built early 2013) opens up many more loop hiking options in the south portion of DuPont SF, including a...
• 3.1mi, Climbs Gently, Some Obstacles

Twin Oaks Trail

• 0.93mi, ,

Twixt Trail

• 0.42mi, ,

Vista Trail

• This trail is no longer maintained.
• 0.29mi, ,

White Pine Trail

• 0.5mi, ,

White Pine Loop Trail

• Easy loop off Hickory Mountain Road. Old forest road surface. Travels through an area logged of White Pine.
• 0.24mi, Climbs Gently, Few Obstacles

Wilkie Trail

• 0.36mi, ,

Wintergreen Falls Trail

• Easy walk on old road from Tarklin Br. Rd. to Sandy Tr. Narrows a bit, then narrows a lot and gets rougher - with some climbs up over some rocks - right before reaching the base of the falls.
• 0.52mi, Climbs Gently, Moderately Rough