Roaring Fork Falls

A beautifully unique waterfall that is very easy to reach.

In the northern section of the Pisgah National Forest, just north of the Blue Ridge Parkway, sits the wonderfully different, Roaring Fork Falls.  This beautiful waterfall on Roaring Fork Creek is a long cascade that falls about 50ft but takes about twice as long as you would expect to do it as the water appears to fall slowly into the large pool at the base of the falls.   Sitting in the shadow of Mt. Mitchell, Roaring Fork Falls is an easy 1/2 mile walk along a mostly flat trail that is just minutes off highway 80.

The trailhead for Roaring Fork Falls is located at the end of Busick Work Center Road in Burnsville North Carolina.  It is just a couple of miles north of the Blue Ridge Parkway on Highway 80 off South Toe River Road.  As you turn off highway 80 onto South Toe River Road, stay to your left and follow the road until it ends at a fence where there is parking on the left.  The trailhead is about 60 minutes from Asheville North Carolina, 75 minutes from Hickory North Carolina, or 90 minutes from Johnson City Tennessee.  There are not any restroom facilities at the trailhead so plan accordingly.

The trail starts off immediately across from the parking area and is well signed.  The initial hill off the road is the most strenuous hill you will need to climb the entire 1/2 mile walk to the falls so enjoy this  pleasant and easy walk through the woods.  The trail is marked with blue blazes but you won’t need them as the trail is very easy to follow.  At about 1/2 mile, you will come to a small foot bridge that veers off to the right, here you are just a short distance to the falls.

The trail takes you to the base of the falls where there is plenty of space to relax and enjoy the view of Roaring Creek Falls as it slithers down the hill into a large pool of crystal clear mountain water.  It is a great spot to take your kids as there aren’t any exposed areas that you would need to worry about.  Just the beautiful Roaring Creek Falls in a pristine mountain environment.

This is an out and back hike so hike safely back to the parking lot when you have finished enjoying the Falls.

1 thought on “Roaring Fork Falls”

  1. A very lovely falls. The walk was easy with a wide gravel path running up and down gentle hills up until the small footbridge. After the bridge the trail becomes a bit more ankle-twisting with lots of exposed roots all over the surface, but it is still doable. Hubby and I are both over 50 and had no trouble. On the way out we saw an elderly gentleman with a cane and 2 friends and we warned him about the roots. It would be possible to take a stroller or power chair up to the footbridge, but after that you have to walk.

    (5/5)
    Reply

Leave a Comment

Rating: