Pisgah and DuPont National Forests, North Carolina

Sorry to have been gone for so long!  It's amazing how life can get away from you, especially in the summer!  But I definitely have some posts planned on recent trips and old favorites  :)

This Labor Day weekend, my husband, daughter, and I escaped to the mountains near Brevard, NC.  We haven't spent a ton of time in the area, and we had heard about "The Land of Waterfalls" - it sounded like the perfect place to spend a few days exploring!

We drove up on Sunday morning and arrived at Pisgah National Forest about 11:30 am.  Pisgah is a HUGE park (over 500,000 acres) so obviously we only saw a small slice, focusing on the Pisgah Ranger District near the city of Brevard.  I would strongly suggest stopping at the Ranger Station as you enter the park on US Hwy 276 for a map and information - they also have a few small exhibits that might interest children.

Our first stop was at Sliding Rock, a landmark in North Carolina and a must do in the area.  It is about 6 miles north of the Ranger Station on US 276.  Looking Glass Creek cascades approximately 60 ft over mountain rock into a deep (approx 8 ft) pool.  There is a parking lot, but during busy times it can fill up quickly - I would advise making this your first stop and going early.  If the lot is full you can park on the side of the road further up, but there is very little shoulder so the walk down can get dicey.  There is a $2 charge/person to enter the area.  Restrooms are available for changing.  Lifeguards at at the rock 10 am -6 pm during the season (Memorial Day to Labor Day) and I believe this is the only time you can actually slide down.  The line may look long, but give it a chance - it moves quickly!  The one thing I will warn you about?  The plunge is COLD!  I personally wouldn't take children who can't swim on their own, although life jackets are allowed and those under 7 are required to go down with a parent.  And don't be concerned about hurting your bottom - it really feels quite soft!  Some suggest shorts, but I went down in a bathing suit only with no difficulty.

EDIT: Having trouble getting the video to load - stay tuned!

After braving the crowds and cold at Sliding Rock, we headed off the beaten path a little to explore Moore Cove Falls.  The trailhead is located about 5 miles north of the Ranger Station on US 276 and it is about 0.7 miles back to the falls.  It's a very easy hike with only moderate uphills, and our 5 year old handled it with no issue (she's not much of a hiker  :) ) 

The falls themselves aren't heavy but are quite dramatic.  They flow over a cliff into a small pool - you can walk all the way around them as well as under them or play in the pool itself.  So relaxing and a very unique setting.  We camped out on the rocks under the fall to eat lunch and relax prior to the hike back.

Next up - Looking Glass Falls.  These are one of the most photographed falls in the country and it's easy to see why - they are gorgeous.  These are located right off of US 276 (about 4 miles north of the Ranger Station) and you can park along the shoulder to visit them.  There are many steps to get to the base of the fall - something to keep in mind for those with small children or mobility issues - but there is  a viewing platform at the top.  The pool at the base of the falls is great for a dip or just playing on the rocks.  My main issue with Looking Glass was the crowds.  Granted, we were there on a holiday weekend and in the afternoon (the busiest time), but it really made the experience less than ideal.  If you can get there at a low crowd time, it would be an amazing place to hang out for a while!

Our final stop for the day was Slick Rock Falls.  This is quite a bit off the beaten path, about a mile up a bumpy, winding gravel road.  Debatable whether it was worth it.  It is an extremely short hike - less than 100 yards - from the parking lot to the falls, but the falls themselves are quite unremarkable.  Maybe during a heavier flow?  We have been in a drought in the area this summer  :(

Another suggestion for Pisgah if you have children would be the Center for Wildlife Education - it was closed the day we were there but looked like it would be worth a stop.

We stayed for the night at the Hampton Inn Brevard, mostly because we had hotel points.  Clean and comfortable.  Wish I could give recommendations on restaurants, but we ordered pizza and all crashed early - we were exhausted!  I have heard good things about Marco Trattoria and Hobnob in Brevard.

Monday morning, we headed out of town at stopped at Connestee Falls (south of Brevard on US 276). It can only be viewed at this point from an observation platform at the top.  Truthfully, I didn't think the stop was worth it.

Our favorite part of the trip was our time in DuPont National Forest in Cedar Mountain, NC.  10-15 minutes from Brevard, it felt like another world in terms of crowding.  We did get there quite a bit earlier, around 9:30 am and left by about noon.  It was starting to get busier as we were headed out.

The Little River

Our first stop was Hooker Falls, a short and mostly flat hike from the parking area.  Definitely take the hill down to the base of these falls - what a gorgeous place to play!  Clear, quiet water and absolutely beautiful falls!  My daughter said these were her favorite of the trip.

More of the river

Heading back toward the parking lot, you will find the trail for Triple Falls.  We estimated the walk there to be about a half mile, and lots of it is significantly uphill.  Our daughter did ok, but did need a break at the top.  You can view them from a platform to see all three...

…and then take the stairs down to wander around the falls themselves.

Continuing along the trail for another half mile or so, you will find High Falls.  We followed the left path at the fork to go to the base of the falls; there is also an option to take the right hand path to the top for viewing.  What no one will tell you is that you have to make your way along the river itself over rocks and water to actually see them like this.  It's not extremely tough, but you'll want to watch your step closely and your small kiddos.

It's worth it!

If you are ever in the area, it's definitely worthwhile to stop by and check out some of these falls!  We felt like we barely scratched the surface in two days.  This area is also a great one to find spectacular fall color (our plan for next year) or to rent a mountain cabin and really get away from it all!