Gragg Prong Waterfalls, Waterfall Park, Elk River Falls, and Green Mountain Creek Falls - Pisgah National Forest
"Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, “I will try again tomorrow.” - Mary Anne Radmacher
“The secret to living well and longer is: eat half, walk double, laugh triple, and love without measure” - Tibetian proverb
The Story -
On a rainy and cool Thursday, I spent the day exploring hiking trails and waterfalls in the Grandfather Mountain Ranger District in the Pisgah National Forest near Linville, NC. By the end of the day, I had changed my clothes three times, seen six waterfalls, hiked seven miles, and driven over eighty miles. And while I wished I had planned out my day and route better to avoid some backtracking, I had an amazing day exploring the area.
Waterfalls Park - Newland, NC
I started my day with a stop at Waterfalls Park, also known as Bobby McLean Memorial Park in Newland, NC. This memorial park was created and is maintained by the Newland Volunteer Fire Department located across the street to honor a local firefighter killed in the line of duty.
Several manmade cascades fall a total of about fifty feet in a lovely park setting with a trail, picnic tables, and a small bridge in front of the lower cascades. A short, steep, and rocky trail takes you up to the top tier of the waterfalls for a closer look. And there are several rock hops at each tier to get a little closer to each cascade, something I really enjoyed and I’m sure kids and adults alike will love it too!
Note that I would not make a special trip to visit Waterfalls Park again, yet if you are in the area or have small children, it is a wonderful place to stop for a visit.
Elk River Falls -
Leaving Waterfalls Park, I drove ten miles northwest on the curvy Elk Park Highway to the impressive sixty-foot Elk River Falls located only a mile from the North Carolina-Tennessee state line. Elk River Falls is perhaps one of the most impressive waterfalls from a sheer water volume standpoint in all of North Carolina.
After a moderate and undulating hike over uneven terrain with several wooden walkways and bridges, you reach the top of the falls where you can walk dangerously close to the edge of the waterfall to view the large collection pool below. Some are tempted to jump despite the numerous warning signs literally posted everywhere. For this reason, Elk River Falls was recently ranked as the second most dangerous waterfall in all of North Carolina, only behind Whitewater Falls in Cashiers. The extremely large plunge pool below is very tempting to jump into, yet is best visited after taking a short hike down to it, not a foolish leap.
The hike itself to the waterfall is short but somewhat strenuous, especially on the way back up. Elk River Falls is a perfect place to spend a hot summer day, as long as you heed the warnings signs. I hope to return very soon, perhaps this summer.
Green Mountain Creek Falls -
After leaving Elk River Falls, I retraced my route to Grandfather Mountain until I reached the Blowing Rock Highway, which runs mostly beside and below the Blue Ridge Parkway. Hard to believe, yet it is even more scenic, curvier and treacherous than its more popular neighbor above! I enjoyed the different perspective from below the parkway and passed only one other car on the road the whole time.
And while the twenty-foot Green Mountain Creek Falls is not as impressive as many of the waterfalls on the nearby Blue Ridge Parkway, it is very pretty and you’ll most likely you’ll have it all to yourself. It is located roadside and after parking at one of the turnouts, you can stand directly in front of the shallow plunge pool with views of the Blue Ridge Parkway high above the waterfall. The waterfall empties into a culvert where the stream continues on the other side of the road.
I enjoyed the peaceful sounds of the lively waterfall and the serenity of the area. And after taking a few pictures, I was on my way to my next stop, the Gragg Prong Waterfalls. After a short time back on the road, I was pleasantly surprised to see the BRP Viaduct in clear view high up on the hill. Definitely an unexpected and worthwhile bonus to my trip.
Gragg Prong Waterfalls -
The highlight of my day was my five-mile hike on the Gragg Prong Waterfalls Trail, a combination of paths on the Mountains to Sea Trail and the Lost Cove Trail. And while the Elk River Falls was very impressive, the amazing hike combined with the wonderful waterfalls of Gragg Prong was my clear favorite of the day.
The trailhead is not hard to get to, yet it does require a long four-mile drive down a bumpy pothole-filled dirt road that seems to go on forever. Eventually, you do arrive at two parking areas near a bridge along with the first of several campsites in the area. The trail starts out somewhat rough and eroded yet gradually improves as you walk next to the rapidly flowing Gragg Prong River. Along the way, you have to cross the broad river at least four times, with several rock-hopping opportunities, two knee-deep wet crossings, and multiple swimming holes. Fortunately, the crossings are well-marked and easy to navigate.
The effort needed to reach the Gragg Prong Waterfalls is truly worth it, as these little-known waterfalls are some of the most scenic and photographic in the state. Surrounded by canyons with enormous boulders, the fast-flowing waterfalls are small, yet powerful. Their smaller scale might contribute to their anonymity, but that shouldn’t prevent you from visiting these magnificent cascades.
Wrap It Up -
Yes, my day was spent dancing in the rain and chasing waterfalls. And while I would try to organize my schedule and route a little better the next time, I had an amazing day exploring a little-known area of the Pisgah National Forest. Give it a try, just be sure to bring a towel, a change of clothes, and perhaps a map!
Sassafras and Skinks