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High Falls/Triple Falls, Dupont State Forest
Written by Heidi Gritsavage, DBO Staff

High Falls and Triple Falls are two very popular and well-visited waterfalls in Western North Carolina. If you don’t mind the crowds, especially on weekend summer days, these falls are incredibly spectacular to see. In fact, I would recommend seeing them at least once even if you don’t normally like hiking with crowds. The hike can be done by just about any skill level; I did it with my 5-year-old niece who enjoyed every minute of it as much as I did. You can visit both falls in less than two hours and the total hike is only about three miles. High Falls is approximately 200 feet from top to bottom, cascading massive amounts of water. Triple Falls has three huge, stair-step-like layers and is almost equally as high. The hike itself is very mild, although a good bit of it on the way to the falls is uphill, so be prepared to climb. As you are hiking up to and around the falls, be extremely cautious. Playing in and around the water near falls is very dangerous. Many people throughout the years have died because of carelessness around Western North Carolina waterfalls!

Take Highway 280 to Highway 64 towards Hendersonville. Follow 64 to Crab Creek Road on the right (there will be a large rock quarry and signs for Penrose at the intersection). Follow Crab Creek Road to Dupont Road. Go Right. Look for the High Falls parking area on your right (it should be the 2nd parking area). You will need to cross the road and go over the bridge to get to the trailhead. Follow the signs and/or the river to the falls.

If coming from Hendersonville:
Follow Kanuga Road until it turns into Crab Creek Road. Continue on until you reach Dupont Road; go left. Follow the above directions from here.

Additional Hike:

Another short jaunt from the parking lot side of the road will take you back to Hooker Falls. This is a very short and extremely easy hike. It’s a smaller waterfall, but many visitors enjoy the huge swimming hole at the base of it.

Difficulty:

Suggested Trail Map:

There is only one official map of Dupont State Forest, currently free and available at Diamond Brand Outdoors and the Hendersonville Visitor’s Center.

Gear:

Please refer to the Before You Go section of our website.