DuPont State Recreational Forest
DuPont State Recreational Forest Hikes
DuPont State Recreational Forest is known for its waterfalls, and several of the best-known ones sit on short, foot-traffic-only trails. Longer multi-use routes cover the rest of the forest for hikers, bikers, and riders.
This page uses distances from the North Carolina Forest Service's official DuPont map. The official map's difficulty coding could not be read reliably, so this page does not assign difficulty ratings; it lists distance and route type instead.
Compare the Routes
Each trail below shows the distance from the official forest map and the route type. Waterfall trails are foot traffic only; the longer routes are multi-use.
Trail
Distance
Difficulty
Highlight
4.5 mi
Not rated on the official map
Longest route on this list; bridge closure reported
Top Picks by What You Want
Grouping the same trails by intent makes the choice faster if you already know what kind of outing you want.
Best for a quick waterfall
Hooker Falls Trail (0.4 mi) and Triple Falls Trail (0.4 mi) are the shortest waterfall walks on the list.
Best for a waterfall loop
High Falls Loop (about 2 mi loop) turns a waterfall visit into a longer circuit.
Best for a longer walk
Turkey Knob Trail (4.5 mi), Reasonover Creek Trail (3.5 mi), and Cascade Loop (3.1 mi) are the longest routes and are multi-use.
Route Details
Hooker Falls Trail Hooker Falls Trail is 0.4 miles and reserved for foot traffic, according to the official forest map.
Triple Falls Trail Triple Falls Trail is 0.4 miles and foot traffic only.
Wintergreen Falls Trail Wintergreen Falls Trail is 0.5 miles and leads to a waterfall.
Bridal Veil Falls Road Bridal Veil Falls Road is 0.6 miles and leads to a waterfall.
Big Rock Trail Big Rock Trail is a 0.9-mile multi-use trail.
Grassy Creek Falls Trail Grassy Creek Falls Trail is 1 mile and foot traffic only.
High Falls Loop High Falls Loop is roughly a 2-mile loop. The forest's map and its FAQ disagree by about 20 percent, so treat the distance as approximate.
Corn Mill Shoals Trail Corn Mill Shoals Trail is a 2.7-mile multi-use trail.
Cascade Loop Cascade Loop is a 3.1-mile multi-use loop.
Reasonover Creek Trail Reasonover Creek Trail is a 3.5-mile multi-use trail.
Turkey Knob Trail Turkey Knob Trail is the longest route on this list at 4.5 miles and is multi-use. The forest's trail advisories reported a bridge closed about 0.5 miles from the Pinnacle Mountain gate, so check advisories before you go.
Parking, Fees, and What to Know Before You Go
Check the North Carolina Forest Service's trail advisories for DuPont State Recreational Forest before you go, since the forest posts closures and access changes there. At the time of our research, an advisory reported a closed bridge on Turkey Knob Trail.
Because several trails share the forest with bikes and horses, stay alert on the multi-use routes and give way appropriately.
Best Season
The forest's official map and advisories do not tie these trails to a season, so check current conditions and advisories on the day you go. Waterfall trails can be more challenging when the ground is wet, so wear shoes with good grip.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which DuPont waterfall trails are foot traffic only? Hooker Falls Trail (0.4 mi), Triple Falls Trail (0.4 mi), and Grassy Creek Falls Trail (1.0 mi) are foot traffic only on the official forest map.
How long is High Falls Loop? About 2 miles as a loop. The map and the forest's FAQ differ by roughly 20 percent, so treat it as approximate.
Why does this page not list difficulty ratings? The official map codes difficulty by color, but that could not be read reliably, so this page shows distance and route type rather than guess.
Is Turkey Knob Trail open? The forest's advisories reported a bridge closed about 0.5 miles from the Pinnacle Mountain gate. Check the current advisories before you go.
Explore Full Write-Ups
Each trail above has its own detailed guide with directions and trip notes.
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