I almost passed this spot entirely, and missing it would have been a real loss. Tucked across from…read morethe Ingles Market, a modest parking area and an understated sign conceal a striking series of cascading waterfalls. The path leading up the slope was carved out by volunteer firefighters, and while it is steep in places, it offers a rewarding climb with views that unfold as you ascend. It's medium difficulty. The park features a few picnic tables scattered near the base, inviting visitors to linger and enjoy the sound of rushing water. The falls themselves are double-tiered, flowing over rugged stone, and a natural rock bridge allows you to cross to the other side with reasonable footing. I had the place entirely to myself today, and despite the questionable wisdom of climbing solo, I made it up and back without incident. The experience was peaceful and memorable, and I left with a handful of beautiful photos and a sense of quiet satisfaction. Locally, the site is also known as Bobby McLean Memorial Park, named in tribute to a respected community figure whose legacy lives on in this serene corner of Newland. [Review 1222 of 2025 - 4407 in North Carolina - 24774 overall]

The waterfalls are beautiful. This is a park and walk up experience. Very private no one was there…read morewhen we went. It is so peaceful just sitting by the waterfall. A great place to sit journal or read a book.

This place is awesome to jump into a fresh spring & clean water as well, the rocks are a bit high…read morebut once the fear of heights is gone you'll have a blast!!!!! :)

Have been to Laurel Creek Falls (Trash Can Falls) many times and we love it. It's beautiful every…read moretime off year. I've came when it's crowed and when it's empty. The parking is off on a gravel area on the side of the road and it's limited. To get to the falls cross the street and follow the path through the woods. It's a super short and really easy path but once you get to the falls you do have to do some climbing and maneuvering so I don't recommend for anyone disabled, small children, or older folks who have issues getting around. We recently went post hurricane Helen and it looks a little different. The wood planks for crossing are gone but the straps remain to help you get out of the swimming hole. There is a fallen tree we had to climb over. Still many people there having a great time just as before!

Love it here ... this particular part of the park is my favorite. Lots of deer around and spots to…read morefish.

We were visiting the area and looking for an easy walking path. This path did not disappoint it is…read morea Beautiful, scenic, well maintained walking path. There are many places to sit and enjoy the views of the river along the way. It is Pet friendly with lots of pet waste stations. There was Plenty of parking at the Clawson-Burnley Park. Highly recommend for all ages.

What a gorgeous park, even in the winter time…read more Since it's winter when I visited, I can't review all of the incredible summer time water sports but I know this park can get busy then. Winter was in incredible time to visit, easy parking, a chance to chat with the staff at the visitor center, and walk around. The lake is beautiful. I've heard that this area did get some hurricane/ storm damage but everything needed to drive around is up and running! Make a plan to visit next time you're nearby. It's about 1 hour drive from downtown Asheville.

This has the look of one of those parks formed around a dam. Don't get me wrong; I'm all for…read morehydroelectric power, but artificial lakes always feel like they're lacking a certain mystique. This park had an impressive visitor center and restrooms were open even after it closed, though neighboring water fountains were not functioning on a hot summer day. The trail I selected was rugged and had occasional waterside views, most notably on a footbridge that offered a mountain vista. Cell service was not great for me, and while I'd hoped to do a zoom meeting on the run I had to return to more urban areas. But if you actually want to get unplugged, the people on boats here appeared to be having a good time.

What a beautiful park! Reading Bee Cs review gives you an…read moreidea of the amazing beauty you will experience. Unfortunately that big red dot question mark on the yelp map gave my planning heart palpitations. (Especially since I'm a recent transplant from another state) There are two Mast General stores in Valle Crucis. This park is located behind the Anex one. From the 105 you'll turn at the Ham Shoppe and just follow til you see the General store. The park is the gravel road before the Store. For those who need an address to put in GPS- 2864 Broadstone Rd Banner Elk, NC 28604-9045 In case Yelp doesn't update my address submission... Enjoy and definitely bring a change of clothes for playing in the creek!

This is such a lovely park. Definitely worth a visit if you're a tourist, and worth being part of…read moreyour weekly fun outdoors if you're a local.

You can't pay for views like this, and good news is... you don't have to!…read more Rough Ridge Overlook is a local *and* tourist hot spot for some of the best views in the state! I went there with some GFs for nature and the views, and it didn't dissapoint. Definiteluy put this spot on your map when planning a trip to Grandfather Mountain.

Not Too Bad Of A Hike. Very Rewarding Views At The End! Slippery When Wet. Wear The Proper Shoes!read more

Saturday Tony Vanoy and I went hiking at Linville Falls off the Blue Ridge Parkway in Linville NC…read morearea. It was such a beautiful day! It was about a 2 mile loop if you go all the way to Erwin' View on the trail from the Visitors Center & parking lot where the bathrooms and gift shop is located. We had a lovely hiking adventure!

Linville Falls is one of those places where the journey is as much a part of the experience as the…read moredestination. First, the good stuff: admission is free, parking is free, and the scenery is absolutely gorgeous. If you're driving the Blue Ridge Parkway, watch carefully for Milepost 316 and the signs for the Visitor Center and Campground. It's easy to miss if you're not paying attention. The weather on my visit was spectacular. It was nearly 20 degrees cooler than Charlotte, and after a few minutes in the mountains, I understood why people keep coming back. The forests are lush, the rhododendrons were blooming, the streams were crystal clear, and the overlooks provide beautiful views of the gorge and waterfalls. That said, if you have knee issues or mobility challenges like I do, know what you're getting into. I have a torn ACL, and while this isn't an extreme hike, I wouldn't call it easy either. The trails include uneven terrain, loose rocks, roots, stairs, narrow pathways, and some fairly steep inclines and descents. Going downhill was actually harder for me than climbing up. I was encouraged to see hikers of all ages out enjoying the trails. There were families with children, seniors, avid hikers with trekking poles, and plenty of casual visitors stopping at the overlooks. The atmosphere felt friendly and relaxed. Was it worth it? I'm still a little on the fence personally, mostly because my knee limited how much I could enjoy the trails. But I can absolutely appreciate why Linville Falls is one of the Blue Ridge Parkway's most popular stops. The views are beautiful, the facilities are convenient, and it's an easy way to experience some of North Carolina's mountain scenery without committing to an all-day hike. If you're reasonably mobile and enjoy nature, it's worth a stop. If you have bad knees, just bring realistic expectations and take your time. Life is too short to stay indoors. Get out there and explore. The mountains are waiting.

This was a cute hike. The signage was a bit confusing in late July 2026, but we found the waterfall…read morepretty easily. We didn't have time that day to hang out and enjoy the pools beneath the waterfall, but there were a lot of people down there with their kids playing in the water. If I lived closer, I would gladly make a trip to this trail on a hot day to enjoy the water and nature. Highly recommend this hike. We ended up going left at the start of the trail up the hill - it was a lot of UP haha but it wasn't so bad on the way back because it's all down hill.

When standing at the beginning point, you can go left or you can go right. My group started our…read morewalk towards the right. Walking towards the right was a pretty lengthy & windy walk. The path itself was nice and mostly flat with very few branches. It was an uphill walk but a semi scenic walk. Once you get closer to the top, there are some benches to sit on and once you get basically at the falls, there are steps leading down. The falls themselves are beautiful and the sound of the water is rather peaceful. Walking from the falls back up is rather steep. On the walk back we decided to go the opposite way we initially took. That path was a shorter path but there were tons of rocks and it was just steep and not nearly as scenic as the other path.

This is one of the few if not the only lake on the blue ridge parkway! If I'm not mistaken the…read morelinville area is the only other water area. We stayed several weeks back during a holiday weekend (towards the end) all camp spots on the app were booked or closed due to dead trees and storms. We drove in and found a spot on the water side.. I'm impressed with these camping areas friendly folks and quiet!!!! Unbelievably quiet! Than once I realized you can walk around the WHOLE lake!! How cool is that! Just an awesome place! And we live here!!! I've drove by. I've drove through. I've dropped the kids for events here. But I've never experienced the park myself! I'm now hooked! You can be there and not really understand that there quite possibly is 1000's of people around you.. not really noticeable.. pretty awesome.. there's places to go and not far from you where there will be nobody! It's quite amazing!! I like to feel alone and this place works!!! Campsites are perfectly private and spaced as such! Love this place!

On our way to the top for leaf peeping, we stopped here for a bit and enjoyed the scenery. Located…read moreat milepost 297 of the Blue Ridge Parkway, the part encompasses over 4200 acres of rolling mountainous terrain that include campgrounds, hiking trails, picnic sites and Price Lake. The highlight is the Tanawha Trail that runs 13.5 miles and includes Grandfather Mountain. There are canoes available for rental and the lake is stocked with fish. This time of year with the leaves turning, it was a beautiful spot and we enjoyed our time here. Five stars. [Review 15917 overall - 3132 in North Carolina - 1422 of 2021.]

Spectacular views. Words do it no justice. Just a note, you better have a higher lift vehicle to…read moreget there. It's about 4 miles past Falls parking lot, it's gravel, rutty and pretty rough.

Gorgeous spot near Lineville, Table Rock, Grandfather, etc.! We took our engagement photos at…read moreWiseman's View on a beautiful September afternoon at sunset. It's the perfect spot for photos because... A) It's an easy stroll from the parking lot, i.e. you're not going to get hot and sweaty hiking to your photo shoot location. B) It's almost always 15-degrees cooler here than in Charlotte. Again, avoiding the whole hot and sweaty thing. C) The views are unrivaled. Sweeping from all angels, on a clear day you can see for miles and miles from one of the several outcrops/overlooks.