5 Stars for a beautiful, fairly easy trail that ends with spectacular views…read more The areas surrounding Asheville have some truly stunning hiking trails and we got a chance to walk the Bearwallow Mountain Trail with a large group that included kids. This is an easy trail with clearly marked paths. I would highly recommend it to folks who aren't seasoned hikers. The path ends at a high point where you get stunning views for many miles. One thing to note is the end-point happens to be a spot frequented by cows, so you will be dodging tons of piles of... excrement... and it is stinky! But, it's worth it for the views- promise! We walked up and back within a couple of hours and had a great time!

Made this trek last year and was disappointed when the water was only dribbling. After our rainy…read moreFebruary we went back to see the grotto in all its glory. It felt like a 3/4 mile walk in. The trail has some elevation but stairs and plateaus make it manageable for most people. It's the icing on the cake after experiencing the majestic looking glass falls.

Great hike to a beautiful fall you can stand behind. Less than 1 more long. Moderately challenging.read more

We actually never got to the waterfall itself. Didn't realize that reservations were necessary and…read morethat it's booked a week out in advance. They're only open on some days during some times to the public. The drive there was mostly gravel including a grafitti filled tunnel. Instead we ended up going to Little Bradley Falls Trail which was free and had a beautiful waterfall.

Nice close place Worth short drive and easy walk and was…read moreable to bring kids or older parents

Love this hike so much. I do have to say it was quite shocking To go back after not visiting for h…read moreyears- there has been a lot of maintenance since the storms washed the bridge out last year (!?). Still a beauty though. The parking lot has space for about 15 but you can park on the side of the road if you need. It's pretty safe and spacious. This hike is great for everyone- small incline and easy 1 mile ish to a fall. Where you can swim if you wish (maybe not skinny dip though- it's pretty popular). Dog friendly. Some rocks at the end but there are alternative ways and it's not unsafe or unstable. Lots of roots but overall the pathways are lovely and wide. . You can also see the semi famous wnc dragon tree :)

SKINNY DIP FALLS is by no means a sizable waterfall and if I'm being honest, I thought it would be…read moremuch larger and more impressive! However, it is indeed a gorgeous waterfall located in a beautiful & scenic section of the forest. The trailhead to the falls is directly across the Blue Ridge Parkway from LOOKING GLASS ROCK OVERLOOK. It is a white blazed trail and although it tends to fork off to smaller, well established side trails, the main trail is pretty obvious. When in doubt, stay on the largest/widest path. The trail starts off fairly level with only minimal ups and downs, but just past the DRAGON TREE begins a significant downhill descent as it drops from an elevation of 4505 feet to 4,325 feet at the bridge. That's 180 feet in just under 1/3rd of a mile. The trail itself is a rocky and heavily-rooted one, so it is important to watch your step considering all the natural tripping hazards. Still, despite the return elevation gain, trail tripping hazards and its small size in comparison to other nearby waterfalls, it is truly a hidden beauty worthy of any waterfall hunters list! It is located on a creek known as Yellowstone Prong and it won't be hard to see where it gets its name. The stones and boulders surrounding the falls are GORGEOUS in color as collectively they take on a golden hue. It is in fact one of the prettiest natural stone settings I've seen in all my waterfall travels. There are plenty of large boulders to sit and enjoy the falls as well as different levels of the falls for everyone to have their own space. Those that climb further to the top will find tranquil hot tub sized pools of turquoise clear water at each level. Towards the bottom is the most significant fall (about 12 feet) that immediately flows into a V-shaped rock channel cutting under the bridge and into two more pools of ultra-clear water! It is a wonderfully flat area great for smaller children to safely explore, under parental supervision of course. *** PRO TIP - I didn't know it during my visit, but even further up the creek is Yellowstone Falls. I'm not absolutely certain you can reach it by climbing from Skinny Dip Falls, but online reports say it IS possible. However, the elevation gains to get to those falls is around 300 feet according to topography maps and would require some bushwhacking to reach Yellowstone Falls from Skinny Dip Falls. But if you are the adventurous type, photos definitely show a very worthy and attractive waterfall awaits. *** [ THINGS TO KNOW ] Total Hiking Distance: 1 mile (round trip) Difficulty: Easy on the way, but a tad more difficult on the return Creek Crossings: YES (bridged) Elevation Gain: 200 feet (if you climb the falls) ~ parking elevation: 4,490' ~ base of falls elevation: 4,325' Waterfall Height: around 35 feet overall counting all the tiers Waterfall source: Yellowstone Prong WATERFALL ATTRACTIVENESS - 8 out of 10 TRAIL ATTRACTIVENESS - 6 out of 10 Access to top of falls: YES Access to base of falls: YES Pool of water @ base of Falls: YES (many) Sitting areas @ base: YES RESTROOM FACILITIES: NO PARKING: YES (space for about 20-25 cars) *** [ WHY IS THIS WATERFALL SO WONDERFUL ] A) Parking for the trailhead is at one of the most beautiful overlooks on the parkway (Looking Glass Rock). B) While the trail is a calorie burner on the return, it is not a long hike and bridges, as well as man-made steps, make it useful to most any hiking ability. C) Bring swimwear and picnic supplies because you're gonna want to stay a while. D) Levels make it possible for many families to have their OWN SECTION of the falls to enjoy, making it one of the easiest waterfalls to practice social distancing when crowds are low. E) The stones, water clarity, and overall venue are simply fabulous. F) Family & pet friendly! *** [ FINAL THOUGHTS ] SKINNY DIP FALLS has been on my radar for over a decade, so I am happy to finally cross it off my list! But make no mistake about it, I will be back again in the summer to enjoy its beauty with the younger members of our family. RICHARD RECOMMENDED :-) 2021 / 63

Soco Falls is absolutely worth the stop if you're driving through the area. The waterfall is…read morebeautiful, and the photos honestly don't do it justice. That said... don't let the short hike fool you! The walk down isn't bad--it's the climb back up that will definitely remind you whether you've been keeping up with your cardio. Thankfully, there are handrails and benches along the trail because I absolutely took advantage of them on the way back. I thought I was in decent shape... the mountain quickly humbled me! My advice: wear good hiking shoes, bring water, and if you have a walking stick, use it. A neck fan isn't a bad idea either during the warmer months. Just because you see people tackling the trail in Crocs or flip-flops doesn't mean it's a good idea. If you're adventurous, there is a way to get down to the base of the falls, where people were swimming, but we admired it from the overlook instead. The surrounding mountain views are beautiful as well, making it an easy stop even if you're just passing through. If you're in the Bryson City/Cherokee area, don't skip Soco Falls. Just come prepared, take your time, and enjoy one of the prettiest waterfalls in Western North Carolina.

I was seeking a waterfall and didn't quite have time to make it to Cherokee and the Great Smoky…read moreMountains, and so located this turn-off a couple of miles off the Blue Ridge Parkway. The parking area is by the road, and the hike down to the falls is short, but of considerable grade. At the end, a platform allows viewing. You can't get anywhere near the falls or take a swim, and it seems like it would be a tough area even if there weren't a thousand signs telling you not to wander off the trail, which is shared with a driveway to some private property. It certainly isn't among the best Western NC waterfalls, but it's a nice site and it's free and open to the public, so not a bad place to stop depending on one's itinerary.

I was trying to figure out a place to catch a sunset and wandered by this visitor center. It should…read morebe noted that at this altitude, visitor center does not imply running water, and the building is closed well before the sun sets. There is a parking and picnic area, a short trail up to the peak of the mountain that connects to other trails, and ample opportunity to catch a view. I was surprised at the prevalence of wildlife. I'm told the grass was tick-heavy so I avoided it as a frequent tick-borne illness sufferer. Wandering up a bit of trail yielded a snake and a population of spitbugs colonizing the local plants. The views in this area are uninterrupted over a wide area of wilderness, and weather-permitting, provide a fantastic experience. This is past the peak visitation areas on the Blue Ridge Parkway, but it's well worth it to keep driving until you get here.

What a gorgeous place to see the blue ridge mountains! Right off the blue ridge parkway, which is…read morebeautiful itself, you can drive into the parking lot to Waterrock trail. To be honest, just driving into the parking lot is worth it. Beautiful views, some picnic tables some bathrooms and a visitor center with a few gifts are there to enjoy. For those that are up for it there is a trail up to a point. The point has great views and we enjoyed it, but it is pretty steep uphill.

Hike no. 1 in the Nantahala National Forest was at Glen Falls Trail. It's a moderate out-and-back…read morehike that is 2.4 miles. Make sure you stop at all of the lookouts on the way down because the views are amazing and so is the waterfall at the end. It's a must visit.

Beautiful trail but strenuous workout. I thought we were about to the end but when we tracked…read moreelevation on the way back up, it seems we only did half the trail and I was still tired. There are no benches to sit and rest, but there are steps and rocks aplenty. I come from a place where you can get in almost all waterfalls and it's torture being so close to a beautiful one and not being able to reach in and feel the water, but it is a beautiful hike and perfectly shaded from sun. There was GPS reception going in, but we didn't get it until going the mile back out of the dead end street to the main roads again, so check the start of directions back before you go.

A very nice stop along the parkway with a good southeastern view…read more The Blue Ridge Parkway is a 470-mile-long roadway that meanders through the mountains and connects the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina. The parkway boasts about 170 official stops along the path. This site is one of these many stops. This is between the Waterrock Knob stop and Fork Ridge overlook. This particular stop shares a fair amount of similarities with the Fork Ridge Overlook. It has the same southwestern view. It is a pull-off on the same side of the road. It has a broad view with very little obstruction. It does not have any restrooms or picnic tables or trails but has a wonderful view of several mountain ranges and valleys that run off to the south of the location. This stop also shares the same view as the one that can be seen from Waterrock Knob at a higher elevation so if you went there, you may want to skip this stop. If you have not been to that Waterrock Knob, then you may want to stop there next. Overall, it is a nice stop with a southwestern view. Enjoy.