Carter Falls
Wilkes County, North Carolina
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- Not recorded
- Location
- Wilkes County, North Carolina
- Access status
- Signed public trail from a gravel trailhead lot
- The walk
- About 1 mile return (the 0.5 mile one-way trail); Waterfall Hero lists 0.8 miles
- Ground & access
- Moderate woodland trail with a significant downhill section and a steep final descent to the base. Rocks are very slippery.
Carter Falls on Big Elkin Creek near Elkin was hidden from the public until 2018 and opened through a public-private partnership led by the Elkin Valley Trails Association. From the gravel lot on Pleasant Ridge Road the Carter Falls Trail, blazed with Mountains-to-Sea Trail white circles, descends toward the creek and switchbacks to a large rock outcrop above the falls; at the junction with Powerhouse Trail turn right and descend steeply to the base. Water runs through fissures in the rock for about a hundred feet before dropping to the pool.
Plan your visit
Pleasant Ridge Road trailhead on the Carter Falls Trail to the top and base of Carter Falls
Yadkin Valley tourism gives the Carter Falls Trail as 0.5 mile one way from the Pleasant Ridge Road parking area. Waterfall Hero lists 0.8 miles for its visit to the top and base.
Moderate woodland trail with a significant downhill section and a steep final descent to the base. Rocks are very slippery.
Where to start
Gravel trailhead lot at 921 Pleasant Ridge Road, Elkin, near Byrd's Branch Campground: from Elkin take US 21 Business north about 2 miles, left on East Carter Mill Road 1.6 miles, right on Pleasant Ridge Road 0.6 mile to the lot on the left. Trailhead GPS 36.28914, -80.88016 per Waterfall Hero. An alternative is to park at Grassy Creek Vineyard and walk through the campground.
Timing & water
Open year round. The waterfall faces the sun; cloudy days or early morning are best for photos.
Before you go
No fee reported. Dogs on a leash of 6 feet or less per Waterfall Hero; the tourism listing says pet friendly.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- Stone Mountain FallsWilkes County, NC10 miNW
- Lower FallsPartial guide: usual route closed for stair work; alternative total distance not publishedWilkes County, NC11 miNW
- Middle FallsPartial guide: part of the park loop trail is closed; check with the park before goingWilkes County, NC11 miNW
- Bullhead Creek FallsState park trailhead; very short walkWilkes County, NC12 miNW
- Widows FallsState park; short path from a roadside parking areaWilkes County, NC13 miNW
- Upper Widows Creek FallsPartial guide: state park trail; effect of a posted Mountains-to-Sea Trail closure on the shared section is not statedWilkes County, NC14 miNW
- Bullhead Creek CascadesWilkes County, NC14 miNW
- Incredible Falls98 ft (30 m) · Wilkes County, NC15 miNW
- Shacktown FallsLocal park; short pathYadkin County, NC20 miSE