Cedar Rock Falls
Transylvania County, North Carolina
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- Not recorded
- Location
- Transylvania County, North Carolina
- Access status
- Established Forest Service trail with an unsigned side path; two firsthand sources agree
- The walk
- About 1.6 miles return
- Ground & access
- Shared-use trail with a rock-hop creek crossing that may not be possible in high water, then a steep scramble to the base. Boulders are slippery when wet.
From the fish hatchery parking lot, pass the gate on gravel FR 475C and turn right onto the Cat Gap Loop Trail (#120). Cross Cedar Rock Creek on rocks (the footbridge was lost in the 2021 flood). Past the junction with the new Butter Gap Trail, keep left on the hikers-only Cat Gap Trail and climb. At about 0.7 miles an unsigned side path leaves on the left at a V; follow it down to a rock wall and a short scramble over roots to the base of the 20-foot falls. Return the same way.
Plan your visit
Cat Gap Loop Trail from the Pisgah fish hatchery to Cedar Rock Falls
Waterfall Hero gives 1.6 miles for the whole out-and-back hike, with the side path at 0.7 miles. The legacy account says just under a mile one way.
Shared-use trail with a rock-hop creek crossing that may not be possible in high water, then a steep scramble to the base. Boulders are slippery when wet.
Where to start
Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education and fish hatchery lot, 1.4 miles up FS 475 from US 276. The lot is busy in warm weather.
Timing & water
Open year round. The Forest Service opens the first section of the loop to mountain bikes seasonally.
Before you go
National forest trailhead; no fee is stated by the sources.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- Upper Cedar Rock FallsNational forest trail with a short scramble at the endTransylvania County, NC0.0 miSW
- Lower Rockhouse Creek FallsRoadside view with a short path; very small pull-offTransylvania County, NC0.6 miN
- Grogan Creek FallsForest Service trails with a short scramble; two firsthand sources agreeTransylvania County, NC0.7 miSW
- Whaleback FallsNational forest; short path and a steep scramble to the riverTransylvania County, NC1.0 miW
Lower Slick Rock FallsNational forest; short informal pathTransylvania County, NC1.0 miN
Slick Rock FallsPossible road-access closure: confirm FS 475B access and parking before visiting.Transylvania County, NC1.1 miN- Transylvania FallsTransylvania County, NC1.2 miN
- Middle Rockhouse Creek FallsPartial guide: 2014 description, no defined parking, steep informal pathTransylvania County, NC1.3 miN
- Long Branch FallsGated forest road walk with a short steep side path; two firsthand sources agreeTransylvania County, NC1.4 miW