Gragg Prong Falls
Avery County, North Carolina
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- 33 ft (10 m)
- Location
- Avery County, North Carolina
- Access status
- National forest trail with wet creek crossings
- The walk
- About 1.5 miles each way
- Ground & access
- Moderate trail with three wet creek crossings that usually need wading. Reaching the base of the falls is very difficult; the main view is from the top.
From the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 308.2, drive south on gravel SR 1511 (Roseboro Road), which becomes FR 981, about 4.8 miles to the parking area at the bridge over Gragg Prong. Cross back over the bridge and go left on Lost Cove Trail (#262), also the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, following Gragg Prong downstream. The trail crosses the creek at about 0.5 miles, passes a path to Upper Gragg Prong Falls at 0.7 miles, crosses twice more between 1.0 and 1.1 miles, passes Middle Gragg Prong Falls at 1.2 miles and reaches the top of Gragg Prong Falls, a 30 foot slide, at 1.5 miles before climbing away. Return the same way.
Plan your visit
FR 981 parking at the Gragg Prong bridge, Lost Cove Trail downstream to Gragg Prong Falls
Waterfall Hero gives a 3.0 mile round trip, with the falls at 1.5 miles. Rich Stevenson gives a little over 3 miles out and back for both Gragg Prong waterfalls.
Moderate trail with three wet creek crossings that usually need wading. Reaching the base of the falls is very difficult; the main view is from the top.
Where to start
Gravel parking area on FR 981 at the Gragg Prong bridge. Published trailhead coordinates: 36.03162, -81.80329.
Timing & water
Wet crossings at normal flow. Avoid high water.
Before you go
No fee is mentioned. Pisgah National Forest, Grandfather Ranger District.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- Middle Gragg Prong FallsNational forest trail; three creek crossings16 ft (5 m) · Avery County, NC0.2 miW
- Upper Gragg Prong FallsNational forest trail with a wade across Gragg ProngAvery County, NC0.4 miNW
- Huntfish Sidekick FallsForest Service trail; side view and base of Sidekick Falls at the trail endAvery County, NC0.8 miSW
- Huntfish FallsSigned national forest trail; steep return; current storm-recovery status not confirmedAvery County, NC0.8 miSW
- Bard FallsPublished national forest trail route; creek wadeAvery County, NC1.5 miSW
- Little Lost Cove FallsPartial: forest road walk, then a steep rough path with off-trail scramblingAvery County, NC2.0 miW
- Upper Little Lost Cove FallsPartial: walk on a road closed to vehicles, then an unsigned steep path; older route descriptionAvery County, NC2.1 miW
- Thorps Creek FallsNational forest trail from a campgroundCaldwell County, NC2.5 miSE
- Harper Creek FallsPartial: Harper Creek Trail closed after Hurricane HeleneCaldwell County, NC2.7 miS