WaterfallNear Me

Hornet Falls

Transylvania County, North Carolina

Your visit at a glance

Waterfall height
Not recorded
Location
Transylvania County, North Carolina
Access status
Partial: unofficial paths and a creek-walk; 2017 report only
The walk
About 2.75 miles one way along the published route, including side trips
Ground & access
Rated 10 out of 10 for rugged terrain. Unofficial paths, steep sections with ropes on the side trips, river wading and a creek-walk with blowdowns. Not safe in high water.
Hiking the Appalachians: Upper Whitewater River waterfalls and Hornet Falls

This is a partial guide. Hornet Falls is a 30 foot falls on Democrat Creek, a Whitewater River tributary, named by the author of a 2017 trip report. The report starts from parking before the bridge on Heady Mountain Road, about 3.5 miles from NC 107 south of Cashiers, and follows unofficial, often confusing paths on the south side of the river. Its route passes Exit Falls and Sculpted Falls, returns to a broad trail, turns right at a junction at about 1.65 miles onto a trail with orange blazes, passes an old school bus, and reaches Bedrock Falls on the Whitewater River at 2.4 miles. About 0.1 miles farther the path crosses Democrat Creek. Leave the path and walk up the creek about a quarter mile to the falls. Trail conditions since 2017 are unknown.

Plan your visit

Heady Mountain Road parking, unofficial paths on the south side of the Upper Whitewater River to Bedrock Falls, then a creek-walk up Democrat Creek

The 2017 trip report reached Hornet Falls 2.75 miles into a 5.1 mile one-way shuttle hike from Heady Mountain Road to NC 281. That figure includes side trips to Exit Falls and Sculpted Falls. The last 0.25 miles is a creek-walk up Democrat Creek.

Rated 10 out of 10 for rugged terrain. Unofficial paths, steep sections with ropes on the side trips, river wading and a creek-walk with blowdowns. Not safe in high water.

Where to start

Large pullouts just before the bridge over the Whitewater River on Heady Mountain Road. The road is private beyond the bridge.

Timing & water

Go only in low water. Current conditions are unknown.

Before you go

No fee is mentioned. The report describes its route as on Forest Service land and warns that the main trail past one junction enters private property.

Visitor information
Visit sources

More waterfalls nearby

Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.

Explore North Carolina

Waterfall location

Transylvania County, North Carolina.

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