Huntfish Falls
Avery County, North Carolina
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- Not recorded
- Location
- Avery County, North Carolina
- Access status
- Signed national forest trail; steep return; current storm-recovery status not confirmed
- The walk
- About 1.6 miles return; the trail is about 3/4 mile to 1 mile each way
- Ground & access
- Steep near the end, with switchbacks and cliffs beside the trail. Rocks around the falls are slippery. Popular swimming hole.
Hunt Fish Falls is a 10-foot, two-part waterfall on Lost Cove Creek in the Wilson Creek area of Pisgah National Forest, with the 50-foot Hunt Fish Sidekick Falls on a small tributary entering its pool. Take Hunt Fish Falls Trail (#263), which is also part of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, from the small parking area on FR 464. The trail descends and ends at Lost Cove Trail (#262) above the falls; turn right and cross the base of the sidekick falls, then go down the rock face to view Hunt Fish Falls. Return the same way.
Plan your visit
Hunt Fish Falls Trail (#263) from Forest Road 464 down to Lost Cove Creek
Waterfall Hero lists 1.6 miles for the hike; legacy NC Waterfalls gives the trail as between 3/4 mile and 1 mile. Mostly downhill going in, uphill on return.
Steep near the end, with switchbacks and cliffs beside the trail. Rocks around the falls are slippery. Popular swimming hole.
Where to start
Small parking area on the left at the Hunt Fish Falls trailhead on gravel FR 464, 6.3 miles from Mortimer Road per Waterfall Hero. Legacy NC Waterfalls gives about 3.1 miles from the NC 90 end near Mortimer Campground.
Timing & water
The Forest Service storm-damage closure list names Wilson Creek and Harper Creek trails but not Hunt Fish Falls Trail or FR 464. Current trail and road conditions were not confirmed.
Before you go
No fee is mentioned in the reviewed sources.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- Huntfish Sidekick FallsForest Service trail; side view and base of Sidekick Falls at the trail endAvery County, NC0.0 miSE
- Middle Gragg Prong FallsNational forest trail; three creek crossings16 ft (5 m) · Avery County, NC0.7 miNE
- Gragg Prong FallsNational forest trail with wet creek crossings33 ft (10 m) · Avery County, NC0.8 miNE
- Upper Gragg Prong FallsNational forest trail with a wade across Gragg ProngAvery County, NC0.9 miNE
- Bard FallsPublished national forest trail route; creek wadeAvery County, NC0.9 miS
- Little Lost Cove FallsPartial: forest road walk, then a steep rough path with off-trail scramblingAvery County, NC1.5 miW
- Upper Little Lost Cove FallsPartial: walk on a road closed to vehicles, then an unsigned steep path; older route descriptionAvery County, NC1.6 miW
- Chestnut Cove Branch FallsNational forest trails; wading for the viewAvery County, NC2.1 miW
- North Harper Creek FallsNational forest trails; one creek crossingAvery County, NC2.1 miW