Huntfish Sidekick Falls
Avery County, North Carolina
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- Not recorded
- Location
- Avery County, North Carolina
- Access status
- Forest Service trail; side view and base of Sidekick Falls at the trail end
- The walk
- About 1.6 miles return
- Ground & access
- The Forest Service rates the trail most difficult and hiking only. Steep descent with switchbacks and a climb back out. Rocks at the falls are slippery.
From the small parking area on FR 464, follow the Hunt Fish Falls Trail, which is also part of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, downhill toward Lost Cove Creek. At a sharp left-hand switchback about 0.7 mile in, an obvious path along the cliffs gives a view of Sidekick Falls. The trail then ends at the Lost Cove Trail; turn right and you cross the base of Sidekick Falls, a 50-foot tributary waterfall flowing into the pool below Hunt Fish Falls. Return the same way, uphill.
Plan your visit
Hunt Fish Falls Trail (#263) from FR 464 to Hunt Fish Sidekick Falls
Waterfall Hero gives 1.6 miles for the whole out-and-back hike to Hunt Fish Falls, which shares its pool with Sidekick Falls. The Forest Service lists the trail as 0.8 mile from FR 464 to the Lost Cove Trail.
The Forest Service rates the trail most difficult and hiking only. Steep descent with switchbacks and a climb back out. Rocks at the falls are slippery.
Where to start
Small parking area on the left at the Hunt Fish Falls trailhead, 6.3 miles along gravel FR 464 from Mortimer Road (reached from NC 181 via Pittman Gap Road). Waterfall Hero gives the trailhead at 36.00755, -81.80102.
Timing & water
The Forest Service storm-damage closure list names nearby Harper Creek and Wilson Creek trails as closed; the Hunt Fish Falls Trail is not on it. The area is very busy on warm weekends.
Before you go
Current fees and reservation requirements unknown.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- Huntfish FallsSigned national forest trail; steep return; current storm-recovery status not confirmedAvery County, NC0.0 miNW
- 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