Jumping Fish Falls
Harnett County, North Carolina
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- Not recorded
- Location
- Harnett County, North Carolina
- Access status
- State park bridle trail; short walk to a creek ford
- The walk
- About 0.6 miles each way
- Ground & access
- Easy to follow trail with a gradual descent, so the return is uphill. In above-normal flow you may get your feet wet at the crossing.
West Bridle Loop Trail begins to the right of the information kiosk. It is easy to follow and descends gradually to a ford of Avents Creek. Jumping Fish Falls, a cascade about 5 feet high, is a few yards upstream from the ford; cross the creek and go up the right bank (facing downstream) for the view. Return the same way. This is a bridle trail, so watch for horses.
Plan your visit
Raven Rock State Park north-side parking on River Road, West Bridle Loop Trail to the Avents Creek ford
Kevin Adams lists the hike distance as about 0.6 miles from the River Road parking area to the falls.
Easy to follow trail with a gradual descent, so the return is uphill. In above-normal flow you may get your feet wet at the crossing.
Where to start
Large parking area on the left of River Road (SR 1418), 1.5 miles from Christian Light Road, on the north side of the Cape Fear River off US 421 north of Lillington. River Road becomes gravel at 0.9 miles. Published trailhead coordinates: 35.48344, -78.90395.
Timing & water
Raven Rock State Park hours vary by month, for example 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in October; the park is closed on Christmas Day. The route description dates from 2014, so trail details may have changed.
Before you go
NC State Parks charges no fee for day use at Raven Rock State Park.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- Moosejaw FallsPublic river land; riverside path and scrambleChatham County, NC20 miNW
- Carvers FallsCumberland County, NC23 miS
- Cedar FallsPartial guide: park, parking and loop confirmed; the falls location on the loop comes from community trail listings only5 ft (1.5 m) · Orange County, NC33 miN
- Little River FallsWake County, NC39 miNE