Laurel Fork Falls
Transylvania County, North Carolina
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- 52 ft (16 m)
- Location
- Transylvania County, North Carolina
- Access status
- Partial: no trail for the last half mile; difficult bushwhack
- The walk
- About 1.8 miles return
- Ground & access
- Unofficial path, a slippery rock ledge, then a steep bushwhack with large boulders, hidden holes between rocks, briars and nettles in summer, and a steep drop-off below the falls.
Cross back over the bridge and take the faint path on the left that follows Laurel Fork upstream. At about 0.4 to 0.5 miles a seeping rock ledge must be climbed or bypassed above Lower Laurel Fork Falls. About 0.1 miles farther the path reaches a tributary crossing and mostly ends. From there, climb about half a mile up Laurel Fork with no trail, staying uphill in the more open woods on the left bank (facing downstream), away from the thick rhododendron. Near the end the gorge closes in among large boulders; the 50-foot falls is to the left, and the final view needs a drop through dog hobble to the pool. Rich Stevenson says this is only for people with off-trail experience.
Plan your visit
Forest Road 475 pull-off at the Laurel Fork bridge, unofficial creekside path past Lower Laurel Fork Falls, then bushwhack up Laurel Fork
Waterfall Hero lists the hike as 1.8 miles. Rich Stevenson places the main waterfalls about a mile from the parking area, with about half a mile of steep off-trail climbing above the creek fork.
Unofficial path, a slippery rock ledge, then a steep bushwhack with large boulders, hidden holes between rocks, briars and nettles in summer, and a steep drop-off below the falls.
Where to start
Small pull-off on the left just after the concrete bridge over Laurel Fork, 4.8 miles up Forest Road 475 from US 276 (the road toward the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education). Room for about 2 vehicles. Published coordinates: 35.27909, -82.84265.
Timing & water
No closure is stated. The Forest Service storm-damage page does not name Forest Road 475 among closed Pisgah Ranger District roads. The visitor accounts are from 2017 and 2018. The falls need good flow, but high water makes the creek area harder.
Before you go
Pisgah National Forest; no fee is stated by the sources. Dogs must be leashed, according to Waterfall Hero.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- Sassafras Knob FallsTransylvania County, NC0.3 miN
- Gemini FallsPartial guide: unofficial path then a difficult trail-less climb; experienced off-trail hikers onlyTransylvania County, NC0.3 miNE
- Lower Laurel Fork FallsUnofficial creekside path with a rock ledge; short scramble to the creekTransylvania County, NC0.5 miE
- Shuck Ridge Creek FallsLong Forest Service trail hike with a steep scramble to the baseTransylvania County, NC1.2 miN
- Upper Kiesee FallsPartial guide: the access road is closed and the path may have changed since loggingTransylvania County, NC1.3 miW
- Kiesee FallsPartial guide: access road closed for storm damage; bushwhack with an exposed rock faceTransylvania County, NC1.4 miW
- Chestnut FallsPartial guide: FR 140 closed for storm damage; long road walk and faint pathTransylvania County, NC1.7 miW
- Lower Chestnut FallsPartial guide: access road closed for storm damage; bushwhack and creek walkTransylvania County, NC1.7 miW
- Upper Toms Spring FallsNational forest loop on a forest road and trailTransylvania County, NC1.7 miNE