New Year's Creek Cascades
Watauga County, North Carolina
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- Not recorded
- Location
- Watauga County, North Carolina
- Access status
- Partial: town trail; reports conflict on whether it has reopened
- The walk
- About 0.6 to 0.75 miles each way
- Ground & access
- Moderate to the Cascades, then strenuous and steep beyond. Wet, slippery surfaces.
This is a partial guide. The town closed the trail after a hiker died in 2025, and reports conflict on whether it has reopened. From US 221 and Main Street in Blowing Rock, go south on Main Street less than a quarter mile, turn right on Laurel Lane, and in about 0.2 miles turn left into Annie Cannon Gardens. Take Glen Burney Trail from the end of the parking area, at first an old road behind houses. In about 0.4 miles it passes the ruins of the old sewer plant and crosses New Years Creek on a footbridge. At about 0.6 to 0.75 miles it passes the Cascades, a 15 to 20 foot cascading falls. The town tourism page calls this first part moderate; beyond the Cascades the trail becomes steep.
Plan your visit
Glen Burney Trail from Annie Cannon Gardens in Blowing Rock to the Cascades on New Years Creek
Waterfall Hero says the trail passes the top of the Cascades at 0.6 miles and its trail page says about three quarters of a mile. Take a Hike gives about 1.5 miles round trip.
Moderate to the Cascades, then strenuous and steep beyond. Wet, slippery surfaces.
Where to start
Annie Cannon Gardens parking off Laurel Lane, Blowing Rock. Published trailhead coordinates: 36.13263, -81.68043.
Timing & water
A hiker died on the Glen Burney Trail in July 2025. News reports conflict on whether the trail has reopened since then, and some areas were damaged by Hurricane Helene. Check with Blowing Rock Parks and Recreation before going.
Before you go
No fee is mentioned in the sources read. Town of Blowing Rock land.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
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