North Harper Creek Falls
Avery County, North Carolina
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- Not recorded
- Location
- Avery County, North Carolina
- Access status
- National forest trails; one creek crossing
- The walk
- About 1.3 miles each way
- Ground & access
- Moderate. Steep descent near the creek and one crossing of North Harper Creek that may be a wade in high water. Slippery rock.
From NC 181 north of Morganton, turn right on Pittman Gap Road (it becomes Clarktown Road), left on Old Jonas Ridge Road, and right on Old Mortimer Road at a church. The road becomes gravel FR 464. Drive 4.4 miles to a pull-off on the left opposite a gated road. Two trails start here; take North Harper Creek Falls Trail (#239), the one on the left that heads down. Follow it about a mile to its end at North Harper Creek Trail (#266). Turn left and descend steeply about 0.1 miles to North Harper Creek at the top of Chestnut Cove Branch Falls. Turn right, cross the creek, and follow the trail through a campsite to the base of the falls. The falls is a long slide over bedrock that ends in a 40 foot drop; the whole length cannot be seen from one place.
Plan your visit
FR 464 pull-off, North Harper Creek Falls Trail (#239) and North Harper Creek Trail (#266) to the base of North Harper Creek Falls
Waterfall Hero gives a hike length of 2.6 miles for this out-and-back route from the FR 464 trailhead.
Moderate. Steep descent near the creek and one crossing of North Harper Creek that may be a wade in high water. Slippery rock.
Where to start
Pull-off on the left side of FR 464, 4.4 miles from Old Jonas Ridge Road, opposite a gated road. Published trailhead coordinates: 36.01062, -81.82573.
Timing & water
Gravel forest road. The creek crossing can be unsafe in high water. The Forest Service Helene page lists Harper Creek Trail (#260) as closed; it does not list trail #239 or #266.
Before you go
No fee is mentioned in the sources read. Pisgah National Forest, Grandfather Ranger District.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- Chestnut Cove Branch FallsNational forest trails; wading for the viewAvery County, NC0.1 miSE
- Upper Little Lost Cove FallsPartial: walk on a road closed to vehicles, then an unsigned steep path; older route descriptionAvery County, NC1.3 miNE
- Little Lost Cove FallsPartial: forest road walk, then a steep rough path with off-trail scramblingAvery County, NC1.3 miNE
- Skidder FallsAvery County, NC1.7 miSW
- Bard FallsPublished national forest trail route; creek wadeAvery County, NC1.9 miE
- Huntfish FallsSigned national forest trail; steep return; current storm-recovery status not confirmedAvery County, NC2.1 miE
- Huntfish Sidekick FallsForest Service trail; side view and base of Sidekick Falls at the trail endAvery County, NC2.1 miE
- Upper South Harper Creek FallsAvery County, NC2.3 miSE
- South Harper Creek FallsAvery County, NC2.3 miSE