WaterfallNear Me

Setrock Creek Falls

Yancey County, North Carolina

Your visit at a glance

Waterfall height
Not recorded
Location
Yancey County, North Carolina
Access status
Short Forest Service trail from Black Mountain Campground
The walk
About 1 mile return
Ground & access
Easy forest trail with a foot bridge and a gravel road crossing. Rocks near the falls are slippery. Flow can drop to a trickle in dry weather.
Waterfall Hero: Setrock Creek Falls (Black Mountains)
Setrock Creek Falls, NC
Setrock Creek Falls, NC
Photo creditPhoto: Wncoutdoors, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Walk into the campground and cross the bridge over the South Toe River, then turn left on the combined River Loop and Mount Mitchell trails. In about 0.3 to 0.4 miles, after the Mount Mitchell Trail turns off, take the Setrock Creek Falls Trail (#197). It crosses Briar Bottom Camp Road and ends at the base of the 75-foot tiered falls.

Plan your visit

South Toe trailhead parking outside Black Mountain Campground via River Loop and Setrock Creek Falls trails

Waterfall Hero gives a 1-mile hike; the legacy NCWaterfalls account calls the trail 0.5 miles one way.

Easy forest trail with a foot bridge and a gravel road crossing. Rocks near the falls are slippery. Flow can drop to a trickle in dry weather.

Where to start

From NC 80, take South Toe River Road (it becomes gravel FS 472) just under 3 miles and park at the South Toe trailhead lot just outside the Black Mountain Campground entrance. Take a Hike says only registered campers may park inside.

Timing & water

The Forest Service lists FS 472 open 3.8 miles past Black Mountain Campground. Briar Bottom Campground is closed to motorized use. Pisgah National Forest had widespread Hurricane Helene damage; use caution.

Before you go

Day hiking fee not stated. The campground charges overnight fees and operates April to October.

Visitor information
Visit sources

More waterfalls nearby

Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.

Explore North Carolina

Waterfall location

Yancey County, North Carolina.

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