Stairstep Falls
Polk County, North Carolina
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- Not recorded
- Location
- Polk County, North Carolina
- Access status
- Game land trails with a creek crossing and steep scramble
- The walk
- About 2.4 miles return
- Ground & access
- Old roads and trail, a creek crossing on sketchy footlogs or by wading, and a very steep scramble to the base. Rocks are very slippery.
From the gravel lot, follow Long Ridge Trail past the gate about half a mile to an open area with a second gate. Go through and turn right on the old road, Turkey Gut Trail, for about 0.6 to 0.7 miles; continue straight past a trail joining on the right to the Stairstep Falls Trail junction. Turn right; the trail crosses Stairstep Creek on footlogs, which may have washed out in Hurricane Helene. About 150 feet past the crossing, a very steep side path descends to the base.
Plan your visit
Long Ridge trailhead off Big Hungry Road via Long Ridge, Turkey Gut and Stairstep Falls trails to Stairstep Falls
Waterfall Hero gives a 2.4-mile hike from the gravel lot at the Long Ridge trailhead. NCWaterfalls gives 0.7 miles from the inner parking area, which can be reached by car when the first gate is open.
Old roads and trail, a creek crossing on sketchy footlogs or by wading, and a very steep scramble to the base. Rocks are very slippery.
Where to start
From I-26 exit 53, go east on Upward Road about 1.6 miles, turn right on Big Hungry Road (SR 1802), stay left at the first fork and right at the second; after about 4.4 more miles turn right onto the unpaved road with a small gravel parking area. NCWaterfalls says the gate beyond is sometimes open for driving 0.5 miles to an inner parking area.
Timing & water
Green River Game Land; hunting seasons apply. The falls need good flow. The route description dates from 2026.
Before you go
Current fees and reservation requirements unknown.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- Loobie FallsPolk County, NC0.2 miS
- Emily FallsGame land trail; short easy walkPolk County, NC0.6 miN
- Fishtop FallsPartial: short game land path; access road status after Helene unconfirmedPolk County, NC1.0 miSW
- Pulliam Creek FallsPartial guide: the last stretch up Pulliam Creek and current game land access are not confirmedPolk County, NC1.4 miW
- Sunshine FallsGame land trail and extremely steep roped path to the riverPolk County, NC1.4 miW
- Big Bradley FallsWritten approval required; trail organization reports Helene closure75 ft (23 m) · Polk County, NC1.6 miSE
- Little Bradley FallsPolk Trails marks the trail open; creek crossings required.49 ft (15 m) · Polk County, NC2.0 miSE
- Milton Bradley FallsPartial: access road closed after Helene; route documented before the stormPolk County, NC2.3 miE
- Lower Hungry River FallsPartial guide: post-Helene route goes down a landslide; conditions last checked late 2024Henderson County, NC2.4 miNW