Steels Creek Falls

Burke County, North Carolina

Your visit at a glance

Waterfall height: Not recorded
Location: Burke County, North Carolina
Access status: National forest trail; creek crossing and steep scramble to the view
The walk: About 1 mile each way
Ground & access: Difficult in places. A creek crossing, stinging nettle and poison ivy, and a steep scramble onto the viewing rock. The rock is very slippery when wet.

Take a Hike NC: Wilson Creek, Steels Creek Falls

From NC 181, turn onto one-lane gravel FR 228 (about 11 miles south of the Blue Ridge Parkway near Jonas Ridge, or about 17 miles north of Morganton). Follow it about 4 miles to the parking area near its end; there is a ford on the road. Walk up the old road along Steels Creek to a swimming hole and a crossing of the creek; wade or rock-hop across. On the far side, join the Mountains-to-Sea Trail heading upstream. In about a half mile, a short, steep side path leads down to a big rock with a view of the upper section of the falls. Getting out onto the rock is tricky; visitors have used a rope. Reaching the base is an off-trail scramble for experienced hikers only.

Plan your visit

End of FR 228, Steels Creek crossing and the Mountains-to-Sea Trail upstream, steep side path to a rock view of the falls

Take a Hike gives less than 2 miles round trip. The guides put the creek crossing about a quarter to a half mile from the parking and the side path about a half mile further.

Difficult in places. A creek crossing, stinging nettle and poison ivy, and a steep scramble onto the viewing rock. The rock is very slippery when wet.

Where to start

Parking area near the end of FR 228. Published trailhead coordinates: 35.91264, -81.83909.

Timing & water

Rich Stevenson reports FR 228 is a seasonal road with the gate locked from January 1 to April 1. The ford on the road and the creek crossing may be impassable in high water.

Before you go

No fee is mentioned in the sources read. Pisgah National Forest, Grandfather Ranger District.

Visitor information

Visit sources

More waterfalls nearby

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

Explore North Carolina

Waterfall location

Burke County, North Carolina.

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