Thorps Creek Falls
Caldwell County, North Carolina
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- Not recorded
- Location
- Caldwell County, North Carolina
- Access status
- National forest trail from a campground
- The walk
- About 0.2 miles each way
- Ground & access
- Easy trail. The rocks around the falls are slippery.
From NC 181 north of Morganton, turn right onto Brown Mountain Beach Road. Drive 5.1 miles and turn right to stay on Brown Mountain Beach Road, which becomes gravel. Go 8.6 miles and turn right on gravel NC 90, then immediately right into Mortimer Campground. Drive to the back of the campground for the Thorps Creek Trail (#279). If the campground is closed, park at the picnic area and walk through the campground. The trail follows Thorps Creek upstream less than a quarter mile to the 15 to 20 foot falls.
Plan your visit
Mortimer Campground, Thorps Creek Trail (#279) to Thorps Creek Falls
Waterfall Hero gives a hike length of 0.4 miles; Take a Hike calls it an easy quarter-mile hike.
Easy trail. The rocks around the falls are slippery.
Where to start
Trailhead at the back of Mortimer Campground, or the picnic area when the campground is closed. Published trailhead coordinates: 35.99522, -81.76087.
Timing & water
If the campground is closed, park at the picnic area. The Forest Service Helene page lists Wilson Creek Trail as closed but does not list Thorps Creek Trail.
Before you go
No fee is mentioned in the sources read for day hiking. Pisgah National Forest, Grandfather Ranger District.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- Destiny FallsCaldwell County, NC0.7 miSE
- Harper Creek FallsPartial: Harper Creek Trail closed after Hurricane HeleneCaldwell County, NC1.5 miSW
- Phillips Branch FallsForest trail and steep scramble path; Wilson Creek day use area reopened 202643 ft (13 m) · Caldwell County, NC2.1 miS
- Gragg Prong FallsNational forest trail with wet creek crossings33 ft (10 m) · Avery County, NC2.5 miNW
- Bard FallsPublished national forest trail route; creek wadeAvery County, NC2.6 miW
- Middle Gragg Prong FallsNational forest trail; three creek crossings16 ft (5 m) · Avery County, NC2.7 miNW
- Huntfish Sidekick FallsForest Service trail; side view and base of Sidekick Falls at the trail endAvery County, NC2.8 miNW
- Huntfish FallsSigned national forest trail; steep return; current storm-recovery status not confirmedAvery County, NC2.8 miNW
- Upper Gragg Prong FallsNational forest trail with a wade across Gragg ProngAvery County, NC2.9 miNW