Regardless of the tricky spots near the end, we think the view from the bridge is worth as many photos as you can take! While there arent any waterfalls in Boone, there are more than 20 stunning falls within a 2-hour drive of Boone that we have uncovered for you. It's about a 3-mile hike from Gorges State Park to the falls. Boone Fork at Julian Price Park always seems to have people splashing around. padding-right: 10px; These areas require extra caution, since theyre close to the edges of the falls. Encounter the infamous dragon tree, wading pools, and gorgeous falls. He is also an avid hiker, photographer, and videographer. Swimming holes in North Carolina are a hallmark of the summer season. .ai-viewports {--ai: 1;} At mile 0.7 you'll reach The Cascades waterfall. Another nearby trail to Linville Falls is the Plunge Basin Trail, which is one mile round-trip and is considered to be a moderate hike. The 1.6-mile round-trip hike to the waterfalls is considered easy by most. It is moderate in difficulty due to stairs, and few areas where you'll need to climb down (and back up). One destination, endless possibilities, at your fingertips. The 10 Best Waterfalls Near Boone NC - Blue Ridge Mountains Travel Guide But the water can be ice cold and there are hidden rocks beneath the surface, so make sure you know the terrain before jumping in. Im talking about trails that keep you on a, I Spy: (I spy something green, something wet, etc.) perhaps make a rule that it can only be something people, Summer is here and now is the best time to enjoy a whitewater adventure with friends and family. !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s){if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod? The trail to Crab Orchard Falls begins at the Valle Crucis Conference Center, which is only five minutes away from the Mast General Store. ), 100+ Unique Things to Do In North Carolina (Your NC Bucket List), 14 Delicious Restaurants in Elkin (+1 Great Cocktail Bar), 25 of the Most Amazing Winter Hikes in North Carolina, 25+ Amazing Restaurants in Morganton and Nearby! If you're not ready to break a sweat walking before your swim, there are other swimming holes that only take a short walk to get to. He has spent more than 20 years exploring the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains and has a deep passion for nature, history, storytelling, and adventure. It is frequented not only by swimmers, but is also a great place to go kayaking or tubing because of the rivers depth and steadiness. } Some are located right by the roadside and require no hiking at all, while others include hikes ranging from easy and moderate to strenuous. Laurel Creek Falls is located about 15 minutes from Boone. There are several parking spots along the road, but you wont find much traffic on this country road. Its also been a local fishing hole for decades. You may be wondering, can you swim at Laurel Falls? Boone has many different waterfalls within a short distance from the heart of the city, making for easy visitor access. Laurel Creek Falls US Highway 321, Sugar Grove, NC 28679 Laurel Creek Falls is a popular waterfall trail and swimming hole on the Watauga River. Watauga Lake 's 6,430 acres of spectacular mountain-fringed shoreline stretches for more than 16 miles. Take out as far down as you can go before the rapid begins to minimize walking on private property. Reach it off the Blue Ridge Parkway at mile marker 71. Theres also a beach area that is safe to swim in below the falls. You'll definitely want to put this one on your list! It's guaranteed to make you feel like a kid again. The trail down is really nice as well. Watauga River Access Project Updates at Guy Ford Road. The 10-foot waterfall sits in an alcove at the end of a short 3/10-mile hike. } Near the Tennessee-North Carolina border, this swimming hole (also known as Compression Falls) boasts two pools: one at the top of the falls and one at the bottom. Nearly inaccessible to everyone but kayakers, the Watauga Gorge has been described as stunning, pristine, spectacular and rugged. It sits off I-40 and is one of many waterfalls inside Pisgah National Forest. 13 Incredible Waterfalls near Boone NC to Visit 2023 - Explore More NC Vehicles in the road will be towed! ), Boone to Roaring Fork Falls: 58 miles (1 hour 30 minutes)Trail length: 1 mile roundtrip. ), List of Waterfalls near Boone (ABC Order), Roadside Waterfalls near Boone (from shortest to longest distance from Boone), Waterfall Hikes near Boone (from shortest to longest distance from Boone). Its trailhead sits across from Annie Cannon Gardens, and youll descend for nearly 2 miles on an ancient Native American path. The paper reported that the river was high and almost all the rafts flipped over at Snake Pit. Lake Greenwood State Park | 302 State Park Road, Ninety Six, SC | 864.543.3535. There are quite a few places to park and head down to the creek and this stretch is a popular swimming and fly fishing area. Boone Fork Trail is a 5-mile long and strenuous loop trail that provides access to Hebron Falls, also commonly called Boone Fork Falls. ), NOTE: Catawba Falls will be closed from May 2, 2022, until Spring 2023 for trail improvements, Boone to Catawba Falls: 64 miles (1 hour 28 minutes)Trail length: 3 miles round trip. If youre looking for a waterfall near West Jefferson, the Cascades is right in between the two towns. Never try to climb waterfalls or get close to a ledge to get a selfie. It is crucial to bring . Its approximately 30 miles from Boone on NC-105 S, on Elk River Road in Elk Park. Nobody was wearing life vests, and its unclear what type of rafts they were using, whether kayaks or inflatable rafts. I would recommend wearing shoes for the trek. The trail to the waterfall begins at the Linville Falls visitor center and is about a 1/2 mile long roundtrip. However, visitors should be aware of the deadly currents directly in front of the falls, which have caused severe injuries and even deaths. Known as Trash Can Falls by App State students because a dumpster is used to mark the trailhead, Laurel Creek Falls is one of the most popular swimming hole waterfalls near Boone. Just be careful and dont go alone because there is no lifeguard on duty. Boone to Upper Creek Falls: 29 miles (40 minutes)Trail length: 1-mile round trip. Two kayakers came along and tried to help.. Just looked for New Hole drove to Castle Ford Bridge over River Road. His body was eventually found 200 to 300 feet downstream. To hammer this point home, people have died attempting to traverse this dangerous stretch of river. The swimming hole is located under the footbridge in the picnic and camping area off Mine 18 Road leading towards South Fork. You can take the 30-foot plunge into the bottom, and you can find other ways to jump and swing into the water. We think youll fall in love with these just as we have! Water Activities Swimming Swimming Cool off in summer with some old-fashioned fun! At 1.5 miles, you'll reach Glen Marie Falls, the most beautiful and photogenic of the three. Our water sport expert shares his, Contrary to popular belief, you don't need many technical skills to go paddling because today's craft are more stable than ever. The Blue Ridge Parkway runs right through Boone, which is close to small towns such as Blowing Rock, Seven Devils, Wilkesboro, Newland, Linville, and Banner Elk. The falls are located at 825 Skyland Drive in Seven Devils, approximately 12 miles from Boone on NC-105 S. The Otter Falls trail, which opened in 2015, is a more recent attraction in the High Country. The Guy Ford Bridge near Bethel is the put-in to the classic Watauga Gorge. There are also swimming complexes open to the public inBooneandBlowing Rock, with lifeguards on duty. Though it's relatively new, it's been accessed for decades. This is a worthwhile stop for everyone and a great waterfall for those who cannot hike. READ MORE: The 10 Best Restaurants in Blowing Rock NC for Foodies. Youll find some of North Carolinas best waterfalls near Boone; at least thats what weve uncovered after years of visiting this mountain town and its surroundings! Located just off the Blue Ridge Parkway (MP 272), the Cascades is a 35-footer and one of the coolest Boone waterfalls. 25+ Beautiful Waterfalls near Boone NC (within 2 Hours) - NC Tripping Opening for the 2023 Season on May 30th. Boone to Silvervale Falls: 17 miles (28 minutes). Funding for the construction project of the Lower Gorge River Access came from the local TDA, State of N.C. and the TVA. Old John's River Road and Boone Fork Trail Loop - AllTrails Places to Swim Near Boone NC Beech Mountain Resort Banner Elk, NC Roan Mountain State Park Roan Mountain, TN Bear Den Spruce Pine, NC Sun Crest Water Park Taylorsville, NC Lake James State Park Nebo, NC Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park-Marion Marion, NC Lakes of the NC High Country - Boone Big Creek Falls is technically a roadside waterfall that is in the northwestern reaches of Yancey County about 30 minutes from Burnsville. } document.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', function() { n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0; The waterfall is 70 foot tall and is a gorgeous cascade down the mountain surrounded by forest. Some prefer the holes surrounded by wild natural beauty. ranges, and retailers, Mountains have them, municipalities have them, so why shouldnt waterways have them as well? .search .content-area a { These trails are all sprinkled with beautiful wildflowers and other plant life. Hebron Falls is an 80-foot waterfall located approximately 12 miles from Downtown Boone. Duggers Creek Falls is a small, but very interesting and beautiful waterfall located at Linville Falls NC. Be careful and have fun at the Snake Pit swimming hole. And if youve been lucky enough, which ones are your favorite? Length 3.3 miElevation gain 236 ftRoute type Loop. Lake Glenville Lake James State Park Lake Lure Beach and Waterpark Lower Cascade Falls Midnight Hole The Quarry at Carrigan Farms Schoolhouse Falls Skinny Dip Falls Sliding Rock Sunburst Swimming Area Swimming Pool at Morrow Mountain State Park Upper Creek Falls Wildcat Falls Bust Your Butt Falls, photo via Canva 1. You can safely stand on flat rock area and watch the waterfall plummet over the cliff. Its a drive to get there from Elizabethton, TN. Moderate 4.6 (106) Julian Price Memorial Park. Green Mountain Creek Falls sits at a bend in the road and continues to flow under it. There are pull-off areas on the sides of the road for parking. Bobby McLean Memorial Park) is home to several cascades that come together to form a 50-foot waterfall. However, they are difficult and the landings are sketchy for the most part. It is directly across the street from a Dollar General, which is located at 871 Cranberry St. f you're lucky, you'll visit on a day when it's clean, and you can really enjoy it. Upper Creek Falls is a beautiful setting with multiple cascades and a swimming hole complete with a rope swing for diving! To reach Roaring Fork Falls, the hike is more of a half-mile stroll. There will be signs to help you. Might be a good idea to tell folks how to get there, where they are located, an address , or some way of finding them. See our full guides to more than 50 waterfalls in the Blue Ridge Mountains, on our Waterfalls Page. About 100 yards downstream from the bridge is a gravel pull-off. Laurel Creek Falls | Popular Waterfall Hole Near Boone, NC - on the Watauga Though I wouldnt go here or there for the climbing. ), Things to Do in Morganton and Burke County, 13 Amazing Restaurants in Banner Elk and Nearby (+ Where to Drink! Boone to South Mountains State Park: 58 miles (1 hour 25 minutes). North Carolina Swimming Holes - NC Lakes & Rivers | VisitNC.com The even shorter 0.2-mile Big Bear Trail is an offshoot of the High Shoals Falls Trail. Youll get to admire these falls in between a strenuous 1.2-mile round-trip hike. June 9, 2015. Theres also a large, flat area where people often camp out and have bonfires. Wolf Creek, N.C. Tucked into a tight gorge in Nantahala National Forest, this swimming hole is more than just a pretty waterfall. There is parking at the trailhead. Map Nature's Pool Party: North Carolina Swimming Holes It's one of the few things guaranteed to make you feel like a kid again: the swimming hole. Theres a green footbridge and several picnic tables in the area, providing a great spot for relaxing or picnicking. This is great. Make sure to descend carefully, the path is extremely steep and rocks can be slippery and dangerous. To reach this swimming hole, follow route 11 out of Morristown. For those of us that are smart enough to know how to read it. @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 979px) { A popular, easily accessible swimming hole near Boone, North Carolina, Winklers Creek is a good-sized pool.
