Hooker Falls, Triple Falls and High Falls Hike

One hike, three of the region’s best waterfalls

Accessible enough for kids, the trails that connect the falls are scenic and include picnic spots. Fans of The Hunger Games and The Last of the Mohicans will recognize some of the scenery.

What To Expect

You can see the three falls within a relatively short walk. The best way to start is from the Hooker Falls Access Area parking lot. The entrance to the Hooker Falls Trail is near the signboard. This wide trail bears to the left through a shady mixed evergreen and hardwood forest for about .25 mile. With only a 12-foot drop, Hooker Falls isn’t the most dramatic waterfall in Dupont, but it’s peaceful and easy to get to, with its own charm.

To move on from Hooker Falls to Triple Falls, head back the way you came in and cross the pedestrian bridge, which passes under the highway bridge. The Triple Falls trail is a bit steep, with a 120-foot elevation gain. You’ll walk alongside the Little River to the base of the falls (about .3 mile). When you get to the base, you can take a spur to the right for a picnic shelter with a falls overlook or continue slightly on (about .2 mile) and take the trail to the left, which brings you to steps leading down to the middle section of the falls and out onto the rocks. Depending on the time of year you visit, you may see a number of people out sitting on the rocks. There’s a wide enough dry space that this is safe even for kids, but exercise extreme caution when getting close to the falls. The rocks are slippery, the force of the water is tremendous. There have been fatalities here. From this section, you’re in the middle of the 120-foot total drop of Triple Falls. You may recognize the view from The Hunger Games. The falls were also featured in The Last of the Mohicans.

If you’ve taken the stairs down the rocks, return to the trail to proceed on to High Falls. Stop at the spur trail to the left for an overview at the top of the falls if you like and then continue on to the High Falls Trail to the left. The trail climbs for about .25 miles and then forks. To get to the base of the falls, stay to the left, taking the Riverbend Trail. To get to the picnic area and overlook, continue on the main trail about .25 mile. There’s anther short walk from here to the covered bridge, which takes you to the Buck Forest Trail if you’d like to explore more of the park. Otherwise, you can go back to Hooker Falls Access Area the way you came in.

Directions

From downtown Asheville, take 1-240 to I-26. Take exit 40 and turn right onto Hwy 280. Stay on 280 for 16 miles until you reach US 64. Turn left onto US 64 and go 3.7 miles to the stoplight. Turn right onto Crab Creek Road and proceed 4.3 miles to DuPont Road (which later becomes Staton Road). Stay on DuPont/Staton Road for 3.1 miles to the Hooker Falls Access Area. Map shows alternative route.

GPS Coordinates

35.2029, -82.6188