Our April 2018 trip to western North Carolina continued with a visit to DuPont State Forest. The first hike of the day was to Hooker Falls on Little River.
To reach the designated parking area from the intersection of US 64, US 276, and NC 280 east of Brevard, drive east on US 64 for 3.7 miles. Turn right onto Crab Creek Road and drive 4.3 miles before turning right onto Dupont Road. Drive 3.1 miles on Dupont Road to the trailhead parking area on the right. Along the way, Dupont Road becomes Staton Road. Both parking areas are gravel surfaced and seem to drain well.
The upper, closer-to-the-trailhead parking area was closed on this visit for construction of a restroom building. This will be a huge improvement over the portable toilets. Depending on where you have to park in the lower lot, you may have to walk up to one-tenth of a mile to reach the trailhead kiosk. Two trails begin at the trailhead. The trail to Triple Falls and High Falls crosses Little River on a large pedestrian bridge before heading upstream.
The trail to Hooker Falls stays on the right bank and heads downstream. While the river isn't always in sight, it is a constant audible companion to your left along the trail. The trail is well-maintained. gravel road for the first ¼ mile to the upper overlook. It is suitable for rugged strollers and possibly wheelchairs with an attendant pushing. Leashed dogs are also allowed on the trail. Beyond the upper overlook, the trail descends steeply on a hard rock surface that is not suitable for wheeled apparatus other than a motorized off-road utility vehicle. The trail ends at an engineered open expanse of flat rock that provides easy access to the river for swimming. The entire trail is about 0.3 miles long or the total round-trip walking distance from your vehicle is under 0.8 miles.
Since this is the most accessible waterfall in the forest, it is also the most crowded. If you are looking for solitude, your best chance is to go early in the morning on a weekday while school is in session. Even then, you likely won't have the trail to yourself.
I posted about my previous visit to Hooker Falls here.
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| Large lower parking area with portable toilets |
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| Path from lower parking to trailhead |
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| Trailhead kiosk |
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| The trail follows the Little River downstream |
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| Hooker Falls from the upper, accessible viewpoint |
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| Hooker Falls from a lower vantage point |
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| A closer view |
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| One last look |
Entry to DuPont State Recreational Forest is free.
The friends of the forest website is http://www.dupontforest.com/.
The forest website is https://www.dupontstaterecreationalforest.com/.
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