Trail Map of Waterfall Tour of Hanging Rock State Park, N.C.
Park northwest of Winston-Salem has some of the state's prettiest waterfalls east of the Appalachian Mountains.
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Overview
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Family Friendly
Overview:
Three easy strolls to picturesque waterfalls offer the perfect introduction to Hanging Rock State Park, the top hiking destination within an hour of the Triad cities of Greensboro/High Point/Winston-Salem.
None of these falls are more than a mile from your car, so they're open to just about any ability level. They do require delicate footwork at times, offering a prelude to Hanging Rock's more challenging trails, which can be steep, rocky and downright difficult.
Main quirk of this tour: you need to park twice, once at the park headquarters and again at Lower Cascade entrance on Hall Road just outside the park entrance.
Lower Cascade Falls is the prettiest of the bunch -- I recommend seeing it last because it's easier to find the park first, then find the Lower Cascade entrance later.
Best time to go: Late October is the height of Leaf Season. The colors are fabulous. Winter and spring are fine times too. The summer heat can be fierce, though all these hikes are shaded so you won't be fighting the sun as well.
Tips: Use extreme caution around waterfalls -- falls from nearby cliffs are typically not survivable.
Most of these waterfalls have steep stone stairways that lead down to the base of the falls. These too require caution.
Keep kids under close supervision -- there are many temptations to scramble into dangerous areas.
The park can be quite crowded on weekends in the summer and autumn; weekdays will provide much more solitude.
What to bring
Water
Rain protection (jacket or umbrella)
Bug repellent (especially in summer)
Sturdy footwear with good traction
Hiking staff or poles if you have them
Park map as backup
None of these falls are more than a mile from your car, so they're open to just about any ability level. They do require delicate footwork at times, offering a prelude to Hanging Rock's more challenging trails, which can be steep, rocky and downright difficult.
Main quirk of this tour: you need to park twice, once at the park headquarters and again at Lower Cascade entrance on Hall Road just outside the park entrance.
Lower Cascade Falls is the prettiest of the bunch -- I recommend seeing it last because it's easier to find the park first, then find the Lower Cascade entrance later.
Best time to go: Late October is the height of Leaf Season. The colors are fabulous. Winter and spring are fine times too. The summer heat can be fierce, though all these hikes are shaded so you won't be fighting the sun as well.
Tips: Use extreme caution around waterfalls -- falls from nearby cliffs are typically not survivable.
Most of these waterfalls have steep stone stairways that lead down to the base of the falls. These too require caution.
Keep kids under close supervision -- there are many temptations to scramble into dangerous areas.
The park can be quite crowded on weekends in the summer and autumn; weekdays will provide much more solitude.
What to bring
Water
Rain protection (jacket or umbrella)
Bug repellent (especially in summer)
Sturdy footwear with good traction
Hiking staff or poles if you have them
Park map as backup
Hanging Rock Visitors Center
Upper Cascades Falls
Indian Creek Trail
Hidden Falls
Window Falls
Lower Cascade Falls
POIs: numbers | icons
