Tucked away in the Blue Ridge Mountains Asheville is one of the best places to visit in North Carolina. One of the best things about Asheville is it’s proximity to over 60 stunning waterfalls and if you ask me the best bang for your buck is the Triple Falls hike at Dupont State Forest. Located 45 minutes from downtown Asheville this three mile hike takes you to three different waterfalls, each one better than the last. Discover why you should make the Triple Falls Hike at Dupont State Forest a stop on your next trip to Asheville.
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The Triple Falls hike is one of the most popular hikes near Asheville and takes you to three different waterfalls; Hooker Falls, Triple Falls and High Falls. This is a moderate hike fitness wise with a wide path but some steep sections. You can access this trail from either Hooker Falls access area (parking lot) or you can also park at the High Falls access (visitors center). If you park at High Falls access you will reverse the order of the falls seeing High Falls first and Hooker Falls last.
Hooker Falls
From the Hooker Falls parking access you will take a trail to the right of the lot for an easy 0.9 mile walk. Hooker Falls is a gentle 150 foot wide falls with a 12 foot drop into Cascade Lake. Cascade Lake is cool and shallow making it a popular spot for wading and swimming. Return to the Hooker Falls parking lot to continue on to the other falls.
Triple Falls
From the Hooker Falls parking lot there is a path near the Little River, take that path across a short wooden bridge and underneath the road bridge before continuing on another 1/2 mile to Triple Falls. You will first see a sign for the overlook, and just past this you will find a staircase that leads to the middle of three waterfalls with a combined 120 foot drop. This puts you at the base of the top two falls and looking down over the bottom one.
High Falls
Return to the trail and continue upward for another 1/2 mile to High Falls, which at 150 feet high offers the tallest and most dramatic cascades on this hike. You can hike down to the base of the falls (an additional half mile) walking along large boulders. Be careful in this area if water is running high. If you want to continue on a bit further you can hike up to a covered bridge overlooking the falls or you can begin your return trip.
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Robert Carroll says
You go girl! Thanks for a feature on one of our favorite places to go for a weekend. Dupont is full of trails and, as you discovered, waterfalls! We travel up from central South Carolina and stay in Hendersonville at an incredible place, The Charleston Inn (www.thecharleston.net). We highly recommend it – breakfast is to die for! Check it out on your next adventure to Western NC. It is good to be out and about after COVID, is it not!
Rob + Ann @TravelLatte says
Wow – what a great hike! We’re sold. We’ve been putting together ideas for a Blue Ridge trip, and thinking this is a must. Thanks for putting it on our radar!
Krista says
This is such a pretty area to go hiking! I love any walks/hikes that have waterfalls in them, so this one looks right up my street!
Farrah says
I loved Asheville when I went to visit! Sad that I didn’t get to check out these waterfalls, but I’m definitely going to add em’ to my list for next time around! :]
Linzey says
This looks so great. We might be going to Asheville this fall and I didn’t know what we were going to do. All I ever find is Biltmore Estates… now I can add this to my list. Thank you for sharing! 🙂 -Linzey @thefamilyfuntour
Anna says
Love, love, love this hike! This is where part of the Hunger Games was filmed. After hiking here I love stopping at Sierra Nevada or Burning Blush Brewery.
simplyjolayne says
We visited North Carolina last fall for the Fall foliage colors and actually hiked to these three falls. It was quite busy, but beautiful
Bryson Fico says
Thank you, We are placing the Triple Falls Hike on our agenda when we visit Western North Carolina.