Three days of waterfalls out of Brevard
Three waterfall systems in three days, all out of one base in Brevard: the easy loop at DuPont, the US-276 corridor in Pisgah, and the strenuous climb to Rainbow Falls at Gorges. Spring is the window, because that is when the gauges say the water runs.
Carolina Weekend
Published October 5, 2026
The short version
Brevard is the base for a three day waterfall trip, and the season you want is spring. Five years of USGS daily flow at the Davidson River gauge near town average about 180 cubic feet per second in March and about 107 in November, so the water runs strongest in spring and thinnest in late summer, when the average drops to roughly 84 in July. The trip hits three different systems: the easy three mile loop at DuPont, the roadside falls and the paid waterslide on US-276 in Pisgah, and the 150 foot Rainbow Falls at Gorges, which is the strenuous day. Check two closures before you go: the Triple Falls stairs at DuPont, damaged by Helene in 2024, and the Davidson River Campground, listed by the Forest Service as closed November 2025 through September 2026 for a bathhouse renovation. Everything below was checked against the managing agency pages in October 2026.
Day 1
DuPont High Falls Loop
2-3 hours · easy · verified: Friends of DuPont Forest / N.C. Forest Service
An easy three mile trail along the Little River that passes both High Falls and Triple Falls. High Falls is the largest in the forest, sliding 120 feet down a plane of granite, and it is about a half mile from the visitor center. Start from the High Falls access area at 89 Buck Forest Road in Cedar Mountain. The rules here are stricter than most people expect: no camping anywhere in the forest, no campfires or cooking fires of any kind, and nothing left behind because there are no trash cans. Parking is the real bottleneck, not the trail. Lots are often full by 9:30 in the summer, and the forest service tells visitors to arrive before 9 a.m. or after 5 p.m.
Hooker Falls
30 min · easy · verified: Friends of DuPont Forest
A short walk from the Hooker Falls access area leads to a 12 foot drop into a wide pool, which is why it is one of the busiest spots in the forest in summer. Restrooms and changing rooms are in the parking lot, which matters on a day with kids. The trail is closed to bikes and horses. This is the fall to do first if you want an easy win before the longer loop.
Triple Falls
1 hour · moderate · verified: Friends of DuPont Forest / N.C. Forest Service
Triple Falls is viewed from an overlook on the High Falls Loop, an easy to moderate walk along the Little River. You can reach it from either the Hooker Falls or the High Falls access area, and the stretch coming up from Hooker Falls has a steep section. The stairs that used to drop you closer to the water are closed after damage from Tropical Storm Helene in 2024, so the overlook is the view. Check the alerts page at dupontforest.com/alerts/ before you drive, because that is where closures get posted.
Day 2
Looking Glass Falls
30 min · easy · verified: US Forest Service
Directly off US-276, about six miles north of the Pisgah District Ranger Station, so you see it from the car before you park. There is an accessible top viewing deck and stairs down to the creek. No lifeguard is on duty. Parking is limited and the forest service says plainly: do not park in the road. It is free, open year round, and the easiest big waterfall on this whole trip.
Moore Cove Trail #318
1 hour · easy · verified: US Forest Service / National Park Service
A 0.7 mile trail the Forest Service rates easy, and one of the most popular hikes in the Pisgah District. Park along the left hand side of US-276 and look for the information board, because the falls are unsigned from the road. The first 150 feet are moderate and the grade eases after that. A viewing platform at the base lets you see the falls safely rather than scrambling on wet rock.
Sliding Rock
1-2 hours · moderate · verified: US Forest Service / Naventure
A 60 foot natural water slide that ends in a pool 8 to 10 feet deep, with one observation platform. It runs 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, 365 days a year, weather and water levels permitting. Lifeguards and restrooms are on duty seven days a week from Memorial Day through Labor Day, and when the area is not staffed there are no lifeguards and the restrooms are closed. The fee is $6 per person per day and kids 5 and under are free, cash or card. Rules are enforced: if you cannot swim you cannot slide, approved personal flotation devices only, no floats, tubes, noodles or boards, and children under 7 slide with one adult per child. It can close for lightning or high water, and the operator posts closures on social media.
Brevard
half day · easy · verified: VisitNC / US Forest Service
Brevard sits in Transylvania County, which calls itself the Land of Waterfalls for the 250 plus cascades in the area, and it is about four miles from the Davidson River area of Pisgah National Forest. It is the practical base for this trip: food, a bed, and a shorter drive to the US-276 corridor than staying in Asheville. Come back into town for the second half of the day after the falls.
Day 3
Rainbow Falls Trail
3-4 hours · strenuous · verified: NC State Parks
The strenuous day, and the one worth the effort. Start at the Grassy Ridge access and visitor center, 976 Grassy Ridge Road in Sapphire. The trail is 1.5 miles one way, rated strenuous by NC State Parks, hiking only and not accessible, and it ends at Rainbow Falls, a 150 foot drop on the Horsepasture River. Gorges charges no day use fee, but the gate is locked at the posted closing hour, so plan around it: the park is open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. May through September and 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in April and October. The park also has an active bear population year round, so store food in a vehicle or camper.
Turtleback Falls
1 hour · moderate · verified: Explore Asheville / Asheville Trails
On the same Gorges trail system as Rainbow Falls, a cascade over a curved rock outcrop into a pool below. It is a popular swimming spot in summer and it is also the most dangerous place on this itinerary, because the trail passes near the top of the falls. Do not approach the top and do not leave the main trail. View it from below.
Upper Whitewater Falls
1 hour · easy · verified: US Forest Service
South of Cashiers on NC-107, a 411 foot plunge that the Forest Service calls the highest waterfall east of the Rockies. Day use is $3 per vehicle, or $15 for an annual pass that also covers Dry Falls and Whiteside Mountain. There are no restrooms and no potable water at the site, so come prepared. The Forest Service says it sees extremely high visitor volume midday and on holidays, and recommends morning or late afternoon, which makes it a clean last stop if you hit Rainbow Falls early.
Where to stay
The Sunset Motel (hotel · Brevard, on South Broad Street)
A small independent motel at 523 South Broad Street in Brevard, which keeps you close to the US-276 corridor and the DuPont entrance. Check-in begins at 3 p.m. and check-out is 10 a.m. Call 828-884-9106 or book direct on their site. Rates move with the season, so check current pricing rather than trusting a number from a guide.
Lake Powhatan Campground (campground · Pisgah National Forest, near Asheville)
Open year round with limited services from November through March. Standard sites are $37 a night, electric hookups $46, and full hookups $52. Flush toilets and showers are in the bathhouse, and firewood and ice are sold on site. This is the closest thing to a substitute for the Davidson River Campground this year, and it is a longer drive to Brevard.
North Mills River Campground (campground · Pisgah National Forest)
Named by the Forest Service and its operator as an alternative while Davidson River is shut. Camping with showers and flush toilets, a shorter hop to the US-276 corridor than the Asheville side. Check Recreation.gov for current availability, since the whole district books out on spring weekends.
Brevard hotels and inns (hotel · Brevard)
If camping is not the plan and the Sunset is booked, Brevard has a handful of chain hotels and independent inns a few minutes from downtown. Prices swing a lot by weekend, so compare live booking sites rather than trusting a fixed rate from anywhere, including this page.
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What to bring
- Sturdy shoes with grip. The rock at every waterfall on this list is slick, wet or dry.
- Water shoes or sandals for Sliding Rock, plus a towel and a dry bag for the car.
- Water bottles for everyone. There is no potable water at Looking Glass Falls or at Whitewater Falls.
- A rain shell or layers. Spring in the mountains means a 30 degree swing between the trailhead and the afternoon.
- A physical leash for pets. It is required at DuPont and it is a state law there, not a suggestion.
- Food stored in a vehicle or a bear proof container at Gorges, where the park has an active bear population year round.
- Cash or a card for the Sliding Rock $6 per person fee and the $3 Whitewater Falls vehicle fee.
- A paper map or downloaded offline maps. Most DuPont waterfalls have limited cell service, and emergency response times are longer there.
Frequently asked questions
Is everything on this itinerary open right now?
As of October 2026, one thing is confirmed closed and one is on the edge of its window. The Triple Falls stairs at DuPont are closed after 2024 Helene damage, so you view the falls from the overlook. The Davidson River Campground is listed by the Forest Service as closed November 2025 through September 2026 for a bathhouse renovation, so it should be back or nearly back, but do not build a plan on that without checking. Every other site in this plan was listed as open when this was written, but closures change, so check the DuPont alerts page and the park and forest pages before you drive.
Where do you park, and when?
Parking is the actual constraint on this trip, not the hiking. DuPont lots are often completely full by 9:30 a.m. in summer, and the forest service recommends arriving before 9 a.m. or after 5 p.m. Looking Glass Falls has limited roadside parking and the forest service says not to park on the road. Upper Whitewater Falls sees heavy midday volume and is best in the morning or late afternoon.
What does the whole trip cost?
Most of it is free. DuPont has no entrance fee, the Looking Glass Falls pull-off is free, and Gorges State Park charges nothing for day use. The two paid stops are Sliding Rock at $6 per person per day, with kids 5 and under free, and Upper Whitewater Falls at $3 per vehicle or $15 for an annual pass that also covers Dry Falls and Whiteside Mountain.
Can kids do the Rainbow Falls trail at Gorges?
That depends on the kid. The trail is 1.5 miles one way, rated strenuous by NC State Parks, hiking only and not accessible. It also passes near the top of Turtleback Falls, where the guidance is blunt about staying on the main trail. For younger children, DuPont on day one and the US-276 corridor on day two are the better fit, and Rainbow Falls is the day you save for older kids or a grown up trip.
What if the only weekend we have is in late fall?
November is the thinnest water of the year, so the falls still run but smaller. DuPont and the Looking Glass Falls pull-off are free and open year round, so a fall trip is a different trip rather than a bad one. Just plan on the view rather than the volume.
Are the forest rules at DuPont actually enforceable?
DuPont does say it plainly: forest rules there are state laws, not suggestions. The rules cover the leash requirement, the alcohol ban, and the prohibition on climbing or jumping from the waterfalls. Enforcement runs through N.C. Forest Service rangers, who are authorized under N.C.G.S. 106-899 to issue citations and warning tickets for offenses under the forest laws. That subsection stops short of giving rangers arrest powers, so treat it as a real ticket rather than a hand-slap, and expect the rules to be enforced whether or not anyone is standing next to you.
How do I check the water flow before I go?
The USGS maintains a real time gauge on the Davidson River near Brevard. Look at the daily discharge number and compare it to the monthly averages from the last five water years: about 180 cubic feet per second in March, easing to roughly 140 in May, and down to about 84 in July. If the gauge is running near or above the March number, you are getting the falls at their best.
How we verified this itinerary
Trail names, distances, elevation, difficulty, and seasonal windows were checked against the National Park Service, US Forest Service, AllTrails, and local sources at write time. Conditions change, so confirm current trail and park status before you go. See our methodology.