Estimated Time: 1 to 2 hours
Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
Location: Dennis Cove Recreation Area (Watauga Ranger District of Cherokee National Forest)
Trail Users: Hiking only
Dogs: Yes
Features: Waterfalls (1+)
Crowds: Moderate
Warnings: The rocks around waterfalls are slippery. There are three crossings of Laurel Fork to reach the waterfall, which require wading and can be difficult in low water and will be impossible to cross safely in high water.
Trailhead GPS: 36.25700,-82.11181
Waterfall GPS: 36.25265,-82.10004
Directions:
From Elizabethton, head south on US-19 E for about 5 miles to Hampton and turn left on US-321 south. Go 0.8 miles and turn right on Dennis Cove Road. Follow this for 4.8 miles to a parking area on the left just before the bridge over Laurel Fork.
Map:
Hike Description:
Go across the street and pick up the blue-blazed Laurel Fork Trail (#39) that follows its namesake upstream. In 0.5 miles, come to the first creek crossing and probably the most difficult. I went upstream of the cable and waded and climbed on the rocks to get across.
In a couple hundred feet, come to the second creek crossing, which is not as difficult, but the cable is too high to be of use.
Go another 0.1 miles, passing through an rocky area where the railroad once went and reach the third crossing. This one is pretty tricky too, again I had to wade and climb on the rocks.
After this point, no more fords before the waterfall. At 1 mile from the start, a side trail on the right leads to Lower Dennis Cove Falls. Stay on the main trail for another 0.1 miles and just after crossing a rocky outcrop, look for a spur trail to the right that leads a short ways to the waterfall.
Here's a video of the falls.
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