Waterfall Hero Hikes: Little River Tributary Waterfall (South Mountains)

There is a small, sliding waterfall on a tributary of Little River in Burke County, North Carolina. The waterfall is located in South Mountains State Park.

Hike Length: 5.4 miles
Estimated Time: 2 to 3 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Location: South Mountains State Park
Trail Users: Hiking only
Dogs: Yes
Features: Waterfalls (1)
Crowds: Moderate
Warnings: The rocks around waterfalls are very slippery.
Trailhead GPS: 35.60246,-81.62914
Waterfall GPS: 35.61700,-81.62652

Directions:

From I-40 in Morganton, take exit 106 and go south on NC-18. In 11 miles, turn right on Sugarloaf Road and go 4.3 miles. Turn left on Old NC-18 and go 2.7 miles and turn right on Ward Gap Road. Go 1.4 miles and turn right on South Mountains Park Road to enter the park. Follow for 3.4 miles to the parking area at the end.

Map:

Hike Description:

Pick up the blue-blazed Little River Trail from the northeast end of the parking lot. The trail follows an old road up and passes a junction with Raven Rock and then Turkey Ridge Trails. At 1.7 miles, descend and cross the tributary on a footbridge. The trail follows the tributary downstream a short ways then turns left and heads up and ends at Upper CCC Trail in 2.1 miles. Continue on Upper CCC Trail for another 0.5 miles and turn left on Sawtooth Trail. Sawtooth Trail descends and crosses the tributary right above the waterfall in 0.1 miles. Cross and scramble down the river right side of the falls to the base.