Waterfall Hero Hikes: Roaring Fork Falls (Black Mountains)

Roaring Fork Falls is a tall cascading waterfall on a tributary of South Toe River in Yancey County. The waterfall is located in the Black Mountain/South Toe River Area of Pisgah National Forest.

Hike Length: 1.2 miles
Estimated Time: 1 hour
Difficulty: Easy
Location: Black Mountain/South Toe River Area (Appalachian Ranger District of Pisgah National Forest)
Trail Users: Hiking only
Dogs: Yes
Features: Waterfalls (1)
Crowds: High
Warnings: The rocks around waterfalls are slippery
Trailhead GPS: 35.76849,-82.19533
Waterfall GPS: 35.76004,-82.19158

Directions:

From Burnsville, head east US-19E north for about five miles and turn right onto NC-80 south. Drive 11.8 miles and bear right onto South Toe River Road. Immediately turn right and then left onto Busick Work Center Road. Follow to the end and park without blocking the gate.

Map:

Hike Description:

Pick up Roaring Fork Falls Trail (#195), which follows the old road (FR-5220) beyond the gate. The road passes a couple old magazines for storing explosives.

In about 0.5 miles, the road crosses Roaring Fork on a bridge. Right before the bridge, an obvious trail splits to the right and leads a short ways to the waterfall.