Waterfall Hero Hikes: Upper Avery Creek Falls (Pisgah)

Upper Avery Creek Falls is a 25-foot waterfall on its namesake in Transylvania County, North Carolina. The waterfall is located in the Mills River area of the Pisgah Ranger District of Pisgah National Forest.

Hike Length: 3.2 miles
Estimated Time: 1 to 2 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Location: Mills River (Pisgah Ranger District of Pisgah National Forest)
Trail Users: Hiking and mountain biking
Dogs: Must be on a leash
Features: Waterfalls (1)
Crowds: Moderate
Warnings: The rocks around the waterfalls are very slippery.
Trailhead GPS: 35.31616,-82.75234
Waterfall GPS: 35.32896,-82.76749

Directions:

From Brevard, head east on US-276/US-64 to where they split and turn left to stay on US-276. Drive 2.2 miles and turn right on Avery Creek Road (Forest Service Road 477). Drive 2.6 miles on this gravel road to a small parking area on the right side of the road that can fit five or six cars.

Map:

Hike Description:

The hike to the falls is along the orange-blazed Buckhorn Gap Trail (#103). The trail initially descends down to Avery Creek and joins up with the blue-blazed Avery Creek Trail (#327). Where Buckhorn Gap Trail crosses Avery Creek on a bridge, stay on Avery Creek Trail and continue upstream for a little over half a mile. A small path on the right leads steeply down to the base of the falls.