Waterfall Hero Hikes: Wilson Creek (Pisgah)

Wilson Creek is an area in the Grandfather Ranger District of Pisgah National Forest in Caldwell, Burke, and Avery Counties. The river itself is designated as a National Wild and Scenic River. The area around Wilson Creek was used as summer hunting grounds by the Cherokee Native Americans and was settled by European pioneers in the mid 18th century. Mortimer, once the largest community in the area, was the home of the Ritter Lumber Company sawmill and textile mill. In 1916, a wildfire burned from Grandfather Mountain to Wilson Creek and was followed by a flood that destroyed the logging railroad. A second fire burned through the area in 1925 and another flood hit in 1940, destroying the sawmill and textile mill, and ending efforts to bring industry to the area. In 2000, Wilson Creek was made part of the National Wild and Scenic River System through Public Law 106-261. Lost Cove Wilderness Study Area are and Harper Creek Wilderness Study Area are two proposed wildernesses in the area.

Map:

Trails:

Darkside Cliffs Trail (#272):

Darkside Cliffs Trail is an easy half-mile trail from Forest Road 464 (Pineola Road) to the cliffs over Lost Cove.

Greentown Shortcut Trail (#268A):

Greentown Shortcut Trail begins at the end of Forest Road 197 (Raven Cliff Road) and follows Upper Creek upstream, ending in about 2 miles at Greentown Trail (#268). This remote trail provides access to Burnthouse Branch Falls and Raven Cliff Falls.

Harper Creek Trail (#260):

Harper Creek Trail starts at a trailhead along Brown Mountain Beach Road and follows its namesake 6 miles to FR-58. There are many creek fords along the trail so plan to get your feet wet. The trail passes Harper Creek Falls and South Harper Creek Falls.

Hunt Fish Falls Trail (#263):

Hunt Fish Falls Trail starts at a trailhead along Forest Road 464 (Pineola Road) and heads steeply down 0.8 miles to connect with Lost Cove Trail (#262). The trail ends at Lost Cove Creek right at Hunt Fish Falls. The Mountains-to-Sea Trail follows Hunt Fish Falls Trail.

Little Lost Cove Cliffs Trail (#271A):

There are two trailheads for Little Lost Cove Cliffs Trail along Forest Road 464 (Pineola Road). The 1.5 mile trail leads between the two. In the middle, a short spur leads out to the cliffs with great views of Lost Cove and Grandfather Mountain.

North Harper Creek Falls Trail (#239):

North Harper Creek Falls Trail begins from a trailhead along Forest Road 464 (Pineola Road) and shares a trailhead with Little Lost Cove Cliffs Trail. The trail descends to Harper Creek Trail in 1.2 miles just upstream of North Harper Creek Falls.

North Harper Creek Shortcut (#266A):

North Harper Creek Shortcut Trail begins from a trailhead along Forest Road 464 (Pineola Road) and leads down to Harper Creek Trail in 1 mile. The Mountains-to-Sea Trail follows North Harper Creek Shortcut. This trail provides access to Bard Falls.

Phillips Branch Falls (#252):

Phillips Branch Falls starts from Brown Mountain Beach Road at the bridge over Harper Creek and follows its namesake upstream to Pine Ridge Trail. The trail passes Phillips Branch Falls on the way.

Thorps Creek Trail (#279):

Thorps Creek Trail starts at Mortimer Campground and follows its namesake up to Thorps Creek Falls. I believe the trail is decommissioned after this point.

Upper Creek Falls Trail (#268B):

Upper Creek Falls Trail starts from a trailhead parking area on NC-181 in Jonas Ridge and makes a 1.5-mile loop passing by Upper Creek Falls. The trail crosses the creek twice, which can be dangerous in high water.

Points of Interest:

Bard Falls:

Bard Falls is a waterfall on North Harper Creek with an impressive pothole in the rock next to the falls.

Burnthouse Branch Falls:

Burnthouse Branch Falls is a remote waterfall on a tributary of Upper Creek.

Chestnut Cove Branch Falls:

Chestnut Cove Branch Falls is along North Harper Creek at the confluence with Chestnut Cove Branch.

Darkside Cliffs:

Darkside Cliffs tower over Lost Cove and provides great views of Grandfather Mountain. The cliffs are at the end of the short Darkside Cliffs Trail (#272).

Gragg Prong Falls:

Gragg Prong Falls is the largest of three waterfalls along Gragg Prong.

Gragg Prong Middle Falls:

Gragg Prong Middle Falls consists of two drops falling into a large pool.

Gragg Prong Upper Falls:

Gragg Prong Upper Falls is a small sliding waterfall between some huge rock outcrops.

Harper Creek Falls:

Harper Creek Falls is a nice 50-foot waterfall in three sections that makes a popular swimhole and waterslide.

Hunt Fish Falls:

Hunt Fish Falls is a waterfall in two sections on Lost Cove Creek with a great swimhole at the base.

Hunt Fish Sidekick Falls:

Hunt Fish Falls Sidekick Falls is a 50-foot waterfall on a tributary of Lost Cove Creek right at Hunt Fish Falls.

Little Lost Cove Cliffs:

Little Lost Cove Cliffs have great views of Grandfather Mountain. The cliffs are accessed from roughly the middle of Little Lost Cove Cliffs Trail (#271A).

Newt Falls:

Newt Falls is a tall waterfall on Steels Creek.

North Harper Creek Falls:

North Harper Creek Falls includes a series of drops ending in a 40-foot slide.

Phillips Branch Falls:

Phillips Branch Falls is a 40-foot waterfall on its namesake creek.

Raven Cliff Falls:

Raven Cliff Falls is a waterfall in multiple sections on Upper Creek that is extremely difficult to reach.

Steels Creek Upper Falls:

Upper Steels Creek Falls is a 50-foot waterfall just upstream of where FR-496 crosses.

Ten Foot Falls:

Ten Foot Falls is a small waterfall and swimhole on Wilson Creek.

Thorps Creek Falls:

Thorps Creek Falls is a scenic 20-foot waterfall near Mortimer Campground.

Upper Creek Falls:

Upper Creek Falls is a scenic 50-foot waterfall accessed from a trailhead along NC-181.

Walker Hollow Falls:

Walker Hollow Falls is a roadside waterfall along Anthony Creek Road.

Woodruff Branch Falls:

Woodruff Branch Falls is a roadside waterfall on a tributary of Anthony Creek.

Wildlife:

Common apple moss (Bartramia pomiformis)

Fire pink (Silene virginica) produces beautiful bright red flowers.

Green elfcup (Chlorociboria aeruginascens) produce blue-green mushrooms and stain the wood green.

Golden trumpet mushrooms (Xeromphalina campanella) on a decaying log.

Violet toothed polypore (Trichaptum biforme)

Eastern tiger swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) is a common species of butterfly in the area. The females have a row of blue spots on the hindwings while the males do not.