DuPont State Recreational Forest

DuPont State Recreational Forest is (12,400) acres tucked away in Henderson/Transylvania Counties, NC. The weather was perfect! Had a great time hiking through a few trails, exploring different sections of the forest, including the visitors center. The waterfalls are breathtaking. There are (5) waterfalls in the forest. Lots to see and do, hiking, hunting, fishing 🎣 cycling 🚴🏽‍♂️ and there’s an equestrian 🐴 trail. Very crowded on the days I was there. Will definitely circle back this fall. Grateful I had an opportunity to visit. The world is a beautiful place, if you know where to look. “Where the water falls, peace rises.” from Journey Era Fun Fact: The Last of the Mohicans and the Hunger Games were filmed at various locations around DuPont Forest, including Hooker Falls, High Falls, Bridle Falls, Triple Falls, and other portions of the Forest. #NeverStopExploring🥾 #GetOutAndPlay🌞 #ProtectPreserveEnjoy🪾 #NCStateForest🌳 #HappyPlaces❤️ 8/2025

I wish I had better planned the trip so I could have spent more time here. I was in awe of this waterfall. I’ve never seen anything like it. The hike there felt like a magical scavenger hunt- I saw so many vibrant mushrooms that I had never seen before. I want to come back to NC soon just to camp here and explore the entire park. The path to the waterfall had gravel and was really smooth. We didn’t bring our pups but it’s absolutely dog friendly! Remember- please don’t toss your trash out there!<3

If you’re looking for an easy, beautiful, and refreshing nature escape, DuPont State Recreational Forest is such a gem! I recently visited and while not all the trails were open due to damage from a past hurricane, I still got to explore Triple Falls and High Falls — and wow, they were totally worth the visit! Heads-up though: because of the recent hurricane, a good number of trails are still closed for safety and repair. So if you’re planning a trip soon, definitely check the trail status ahead of time so you’re not caught off guard. It’s a little disappointing not being able to see all the waterfalls, but I was still super happy to catch two of them — and honestly, they’re breathtaking. This place is waterfall central! The forest is full of flowing beauty, and you can hear the rushing water before you even see it. When you do, it’s like stepping into a real-life nature movie. One of my favorite things about this trail is how chill it is. It’s super family-friendly, pet-friendly, and really just friendly all around. I saw everything from dogs with their humans to families with toddlers and even people strolling through in church clothes — that’s how easy and accessible the trail is. The forest is really well maintained, even with the storm damage, and it’s clear a lot of care goes into keeping it clean and safe. Just a quick reminder: if you're snacking while you hike (no judgment — I did too!), please take your trash with you and help protect the beauty of the area. Be aware of your surroundings and respect the ecosystem — nature needs our help to stay awesome. Can’t wait to go back and hit the rest of the trails when they reopen!

Just go here. As you drive along the very well paved winding mountain road through the forest, there are many turn off points which are well signed that lead to all manner of natural splendor. Many beautiful waterfalls, some of which you can Wade in the pools of, many beautiful Rocky cliffs, some of which you can jump off of, endless miles of crystal clear Rivers, that you can walk through, swim in, fish on etc. There are also many areas or you can pull off to have lunch, some with barbecues and picnic tables, some more primitive. There are busy places, solitary places and everything in between. There's miles and miles of biking and hiking trails. Whatever natural outdoor thrill you're looking for is very likely here, The vast majority of it is free, some attractions cost just a few bucks. For sure one of my favorite places to take my family.

The walk to the waterfall was about 0.8 miles from the parking lot and really easy. The trail was nice, and the view at the end was beautiful. The waterfall is huge and peaceful, and we enjoyed just sitting and taking it all in. Some people were walking on the rocks near the bottom, which made it even more fun to watch. Definitely worth the visit — great for all ages!

Okay, sorry North Carolina we’re taking these trails back to Maryland with us! What a blast. I brought my 13-year-old here to ride since the trails in Pisgah are a bit more technical and intense. DuPont was much more our style with some punchy climbs and light tech, but mostly smooth, flowy fun. We did a big loop that included a snack stop at a waterfall and finished with an epic descent down Ridgeline. Our route: Lake Imaging → Jim Branch → Isaac Heath → Hilltop → Grassy Creek Falls (snack break!) → Buck Forest → Hooker Creek → Hickory Mountain Loop → Ridgeline. About 10 miles and 1,300 feet of elevation gain. It took us just over two hours at a relaxed pace, including our break. Honestly, one of the most fun rides we’ve done together. We’ll be talking about this one for a while.

This was a lovely place to visit on our family vacation! Lots of shaded areas to rest while hiking and several picnic areas as well! And of course the views were incredible!

While some trails were being repaired. Didn't stop us. My hubby biked and I hiked each day with our black lab Zeke. It was a good time! First time visiting the park. Highly recommend. Pics are from the Hooker falls portion which apparently is a hot spot for swimming. Fun Times!

Great trails for hiking and biking, plus a few nice places to take a dip! Quite popular with the locals and the tourists, so be prepared for crowds on weekends, pretty much all summer, and on beautiful days. Like most places, the further you are willing to hike in, the more peaceful it will be. Day use only.

One of the easiest hikes ever. Went to Hooker Falls and it was beautiful. The trail was well maintained and parking was good. We went kinda late in the day and it was getting dark. But it was easy to get back to the car. Looking forward to seeing the rest of the falls

What a gem in North Carolina. Home to so many great hiking trails and waterfalls, this is an easy state forest to get to from Asheville. It has more than 10,000 acres of forests and waterfalls. Their most popular hike is not difficult at all (a couple miles total) and you can see 3 different waterfalls along the way Hooker Falls, Triple Falls and High Falls which are breathtaking. The parking availability is excellent as well. Everyone along the trails were so friendly.

This is a great park for relatively easy and short hikes to see (and swim near) some nice waterfalls. We took our two daughters (5 and 8 years old) on some of the hikes near the Hooker Falls Access parking lot. We arrived at the parking lot around 9am and the lot was already filling up, so make plans to arrive early to secure a parking spot! We went to Triple Falls first, which was a doable hike for the kiddos and took us to some really nice views of the falls. We had packed a lunch beforehand, and took that lunch then to Hooker Falls, which has some calmer waters at the base where people get in to swim and play. There is a smaller sandy beach area with shallower water which was good for younger kids to play in. It was refreshing to jump into the water after a morning packed with hiking! Again, the Hooker Falls Access seemed like a popular spot, so plan to get there early to secure a parking spot!

Oh my goodness so much beauty and standing in the middle of the forestry and closing your eyes and hearing the sound of the waterfalls is amazing. Great place to hike however, I will say it's moderately hard. Let's just say the next time I go I will have walking sticks in hand.but I will definitely do this again. It was phenomenal.

One of God's natural Treasures in North Carolina. I believe you will get your feel of waterfalls.

Unbelievable network of waterfalls are accessible within the DuPont State Forest. It was really crowded on Sunday when we were there, so we stuck to the High Falls Loop and had an amazing experience. From the visitors center to the falls, we took an easy, half mile trail, sat back, and enjoyed nature's beauty.

Beautiful- calming- a place of reflection- fresh air etc. We walked two trails to view waterfalls- met really nice people (who isn't nice when surrounded with such beauty) and got a really good workout in! If your not in shape the trails to waterfalls can be physically challenging but oh so worth it!!! We will definitely return to explore more of this great park! Tip go early the lots fill up fast regarding parking we got there around 9:30 by the time we left around noon it was full.

If you are in the area, either living or visiting, you need to check out Dupont State Forest near Brevard, NC. They are known for their waterfalls, and indeed, the wayerfalls are beautiful and definitely worth a visit. This is a park that stays pretty busy, and depending on the time of year and time of day you may have a difficult time finding a place to park. My suggestion is to keep circling until you find something because the views are worth it. You will see a lot of people on the trails, but luckily the trails are in good shape and easy to maneuver.

Not sure why they don't allow class 1 e-bikes. Having a slipped disk, having a little help keeps me riding. It's 2025, and time to be a bit more open to where the industry is going. Even NCParks.gov states class1&2 e-bikes are permitted in ALL state parks wherever a bicycles are allowed. (And yes I know DuPont is a State Forrest, not a park) Yeah, I get it, nobody likes them, until they get older or have an injury. Then you love them. Come on, class 1 banned? Thoughts?

My husband and I had a wonderful time hiking the trails at DuPont State Forest. We visited on a weekday in late October, and the crowds were not bad. The parking lots are small, and every spot was taken, but the trails themselves offered lots of room to spread out. If you hike Hooker Falls and Triple Falls, you can see several incredible waterfalls in a short time. The park also has loops you can hike and see a covered bridge. The Triple Falls hike has a pretty steep uphill, so be prepared. The views and photos are worth it. If you plan to hike all of the trails, carry water and perhaps a snack. All of the trails are well marked, and you can scan a QR code and download a map to your phone. The ranger's station also has paper maps. For me, cell phone signal was nonexistent, even a few miles after we left the park and I tried to enter our AirBNB into my phone's GPS. I recommend downloading directions to your next destination, just in case. Also, parking is free, but there are two lots so don't forget which one you parked in.

Second time here and loved it just as much. Lots of bathroom options, well-kept trails, and beautiful waterfalls.

Best waterfalls ever!!! The trails were fun, they had easy, medium, and tough routes. I love that it's dog friendly so my dog was able to enjoy the waterfalls and hike too. It was a lot of fun and beautiful place. There's restrooms and picnic tables available by the parking lot. I suggest bringing sunscreen, bathing suit, water shoes, and towels if you want to dip in the water. There weren't that many bugs/insects from my experience.

Cool park to do some waterfall hikes! I went to Hooker, Triple, and High Falls, and they were all great! Pretty unique waterfalls too, which was awesome. I came on a weekday morning, plenty of parking, not too many people, and trail was pretty flat for the most part. Great spot to stop by and get some nature!

Beautiful forest right off the highway with tons of trails of all levels. Very well kept area with many parking options and especially helpful rangers at the visitor's center. There is no service in this area so I'd recommend routing your GPS to the visitor's center and hiking out from there. That way you can ask the park rangers for directions if you need something specific other than the main falls. I believe there are 6 different falls in the area: Hooker Falls, High Falls, Triple Falls, Grassy Creek Falls, Wintergreen Falls and Bridal Veil Falls. The water flow is, of course, dependant on the season and how much rainfall the area has gotten recently. They say the best time to go is Spring or mid Fall. I've been to Dupont for hiking a few times now. Once in Summer and other times in early Fall. I've never seen the leaves change color but every time I visit the falls are plenty filled with water. My favorite waterfall here is High Falls. It blows my mind how huge it is! Triple Falls is pretty cool, too, and the hike is a little more intense for those looking for an actual trek. A lot of people swim at the base of Hooker Falls. It's very calm waters, from what I've experienced, and a beautiful swimming hole to relax at. Wintergreen and Bridal Veil are more fun for the hike and to say you've seen X number of falls rather than for their beauty and wonder. All the trails are well marked here. It's a very safe area. I've never seen any huge animals. I would recommend wearing bug spray, especially in the Summer and it is the South and there are tons of them everywhere. The visitor's center has restrooms and, again, very helpful staff. There's a nice variety of super easy trails and pretty strenuous ones. I'd definitely recommend this area for families, couples, independent travelers, etc. Don't forget to bring water!

Beautiful state Forest with lots of hiking and biking trails! The falls were gorgeous and well worth the hike. Be aware that there is more than one parking lot and remember which one you start from;-) very enjoyable morning. It was not terribly crowded on this weekday.

A great escape from the city... the trails are great, the falls are awesome. It's a pitty the picnic areas are closed. It'd be great to stay longer, and have more time at the park. It'd be great to go back once this pandemic is over.

It was a fantastic hike to these three waterfalls. The hike it self was moderate according to AllTrails and I agree completely. There will be a lot of up and down hills so be prepared for that! Use the AllTrails navigation to help yourself to navigate through the trail. I personally have AT&T so the service up there was spotty. I highly recommend you to get there as early as 8 AM or even earlier for parking if you're going on a holiday weekend. When we were leaving we saw parking was a disaster! People were parking on the side of the roads and having to walk even further. Later in the day around 10AM, families will start to come and during memorial weekend, there were many that brought their own grills and speakers and obviously playing music loudly. It was a good thing we came out there early otherwise our hike would of been ruined by these families. I wish the Park would do something about it. Enjoy my photos of the Falls!

Great park! Short hikes to see 3 different waterfalls and a covered bridge! What else could you ask for! Bathrooms at visitor center parking lot were very clean and nice. The visitor center was closed when we were there but we were still able to pick up maps. Highly recommend if in the area!!

I've been exploring the Asheville area for a few years, calling it home for about 2 now... I've herd amazing things about DuPont State Forest but nothing prepared me for my first adventure here. We started on our bikes in one of the main lots, it was a beautiful Saturday around noon. The place was PACKED. Once we got back in the trails, we basically had the place to ourselves unless we stopped and other riders caught up to us. On the main gravel trails there were quite a bit of people but nothing we couldnt pass. We did almost collide with some hikes dropping in but thankfully they were aware of being on a mountain bike trail and moved aside. We ended up at a lake, lots of hikers floating around. The ranger came up and wrote a bunch of tickets for alcohol in a state park. So be aware or better yet wait till you get to the brewery. Great place to ride your mountain bike (ALWAYS go with a friend and study the trails before. We saw a few people hiking their bikes out because they didnt know what they were in for. Tons of hikers and horses. Horses always have the right of way. We didnt bumb into any until later in the day on a gravel road. But we saw evidence of them all over. Cant wait to go back! What a magical place!

Hunger Games? Last of the Mohicans? These two movies shot some of their more iconic scenes here at DuPont State Forest. We opted for the Triple Falls loop, a 2.5 mile loop that starts at the Hooker Trail parking lot. Get there early as there is limited parking. Bring water as there are limited facilities. There are port a potties at the parking lot. Once you park the car you head east and there are plenty of signs indicating the trail. Warning: the first .5 of the trail is marked as rigorous. The incline is pronounced and over rocks. However once you pass it you are rewarded with the first fall: Triple Falls. There are some benches there to catch your breath. During this phase I kicked myself for not brining my hiking sticks. If you have them: bring them. There is fork: head left along the river. This inner loop has the best views. It is moderate. However 2/3 into this loop there is trail to the base of the High Falls. Take it all the way and you reach the base where you can find other hikers relaxing. Take the trail--marked as easy back up--and you get spectacular views of the High Falls. This is the picture spot. Take the fork toward the right and you start heading back to the parking lot. This trail is boring but it does offer glimpses of the Blue Ridge mountains. The trial then starts descending back to the rigorous fork. Don't worry: you are down hill and it's a breeze. Bring plenty of water as there are little to no amenities. Cell phone coverage is spotty.

DuPont State Forest is an absolute must see outdoor area in the Asheville area. The Forest is notable for a trail loop featuring several exquisite waterfalls. While the hike to High Falls is steep, it offers a stunning view that makes traversing the incline well-worth it. This is an excellent spot for photography and relaxation (you can swim in some areas near the waterfalls). The Forest is a very popular attraction and the parking lot may be full unless you go early in the morning -- if that's the case, just wait in the parking lot since there's a steady outflow of people leaving. We waited about 10 minutes for a spot to be free on a weekend afternoon. You could easily spend a few hours here. Overall one of the most picturesque places in NC -- it's not surprising that some locations in DuPont Forest have appeared in movies, including Last of the Mohicans.

I parked at the Lake Imaging Access parking area. I LOVE that there is plenty of parking. I went on a beautiful Saturday afternoon (in March) and was amazed at how big the trailhead parking area was. The trails are marked well. I went there with the goal of mountain biking down the legendary Ridgeline trail! I was NOT disappointed. Even though the ride up to it had some ascents, there were plenty of flat areas and mini-descents going to it. My route: lake imaging rd - jim branch trail - isaac heath trail - thomas cemetery rd - white pine trail - hooker creek trail - ridgeline trail. There are more direct routes, but I chose this one because it was the length of ride I wanted for the day. 7.28miles. I definitely recommend visiting the area!

A real gem! Lots of beautiful trails and options for recreation! The access to waterfalls was the draw for me and the three waterfalls hike was my choice for the day I went. I would do it just the opposite of what guides recommended to me. I like to hike uphill and to have the return go downhill. Start at Hooker Falls. Enjoy it, then move up to Triple Falls. The High Falls are the most impressive and that should be the last one you see. You can add the covered bridge, the lake or Bridal Veil Falls for more distance. The three falls hike is about 4.5 mi. round trip. It's fairly easy. I also recommend the Forest Trail to make it a loop. It's beautiful. The trails are well-marked with mileage. It can get crowded during peak times but it's still pleasant. Lots of picnic areas.

We loved our hike at DuPont State Forest! It was about 4.5 miles round trip and we saw 3 (or if you count the Triple Falls separately, 5) waterfalls in that stretch. We are not typically hikers so the trail was moderately difficult for us, but manageable, and we were so happy we completed it. We started close to High Falls and there was plenty of parking. Most of the hike is a pleasant walk through the woods but there are a few steep uphill stretches and some stairs if you want the best views. There were plenty of people on the trail but it wasn't too crowded. It was nice to have others to take our picture at different points along the trail. High Falls was the most amazing to us. There were people on the rocks right below but we didn't see how they got down there. You can park close to Hooker Falls and go swimming there. The water was ice cold but felt nice. We didn't bring swimsuits but I took my shoes off to put my feet in the water. I love the sound of rushing water and this was a mostly peaceful walk with lots of river views and waterfalls. Would love to go back!

Hard to believe that with my love or nature and photography and that I grew up less than 10 miles from here, this was my first visit to the DuPont State Forest. When I was a teenager and beyond, I took photographs of most of the 200 plus waterfalls in Transylvania County, some of which I had to hike miles to get, but never these falls. Problem was this was private property owned by the DuPont Corp and for various reasons, this beautiful area was closed to the public My father told me of the beautiful falls that were here and he had visited back in the 1920's and 30's but was never able to show them to me. Now it was time from my 50th HS reunion and on Saturday, we had a picnic at a classmates farm that was just down the road from the entrance to the State Forest. After the picnic, I drove into the State Forest and stopped at the Visitors Center which is also at the High Falls Trailhead. Did not have as much time to explore as I wanted but enough beauty to make me want to come back later this summer. The Visitors Centers was well done and the short hike to High Falls was well worth it. I will be back.

There were four sites to check out: Hooker Falls, Triple Falls, High Falls, and the Covered Bridge. There are no admission or parking fees. The hike to each waterfall wasn't bad: 0.3 to 0.6 miles. Some parts were hilly. The hike to High Falls for example was strenuously up hill, but that was the only "strenuous" part worth mentioning. Hooker Falls: A calm place to swim. Lots of families with their little kiddies were here swimming. Adults can stand comfortably at some parts with the water level being at waist high. The waterfall was super miniature compared to the others so the water was calm on the other side of the stream bed. Triple Falls: A nice picture opportunity. The hike here will lead you to take lots of steps that spirals downwards on the wooden stairs. You will end up between the two waterfalls so it's sad you can't really take in the view of all three. High Falls: This was a sight to behold. Though the significant other and I didn't go to the base of the waterfall, the view once you make it up those hilly hills will be amazing. It seemed like it was another hike to get to the bottom so we opted for the picturesque overview instead. Plus, it seems like from below, all you will mostly see is a sheet of white if you're down there taking pictures. We saw plenty of people swimming and wavering in the water. I guess plan to bring your bathing suits just in case folks! Some spots were super breezy and cool near the water so it's a good picnic opportunity. At one entrance to the forest (there seems to be two), folks were gearing up to bike. I guess this is another option for ya. There's a visitor center that's on the way to High Falls and restrooms (porta potty) near Triple Falls.

This is a beautiful area with many acres of pristine forest. There are a wide variety of trails to choose from, with vistas of mountains, rivers and waterfalls. This is 'the land of waterfalls' if you need any more encouragement.

My husband and I visited Triple Falls - the full hike to see all three falls. The paths and stairs were nicely maintained. There are several lookout rocks or points for your to see the falls and take some great pictures. Each area is fairly being and can fit a few groups. That ends up being pretty convenience since it's a very popular hike. It's also no overly strenuous. The stairs are possibly the worst part, and they're not that bad. Definitely worth a visit.

I didn't really believe my boyfriend when he kept extolling the beauty of the east cost (he's a SC native), but boy was I blown away by DuPont State Forest. It was so gorgeous yet the trails were well-maintained and walkable for the general population... and best of all, no admission or parking fees. Everything was free! We ended up hiking two trails that day for about 3-4 hours: (1) Triple Falls, High Falls, and Covered Bridge, and (2) Stone Mountain. Triple Falls / High Falls / Covered Bridge: There is a convenient and large parking lot called Hooker Falls parking lot that will take you to this trail. The paths are very well-maintained and appear to be multi-use since we saw horse tie-up posts as we were walking. If you start at the Hooker Falls parking lot, the start of the path is probably the most strenuous due to the initial uphill. The trail itself is also very dog-friendly based on the number of puppers I saw. After the initial ascent (if you could call it that), the grades are not super steep and relatively flat for the most part. You don't need hiking shoes, but do prepare to have decent traction in case the mud or stones become slippery after rain. We went a day after some showers, so some signs had closed off flooded areas but I was pleasantly surprised by the alternate route provided to continue on with the trail. Stone Mountain: This trail had a much smaller parking lot, and it was definitely more challenging than our first hike. Stone Mountain has a lot more steeper and narrower trails, but it's not impossible. I'm certainly not an expert hiker, but I did feel winded from the constant ascent. But rest assured! You'll be rewarded with a beautiful summit view overlooking the forest. The summit is also a smooth, flat rock surface, so it's a nice spot to put your stuff down to rest. Overall, I think DuPont State Forest has slowly warmed my heart to the east coast. I hope to check out more trails soon on my next visit back to the Carolinas!

Speaks for itself. Beautiful place. Definitely one of the best things to do free in Hendersonville

This is truly the place to visit whether you're the experienced or beginner hiker or cyclist! There is something for everyone to do!! Brevard is known for their waterfalls, and this is where you'll see most of them! It's a very well mapped area so you won't get lost! It's also very well maintained! Get on their website before visiting as it will let you know if the trails are open for hiking/biking based on recent inclement weather! Lots of fun for the entire family!!

Beautiful walk. Tearing the waterfalls is the reason to come here. I am from the land of the flat aka Florida so some of the slopes wore me out and the steps down and then of course back up gave me a work out- the steps are at triple falls- but you gotta do it. The park is free- the ask for donations- which we gladly gave. Trails are all well marked.

Be forewarned, it can be somewhat of a bitch to find without GPS... thankfully I had my iPhone since we didn't have a car GPS... and luckily my cellular signal held up all the way until a mile or two before the main parking areas. The drive thru the Forest is lovely; especially before hitting the areas that are secluded from the residential areas... at some points the road is quite narrow with steep drop offs (barely a roadway shoulder to pull over). While on these wildly narrow passages of road winding thru forest and little homes there are these rickety, wooden bridges crossing over shallow ravines to the homes. I know with certainty that I have no interest in transversing one of these dilapidated spans. Once into the heart of the DuPont Forest, there are plenty of outdoor adventures to be had. There are a few designated parking areas at key trails used for hiking, mountain biking and equestrian and plenty of picnic areas and beautiful views of the "Little River" with more than enough nature to keep any shutterbug or nature lover busy for hours. But the highlight of the DuPont State Forest are the major waterfalls that are accessible from easy to moderate hiking trails. The most widely known of these waterfalls are High Falls, Triple Falls and Hooker Falls.... sound familiar? They were used is movies like 1992's "Last of the Mohicans" and more recently "Hunger Games".

It's not that you can't see the forest for the trees, but with DuPont State Forest, you sometimes can't see the forest for the falls. Home to Triple falls, High falls, Hooker falls, as well as a covered bridge where you can basically stand at the top of a waterfall and just look over the edge of it, this is yet another win for the outdoor scene of NC. Rather than ramble on and on, i'll just post my links up to high falls here: https://www.yelp.com/biz/high-falls-trailhead-dupont-state-forest-cedar-mountain?ylist=off-the-grid-hikes-sky-valley and Triple falls here: https://www.yelp.com/biz/triple-falls-trailhead-dupont-state-forest-cedar-mountain?ylist=off-the-grid-hikes-sky-valley Worth mentioning but parking here, each time i've came, has been slammed. One time we found a spot (with one car)....the last time all of us did not (about a group of 6 cars), so you may have to park on the side of the street nearby. Got it? Great! Now quit reading and go!!

We biked from the visitors center to three magnificent waterfalls: High falls, Grassy Creek falls, and Triple falls. Triple has a hillside staircase that goes down to the center of the falls, giving an incredible view, and the ability to walk out on the rocks... Well worth the climb back up! Although we visited mid-week, the park was fairly crowded.. Parking was overflowing by the time we left around 2:30. Hooker falls, accessible by a short hike from a parking lot before the visit it's center, was very busy with swimmers and sunbathers. It's a unique spot... You can walk in under the falls and slide down to the swimming hole. It's probably impossibly crowded on weekends during the summer...even on a Wednesday afternoon it was impossible to get a picture without someone else in it! Depending on the trail, there is a lot of elevation change. The first rule of mountain biking around here is "what goes down must go back up!" So, enjoy those coasts downhill... You'll pay for them on the way back! We passed by several people with rented bikes (we haul ours around when we travel)... So there must be a concession. This park is very dog friendly! Lots of families had their dogs with them. Here's a tip... After a morning at DuPont, travel to Hendersonville ... A nice nearby town with lots of shops and a variety of food options.

Free access to lots of well-maintained trails, large parking lots and lax shoulder parking rules, a nice visitor center, restrooms, what's not to love? After driving many a switchback along the Eastern Continental Divide, you'll find yourself in a concentrated forest with lots of trails to explore. Many of the trails feature waterfalls. Parking at the visitor center area, you'll see maps, restrooms (water fountain closed for repair when we were there...), picnic tables, and more. The visitor center has a scale diorama of the area with the trails and water falls marked. There are several trails near the visitor center, for direct access to Triple Falls or High Falls or the covered bridge, but they all intersect and allow you to meander. The trails are very well-maintained, gravel lined, free from most ruts and roots. The Triple Falls Trail is wide enough for a vehicle. Just above the stairs to Triple Falls, there is a picnic area (watch out for snakes!) with a pavilion with tables and 2 port-a-potties. Definitely worth the short drive from Greenville, Asheville, or even Atlanta.

NC has won me over with the lovely waterfalls and views. I must come back and explore more. I think I need a fully dedicated only. It is roughly 2.5 - 3 hours away from Atlanta. Next time, I want to come even earlier. Not only for parking but also to get the day even sooner. There is restrooms and a vistor's center but it's best to eat before coming because you will spend a good 2-3 hours, or even longer there. Or pack your food! So much to do! I was only able to explore two waterfalls due to lack of time. Parking lot gets filled quickly but you could park beside the road and there are other parking areas too. The views from the waterfalls from far is just so amazing that we had to go even closer. High Falls is so beautiful from afar that I had to find out how to get to the bottom. There isn't really a "trail" but I saw that people created one to get there. Many people didn't expect to find the beauty and just decided to go barefoot to get up and personal. The cool and mist of the waterfalls are so serene. You can stay there for many minutes. Triple Falls is more flat for you to get access too. However, you have to take wooden stairs down to view. The waterfall isn't as remarkable but remember, it is not called Triple Falls for nothing. So apparently, I wasn't able to see the full Triple Falls effect and only mainly saw the the main fall which was lead by the stairs. Thanks to Richard R for pointing out about man-made trails that you can access but didn't explore like I did with High Falls. Didn't get a chance to go see Hooker Falls, which I learn is smaller and easier to access. You will see many people swimming, just dipping in the water. It is so beautiful. Oh yeah, the signs to the trails can be confusing, felt like was going in circles. Definitely will come back. 92/2017

Grear place to hike and bike. Parking can be an issue so come early if it's the weekend.... Before 10:00.

Absolutely beautiful and well kept park my sister an I visited here for the first time this summer. It's a fairly easy hike. There are some pretty steep hill though.

We highly recommend walking the three waterfalls (High Fall, Triple Falls, Hooker Falls) and it's very easy to do. Excellent rangers in the visitor center, very helpful. Nice bathroom facilities. Walking trails very well maintained. We'll be back for more hiking!!!

I love DuPont State Forest and there are so many beautiful trails and waterfalls to enjoy. We parked at the main trail head near the visitor's center. From there, the trail takes you to the waterfalls (Triple, Hooker and High Water). It was a warm day so we saw people swimming in the falls. I think my favorite was Triple falls because it was a more tranquil place to relax. It would be a great spot for a picnic and definitely a great spot for a photo. I learned that Hunger Games was filmed in this forest and it is also a great spot for outdoor bike enthusiasts. Next time I want to check out Bridal Veil falls. It was easy to drive here from Asheville. You have to pass by Sierra Nevada on the way so a great stopping point before or after as well for some beer and food.

We came on rainy icy day in February so we ended up only seeing a total of 4 other people in DuPont State Forest because there was a "wintry mix" coming down all day. It ended up being quite beautiful and peaceful, though we had to really careful because every rock on the trail was iced over and ridiculously slippery, and we couldn't walk further down onto the base of the falls because it was covered in black ice. We parked in the closer parking lot to the road---there is another one that is next to the entrance of the trail. We hiked to Hooker Falls first, then continued onto Triple Falls, and finally High Falls. High Falls was my husband's favorite because there's a great viewpoint when you arrive at the waterfall. The best part about Dupont's trails is that you only have to hike 1 hour (2 hours roundtrip to get back to your car) to see THREE beautiful waterfalls! In Yosemite we had to hike 5 hours to see some of the waterfalls closer up, so it was a luxury to only hike 1 hour to see these falls. I'd love to come back again in the summer, but we enjoyed our winter hike here!

What a beautiful forest! You like to hike? You like waterfalls? There are 4 waterfalls within a 3 mile trail. And a covered bridge. From the Hooker Falls parking lot its .4 miles to the right for Hooker falls that the trail leads to the base next to the river. Back to where you came, over the bridge to Triple Falls, High Falls, past that is the covered bridge and then to Grassy Falls.The hikes are easy to some moderate elevations. After viewing Triple Falls from main path you can descend down a flight of stairs that leads right to the river and directly in front of the falls. We went the day after 3 days of heavy rain so the falls and river was really roaring. This is only a tiny portion of the forest. Could not possibly explore the park in a week let alone a day.

The Land of Waterfalls does not disappoint! Gorgeous and stunning waterfalls located all throughout the trails. The hiking trails are pretty clearly marked once you find the parking areas. The trails are easy enough for young children. You'll see plenty of families exploring the area. Watch out for horse poop on some of the wider trails. You'll be able to step out onto the large flat rocks right by the falls to get up close to take some sweet pictures. Just be careful to not get too close! There's signs posted here and there that people have slipped and died in the rushing water. High Falls and Triple Falls are a must! Triple Falls is pretty flat and easy to maneuver around. High Falls is more of a challenge to explore around. My Nike sneakers didn't have very good traction, so I ended up busting my butt trying to hop from one rock to another. Definitely jealous of the people with real hiking boots... Bring picnic stuff and snacks on the trail. There's picnic tables hidden around the park. There's also port-a-potties located by Triple Falls and the parking areas. Bring hand sanitizer!! Also, if you haven't heard....The Hunger Games was filmed here! My friends and I just wandered around freely, but I know there are tours you can take to see the exact spots of the movie scenes.

Great picnic area overlooking Triple Falls. There are hiking trails here from easy to strenuous, and each comes with wonderful waterfalls as a reward! My wife and I have been coming to the DuPont State Forest for our last summer "hurrah" for the last five years now, before heading back to teach... and on any other year I'd have given them five stars without hesitation! This year, however... since several scenes in The Hunger Games were filmed here, it has become a Mecca for tours from DC and Baltimore and Atlanta... and the huge number of visitors have brought much more trash than was accommodated for, with the result of lots of litter strewn throughout this extraordinary piece of North Carolina. Also, for the number of visitors, there are an inadequate number of privvies... and the few that are there tend to be stuffed with garbage. Wow. My fervent hope is that as the mania surrounding The Hunger Games subsides, so will the number of tours. Eventually, the beauty of this area will re-emerge.

Beautiful beautiful beautiful!!! We done the 3 falls loop trail and it was the bomb !! The only down fall was there was several people out there as well !! But still a very pretty hike !

We are relatively new to hiking so when we go out we aren't looking to join up with the App Trail or to cover major territory. And with a one-year old daughter we are mostly looking for a peaceful, inviting, safe, and enriching environment to hike. We found all of those at DuPont State Forest. Because we chose to say the weekend in Brevard, NC it really was not a long drive at all to the main parking of DuPont. Once there we immediately saw a large map showing us our trail options, trailheads, etc. We chose the Triple Falls / High Falls loop and enjoyed about a 3-mile or so round trip. The elevation was reasonable (read: we weren't panting by the end) and the path itself was pretty well trodden and identifiable. The falls once there were actually quite beautiful; impressive even. The sounds were so peaceful and the canopy of trees made the hike a comfortable one even in mid-September! I would say the entire walk (with my backpack child carrier) about 110 minutes or so start to finish! I look forward to visiting this area again someday when we come back to this area.

From Atlanta, Dupont state forest is about two and half to three hours in car. We were also planning to see Looking glass and sliding rock nearby in the Pisgah National Forest. Since we were trying to squeeze all this in a day, we started at 6.30 am in two cars, only stopping for quick breakfast to-go. Also to cut down on restaurant times once we reach, we packed simple finger food & cold sandwiches and a cooler full of water and sodas. We took Exit 1 of highway 85 in SC and entered highway 11. You will eventually drive uphill with several bends and once you are closer there are enough signs for visitor center. At visitor center you collect trail maps. Parking can be limited on busy days, so it's better to get there early. There is a trail from visitor center, following which you will first come to the High falls. You can go the bottom of the falls but not close enough to be under the falling water(it's quite dangerous). One has to walk and climb small rocks to get to the bottom of the falls. Then we went down hill to get to the triple falls. With flat rocks, wooden stairs to access the falls and nice view, it's actually nice place to hang out as family. Here again, they don't recommend dipping or diving. Then went downhill again to get to hooker falls. By now we have started feeling a little tired. This one looks like tiny Niagara because of the width. It forms a big swimming pool sized pool where we saw lot of kids swimming. We didn't get to water though. The hike back was uphill and the canopy(if you can call that) was not dense, so we ended up feeling the heat. Overall it took us about 2 hours and we were so hungry.There are some picnic benches but those were not covered. So we just ended up eating under the hot sun. But overall we enjoyed the hiking.