This Hike in North Carolina Leads to a Hidden, Emerald-green Swimming Hole — Here's How to Find It
"If I keep hiking beyond the emerald pools I can reach Mouse Creek Falls, which provides another gorgeous view and several side trails to explore if I want to make a day of the outing." - Stacey Leasca
Stacey Leasca
Stacey Leasca is an award-winning journalist and co-founder of Be a Travel Writer, an online course for the next generation of travel journalists. Her photos, videos, and words have appeared in print or online for Travel + Leisure, Time, Los Angeles Times, Glamour, and many more. You'll usually find her in an airport. If you do see her there, please say hello.
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Wonderful hike. Fall weather so no swimming at the Midnight Hole for us but really lovely with the leaves starting the change. We didn't hike all the way to Mouse Creek Falls because we stopped too long at the swimming hole. Looking forward to going farther next time! Some trail closures were posted so took a current photo at the trail head.
Google maps will steer you wrong and take you across the bridge and up. Head to the ranger station to get your orientation better. No cell service :)
SCOTT THE FAYNE K.
Google
Great trail, very nice walkway beside creek lots of places to walk close and see very nice cascades . Water was very clear. You can’t miss the falls you will see a hitching post for horses to the left , and falls are right there. Make sure you walk up about another .15 of a mile until you get to bridge. Nice cascade there to look at with good spot to take pictures. Very nice waterfall for not a bad hike.
Curtis C.
Google
Great hike. 2 miles to the falls, several places along the trail to stop by and take pics of the water. Midnight hole is 1.5 miles into the hike, awesome place to cool off and touch the water. It's a gradual incline the whole way up which makes it easier leaving! My 7 year old had no problem with this hike.
Jason H.
Google
Mouse Creek Falls is a historic place and a beautiful waterfall along the Big Creek Trail. The trail is an old railroad grade so it's not a super difficult trail to hike. Along the trail is multiple waterfalls and places to swim and picnic. You can possibly see animals in Big Creek watershed such as elk or black bears. I love hiking to Mouse Creek Falls with my daughter and wife.
C J
Google
Beautiful hike to the falls. We went in the rain and it was a mess with the horse poop on the trails, so be very careful of that. Very popular so there will be lots of other hikers. About 4 miles round trip. All uphill there and downhill back so that makes it easier. Not a difficult hike though.
Halley Chen (.
Google
The big creek is not easy to access since you need to drive on unpaved road for about 20 mins. The first mile of the trail is in the forest and away from the creek so you don’t want to waste time. Once you get closer to the creek, you have many access point of the creek and they all look pretty. The mouse creek fall was at a stunning view. The fall was pretty and the cascades of the big creek is right at the bottom. Definitely a good hike and a view worth the hike
Robert R.
Google
This is part of Big Creek Trail. I put Mouse Creek Falls into my GPS and it took us to the wrong place. If you find yourself on a one lane gravel road going up a mountain, you’re going the wrong way. If you find yourself on a gravel road that drives through a small creek before a steep incline, you’re going the wrong way. Just put Big Creek into the GPS and you will find it. Absolutely gorgeous hike with lots of places to go off the trail and get into the water. The swimming hole was packed so these other options were great. Easy hike but definitely wear good shoes and bring water shoes to get into the water. We made a whole day of it but it could be done in two hours if you didn’t stop to enjoy the surroundings. The falls themselves were amazing. My 10 year old was able to cross the stream and stand in the waterfall itself. (He is not athletic) I could not recommend this hike more.
Amber D
Google
Beautiful hike. Our 3yr old hiked the entire trip in and piggy backed the way out, took us about 2hr 45min including relaxing at the falls for a bit. Nice wide easy path to hike on, but drive in is 2way traffic, but only wide enough for one. Wish path traveled closer to water the entire time to enjoy it more, but still a beautiful way to spend time.