Blowing Rock, NC

Crab Orchard Falls

These falls are closer to Valle Crucis, NC but are only about 20 minutes or so from the other falls in this post, so I put them together since you could easily do them the same day.

This trail is a short 1 mile roundtrip and is rated as moderate.  It is up hill almost the whole way - until you get to the falls and then you have to hike down a bit.  It's a lot of fun to climb up the rocks and the view of the upper portion is just as good if not better than the lower.  

A note about parking - You will park behind an old church and ministry.  After parking, follow the gravel path behind the buildings and there is a sign for the falls (and a port-a-potty).

Hebron Falls

I have to confess this one disappointed me a little and I wish my kids had been with me because they would have LOVED to climb on the rocks!  It really was a neat place - you just can't see most of the falls from where the trails takes you.  We spoke to some people on the way back and they said if the water is low enough, you can hike up the bank and see more of the falls or find a path through the rhododendrons on the way back.  We also did not park at the trailhead I had planned on (thanks Google).  There are several ways in, so make sure you look up the trail you want to take before heading out.

We ended up hiking about 4.5 miles and thought it was only going to be about 3.  It was definitely a more strenuous moderate hike.  We hiked in on the Mountains to Sea Trail, which connected to the Old John's Road trail.  There are lots of spurs and other trails so watch your signs and trail markers.  The trail branches off at the bridge and if you're not careful, you'll miss it.  

There is another smaller waterfall on the way in which is a pretty area, so don't miss that one!