Hanging Rock State Park in Stokes County, North Carolina, is home to five waterfalls. All five are less than a mile from a parking lot, but short hikes don’t necessarily equal easy hikes. Some involve steep descents and lots of stairs.
Upper Cascades
Distance: 0.2 mile one way; difficulty: easy
The Upper Cascades offers some serious bang for your buck. A gently sloping trail leads to a wooden deck overlooking the 25-foot waterfall. There is also an optional staircase that leads down to a shallow pool at the base of the falls. Watch your footing because the lower steps and rocks can be slippery.
The Upper Cascades trailhead is located at the west end of the visitor center parking lot.
Tory’s Falls
Distance: 0.2 mile one way; difficulty: easy
Dropping roughly 240 feet, Tory’s Falls is the park’s tallest waterfall. While the hike is rated easy, there are some steps that lead to a viewing area. Steep terrain keeps visitors from getting up close and personal with Tory’s Falls.
The trail also passes Tory’s Den, a 20-foot-deep natural cave said to have sheltered supporters of British rule during the Revolutionary War. The cave is interesting, but the views of the waterfall are underwhelming compared to the others in the park. My recommendation is to do this hike first.
The trailhead is on the east end of the Tory’s Den parking lot on Charlie Young Road.
Lower Cascades
Distance: 0.4 mile one way; difficulty: moderate
The short hike to Lower Cascades starts with a relatively flat walk through the woods, then quickly turns into a steep descent down wooden and stone steps. The view of the 35-foot falls is worth the effort it takes to climb back up. This is probably the most striking of the park’s falls.
The trailhead is at the Lower Cascades parking lot off Hall Road.
Hidden Falls and Window Falls
Distance: 0.4 mile one way to Hidden Falls; 0.6 mile one way to Window Falls; difficulty: strenuous
The Indian Creek Trail, which follows part of the Mountains-to-Sea State Trail, leads from the east end of the visitor center parking lot to two waterfalls. The route has gravel surfaces, is super steep and includes a bunch of stairs. The hike back is the real workout, so make sure you can commit to the climb back to the parking lot before you head out.
The peaceful Hidden Falls is 0.4 mile down the trail. Some wonderfully flat rocks near the falls make for fantastic picnic spots.
Another 0.2 mile down the trail is Window Falls, where a railed overlook offers a view of the natural “window” in a quartzite wall.
Hanging Rock State Park is one of my favorite spots in North Carolina. I spent my birthday hiking to all five waterfalls in the pouring rain.
We nearly canceled the trip, but I’m glad we didn’t. The trails were mostly deserted, and the soggy hikes were worth the show the falls gave us in the rain.
Before visiting, check the park’s current conditions and download its trail map. Stay on designated trails and overlooks, follow posted restrictions and never climb on or around waterfalls.
Find your waterfall hike
Compare distances, difficulty and where to park.
Distances are one way unless labeled round trip. Short hikes can include steep stairs. Stay on designated trails and overlooks, and never climb on or around waterfalls. Official park page (opens in a new tab)Park trail map (opens in a new tab)
Your home base for the great outdoors. Sign up for the Camp & Country newsletter