Lake Toxaway, North Carolina

Top Spots in and near Lake Toxaway

Brevard, North Carolina
Hike the Toxaway River Trail

5.0

1.25 mi

This easy 1.25 mile hike is located within the Lake Toxaway community. The trail itself follows a small creek as it winds through the valley. Be warned - there are numerous stream crossings. Most of the crossings are fairly easy at normal water levels, but can be difficult if the water is high. S...
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Lake Toxaway, North Carolina
Rainbow Falls and Turtleback Falls in Gorges SP

4.5

3.91 mi / 778 ft gain

Rainbow Falls is one of the most scenic waterfalls in North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains. The Horsepasture River swells in the rainy season, dumping a cascade of water 150 feet. The plume of mist at the bottom creates a distinct rainbow effect, giving the falls its name. Hike to Rainbow Falls ...
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Lake Toxaway, North Carolina
Hike to Raven Rock Falls

0.5 mi

If you want to see a great waterfall without hiking all day, this is the perfect trail for you. Getting there - The trailhead is about 2 miles from the intersection of Cold Mountain and Panther Ridge Road (exact coordinates: 35.1594, -82.9801). There is a small grassy pull out where you can park...
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Lake Toxaway, North Carolina
Hike to Schoolhouse Falls and Little Green

5.0

3 mi

Trail signs in Panthertown Valley are limited. Be sure to bring a map! Starting at the Cold Mountain parking lot, hike to Schoolhouse Falls. This is a nice waterfall with a pool at the bottom. In the summer, you are bound to run into other fellow hikers here. From Schoolhouse Falls, you have the...
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Lake Toxaway, North Carolina
Hike to Warden, Jawbone, and Riding Ford Falls

4.5 mi

Warden, Jawbone, and Riding Ford Falls are three waterfalls located along the headwaters of the Tuckasegee River in Panthertown Valley. Not far from the Cold Mountain trailhead, these falls are quite popular in the summer. On a weekend, you will often find people playing in the pools below the fa...
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Sapphire, North Carolina
John's Jump Falls and DEW Falls

4.0

0.59 mi / 39 ft gain

John's Jump Falls and DEW Falls is an out-and-back trail that takes you by a waterfall located near Sapphire, North Carolina.
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Glenville, North Carolina
Hike to Frolictown Falls

1.5 mi / 350 ft gain

This is an awesome hike to do if you're short on time or have hours to kill. Because it is so easy to access, it doesn't take very long to get down to it and can be accessed by two separate trails. Both trails are well maintained, however, while there are some blazes, it is not heavily marked. Th...
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Glenville, North Carolina
Hike to Granny Burrell Falls

2.4 mi / 440 ft gain

Panthertown Valley has a unique system of trails, with each trail having a specific number. Some of the trails listed at the information hut in the parking lot are accessed by taking one or two other trails to get to the start of the trail you are seeking. That is the case when hiking to Granny B...
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Glenville, North Carolina
Hike to Wilderness Falls

1.4 mi / 300 ft gain

Wilderness Falls offers a beautiful hike with a simple yet captivating falls. All of the maintained trails in Pantertown Valley are marked by a number system (there is an information hut in the parking lot with information about other local trails, distance of different trails, and emergency cont...
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Glenville, North Carolina
Hike to Blackrock Overlook

3 mi / 700 ft gain

This is probably one of my favorite hikes I've done in Panthertown Valley. Its also one of the easier views to access. You start from the Salt Rock Gap Parking lot, taking the Blackrock Trail (447) up Blackrock Mountain. This trail is located about 100 yards to the left if you are standing lookin...
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Sunset, South Carolina
Kayak to Laurel Fork Falls

4.0

This stunning waterfall tumbles down 80 feet before spilling into Lake Jocassee between a slot of shear rock cliffs. However, the catch is not many people see this beautiful location unless you have a boat or are willing to hike a streneous 8-mile hike one-way along the Foothills Trail.But I am s...
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Tuckasegee, North Carolina
Paradise Falls

4.3

0.74 mi / 167 ft gain

To the north of Panthertown lies a chain of dammed lakes that are some of the most peaceful waters in Western North Carolina. These make up the headwaters of the East Fork of the Tuckasegee River. The gorges that run between the top lakes are wild, scenic, and adventurous to even the most experie...
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Sunset, South Carolina
Virginia Hawkins Falls (Double Falls)

4.0

2.6 mi / 456 ft gain

A moderate to advanced 2.6 mile hike has many stairs and a lot of ascents and descents along the way. The hike may not be the easiest but the payoff is worth it. The trail is easily marked so no need to worry about getting lost.
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Cashiers, North Carolina
Hike to Chimney Top

3.3

1.7 mi / 1000 ft gain

Upon entering High Hampton Inn, follow the entrance road past the registration building, cart shed and parking lot. Take a right down a gravel road that follows alongside Hampton Lake. This gravel road continues for half a mile, even winding through part of the golf course and crossing over the c...
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Cashiers, North Carolina
Explore Whitewater Falls

4.0

0.5 mi / 100 ft gain

Whitewater Falls is the highest waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains with the upper falls alone dropping over 400 feet. The walk to the falls is very short and friendly for all ages and abilities - the path is paved so the falls are wheelchair accessible. The falls are beautiful in all seasons b...
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Cashiers, North Carolina
Hike to Silver Run Falls

0.25 mi / 100 ft gain

The hike to this waterfall is very short and well worth it. The waterfall is about 40 feet tall and has a large volume of water. This makes for a great place to swim. The bottom of the pool is about 15 feet deep and offers cool mountain water. To get there it is just outside of Cashiers, North C...
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