Rock Creek Falls
A creekside hike through the Unaka Mountain Wilderness with repeated stream crossings, ending at a tall waterfall in a rocky amphitheater below Unaka Mountain.
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- Length
- 3 mi
- Elevation gain
- 893 ft
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Route
- out-and-back
Trail conditions
No recent condition reports. Hiked it lately?
Report current conditions →Elevation
2.0 mi · 1,076 ft of climbing · high 3,365 ft · low 2,289 ft
Find the trailhead
Parking
Rock Creek Recreation Area near Erwin; a seasonal day-use parking fee may apply at the developed area. The trail is unblazed with many creek crossings, so expect wet feet.
Directions to parkingWeather at the trailhead
64°FClear now
Sunrise 6:11 AM · Sunset 8:48 PM
- TodayOvercast83° / 60°F1% precip
- ThuThunderstorm78° / 65°F68% precip
- FriDrizzle75° / 62°F65% precip
Forecast from Open-Meteo. Mountain conditions change fast; check again before you go.
Starting from Rock Creek Recreation Area, the unblazed trail follows Rock Creek upstream into the Congressionally designated Unaka Mountain Wilderness, crossing the water repeatedly as it climbs through hemlock and rhododendron. The reward is a secluded, multi-tiered waterfall in a boulder-strewn cove. The route is hiking-only with a group-size cap.