Dupont State Forest Trail Information
This is your guide to individual trails in Dupont State Forest.
Airstrip
Other Map ID: Dupont State Forest #1
Lower end of trail is brand-new; winds slowly up the dry slope below the Airstrip on a moderate grade. The rest is the old airstrip itself with a nice view. Not recommended, though, on a hot, sunny day!
Barn
Other Map ID: Dupont State Forest #2
Travels from the horse barn near Bridal Veil Falls, past the scenic pastures, and uphill past a small creek to join with the Shelter Rock trail near the bottom of the Airstrip trail. Quickest way to get from the airstrip (and Fawn Lake parking area) to Bridal Veil Falls.
Big Rock
Other Map ID: Dupont State Forest #3
Trail is rocky and moderately rough at lower end. Middle part passes over solid granite domes, offering up some nice views of areas within Dupont State Forest and over toward Pisgah. Winds thru dry pine/oak forest near jct. with Cedar Rock trail. Highly recommended.
Bridal Veil Falls Road
Other Map ID: Dupont State Forest #6
Gravel road occasionally used by forest service vehicles.
Buck Forest Road
Other Map ID: Dupont State Forest #8
Gated, wide, maintained gravel road occasionally used by park and private vehicles (by permit) on the western end down to the Grassy Creek bridge. Rest is an unmaintained old roadbed.
Burnt Mountain
Other Map ID: Dupont State Forest #11
Southeast end is mostly on an old road bed, high above the Little River at first. Then switches back and climbs up near the nondescript summit of Burnt Mountain, on and off the old road bed. Steeper on northwest end with some rocks & roots.
Cedar Rock
Other Map ID: Dupont State Forest #16
Interesting trail passes over the granitic dome of Cedar Rock Mtn. Although the mountain is small by mountain standards, this trail provides some great views and an interesting environment. There are some rocky sections near the bottom; rest is mostly solid rock with patches of moss and low pine trees on either side of the trail.
Conservation Road
Other Map ID: Dupont State Forest #18
This is a wide, graded, maintained gravel road, which is gated but occasionally used by park vehicles, and private vehicles for visiting the waterfalls (by permit). Passes the old airstrip.
Corn Mill Shoals
Other Map ID: Dupont State Forest #19
Old roadbed; no longer maintained. Mostly hardpacked, but some places are rocky, highly eroded, or sandy. Starting from the Corn Mill Shoals parking area, the trail fords the Little River at Corn Mill Shoals. Use extreme caution if you cross here: the rock is EXTREMELY slick (seriously - wet ice grips like sandpaper compared to the slime on these rocks). Beyond the shoals, the path has been re-routed from the old roadbed onto a true trail. It winds up the ridge through a pine-oak forest before re-joining the old roadbed, and then ends at Bridal Veil Falls.
Covered Bridge
Other Map ID: Dupont State Forest #20
Connects the High Falls trail to the covered bridge on Buck Forest Road.
Fawn Lake Road
Other Map ID: Dupont State Forest #22
Gravel road occasionally used by vehicles. Scenic; loops around Fawn Lake.
Galax
Other Map ID: Dupont State Forest #26
Note: This trail was closed in 2010 "until it can be reconstructed". It appears this won't be happening; a replacement trail from Sheep Mountain up to the Triple Falls trail is in the long term plans. Until then, use the Triple Falls trail as an alternative.
Newer, short trail winds up through several switchbacks from the Hooker Falls parking area up the hill to the picnic area at Triple Falls. Named for large amounts of galax which grows on the ground in the woods here. DO NOT CUT SWITCHBACKS!
Grassy Creek Falls
Other Map ID: Dupont State Forest #27
Very short; travels down to the falls. Convoluted trail right before you get to the falls with lots of roots and rocks.
High Falls
Other Map ID: Dupont State Forest #34
Rocky old roadbed; eroded in places; wet in places. Follows Little River before turning and climbing up to High Falls overlook. Ends at Buck Forest Road as an actual gravel road.
Hooker Falls Road
Other Map ID: Dupont State Forest #38
Old roadbed follows Little River to Hooker Falls. Mostly flat; drops a bit right at the falls to reach the base.
Joanna Mountain
Other Map ID: Dupont State Forest #42
Dead-ends on the backside of Joanna Mountain. Would make a great trail if it traveled to the overlooks on the front of the mountain, but you'll have to bushwhack to get there for now.
Joanna Road
Other Map ID: Dupont State Forest #43
Upgraded gravel road occasionally used by forest service vehicles.
Lake Dense
Other Map ID: Dupont State Forest #44
Short road travels onto the dam which holds back Lake Dense. Highly recommended destination; there are picnic shelters, fishing docks, and plenty of places to hang out and enjoy the lake. Beyond the dam, leads through pine forest to tiny Lake Alford which is spring fed and crystal-clear.
Lake Imaging Road
Other Map ID: Dupont State Forest #45
Passes Lake Imaging and winds up at Grassy Creek Falls & Buck Forest Road; popular area for horseback riders.
Lake Julia Road
Other Map ID: Dupont State Forest #46
Gravel road occaionally used by forest service vehicles.
Laurel Ridge
Other Map ID: Dupont State Forest #48
Nice trail has been re-routed along much of its length. Travels sidehill below the summit of a steep ridge. Mixed hardwood forest.
Little River
Other Map ID: Dupont State Forest #51
Follows an old roadbed. Mostly smooth with some sand and rocks, and one creek crossing (Tom Creek) with a log bridge. Not much in the way of elevation change. Follows the river in places. Ends at the State Forest boundary above Bridal Veil Falls. The portion beyond the boundary to Bridal Veil Falls is on private property; this trail is mainly used to access the northeastern end of the Cedar Rock trail.
Nooks
Other Map ID: Dupont State Forest #57
A little-used trail which dead-ends in the Nooks, a spit of land formed by the Little River's meanderings.
Triple Falls
Other Map ID: Dupont State Forest #82
Travels from the Hooker Falls parking area up to Triple Falls. Near the parking area the trail is level with a few rocks and wet places; near the falls it climbs very steeply but the surface is mostly smooth.
Wintergreen Falls
Other Map ID: Dupont State Forest #91
