Lower Douglas Falls Best Hike

• Difficulty: Easy
• Total Length: 1 mi
• Trail Tread Condition: Some Obstacles
• Climb: Climbs Gently
• Lowest Elevation: 4200 ft
• Highest Elevation: 4440 ft
• Total Elevation Gain: 240 ft
• Trails/Roads Used: Douglas Falls
• Hike Configuration: Out-and-back
• Starting point: Parking area at the end of FR 74
• How to Get There: From Asheville, take US 19-23 north (4-lane) for about 11 miles. Take Exit 15 for Jupiter/Barnardsville (NC 197). Turn right toward Barnardsville and follow NC 197 (2-lane highway) about 6 miles to the town of Barnardsville. Turn right onto Dillingham Road just past the fire station. It's about 6 miles to the National Forest - stay on Dillingham Road. You will cross a one-lane bridge and the road will turn into gravel FR 74. Follow this gravel road for 8.7 miles until it ends in the parking lot. The trail starts at far right end of the lot as you drive in.

Start by taking the Douglas Falls trail at the back of the parking lot, which may be signed (if it has not been vandalized, like all signs in the National Forest). The trail will lead gently downhill all the way to the falls. This very popular trail has varied in condition greatly over the last few years. It was in decent shape, when improvements were made at some of the locations that were in need of repair making it an excellent trail. However, recently several large trees have fallen during fierce storms, meaning you'll have to climb over, under or around them. Still, the trail is in pretty good shape and the trees will likely be cleared soon after they fall. It's an easy hike, but watch your footing as some sections are fairly rocky.

The forest you are traveling through at the beginning of the trail was logged, but has recovered nicely. Large oaks, maples, beeches and hickories make up this mixed hardwood forest. This area is prone to wind; hike here in the winter on a windy day and the trees will be swaying and howling as the air rushes through. It's a good idea to beware of loose or broken timber on days such as this (called "widow makers" for obvious reasons!). Most times, however, the hike is pleasant with the faint sound of a stream rushing far in the valley below. About 2/3 of the way to the falls, the trail gets a bit wetter as seeps cross the trail from the hillside above. Well-placed stepping stones help one get through with dry feet. You will encounter a sudden, noticeable change in the forest, as it becomes dominated by tall, dark hemlocks close to the falls. You are entering a virgin forest - one that has never been logged - and some of the trees here are very large.

You'll see the falls shortly after entering the hemlocks. Unfortunately, the hemlocks are now lightly infected with the Hemlock Wooly Adelgid, but this infestation is likely to get a lot worse...soon. So I can't guarantee that the Hemlocks will be there much longer. You can also get more information on the Hemlock Wooly Adelgid, and how to fight it. Update July 10 2006: Great news! The hemlocks at Douglas Falls have been infested for a couple of seasons now, but this spring and summer they are looking healthy and putting on plenty of new growth around and above the falls. Some of them on the drive up and around Walker Falls are not looking as healthy, however.

Enjoy exploring around the base of the falls. You can even safely and easily walk behind the falls if you don't mind getting dripped on a bit. But be careful on the slippery rocks which lie all around the base! There is no safe way to get to the top of the falls. The trail continues up towards the left side of the falls and eventually ends up at the Craggy Gardens Visitor Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The trail crosses one other waterfall, Cascades Falls, on the way. However, it is a long, strenuous hike and the trail is sometimes difficult to follow.

Return to your vehicle on the same path.