Home > Trailheads > Pisgah National Forest > Grandfather Ranger District > Wilson Creek Area > Trail Information

This is the list of trails in the Wilson Creek area. Please note that currently all trails without full descriptions are listed as "Most Difficult", "Climbs Steeply", and "Very Rough", but this does not necessarily reflect the actual condition of the trail. These will be updated as soon as possible!

Big Lost Cove Cliffs

USGS Map Number: 271

Greentown

Blaze Color: Blue
USGS Map Number: 268

Harper Creek

Blaze Color: Orange
USGS Map Number: 260

Hunt-Fish Falls

Blaze Color: White / Yellow
USGS Map Number: 263
Map on TopoZone
This trail is a co-signed as a portion of the Mountains to Sea Trail and takes you to a popular, yet small, waterfall on Lost Cove Creek. From the well signed trailhead on FR 464, the trail descends moderately through a few switchbacks and then follows a tributary branch downstream partway and crosses it once on a stone bridge. The rich forest has a thick understory of mountain laurel and rhododendron from top to bottom. The trail swings away from the branch as it drops out of its hanging valley, then makes another switchback before coming out right at the top of Hunt-Fish Falls, a two-part, 6-8 foot drop. The trail continues to the middle and bottom of the falls, where a huge pool makes a popular swimming hole in the summer. The tributary branch drops over its own 50' falls and spills across the trail into the middle of Hunt-Fish. Lost Cove Creek is scenic at this point with a humongous boulder sitting at the top of the falls. The Mountains to Sea Trail continues past the falls downstream.

Little Lost Cove Cliffs

USGS Map Number: 271A
Each end connects to FR 464; the lower end connects at the same spot as North Harper Creek Falls trail so you could extend the hike to the falls. Most of the trail follows old road or skid road beds; it is moderately rocky in plces but generally in good shape. The highest point on the trail has a few side paths over to the cliffs; a spectacular view of the Blue Ridge Mountains with Grandfather Mountain at the top unfolds. Highly recommended especially in fall.

Lost Cove

USGS Map Number: 262

Lower Steels Creek

USGS Map Number: 238

North Harper Creek

Blaze Color: Blue
USGS Map Number: 266

North Harper Creek Access

USGS Map Number: 226A

North Harper Creek Falls

Blaze Color: Yellow
USGS Map Number: 239
75% of this trail is in great shape; travels along an old roadbed through beautiful woods with few obstacles. However, the last little bit falls completely apart and is extremely steep, rough, and eroded. That's a shame, because this is a beautiful falls and the area doesn't need abuse by hikers trying to negotiate a poorly built trail. Some Forest Service maintenance or re-routing would be highly appreciated - until then, don't let this deter you from hiking to the falls but do be prepared!

Persimmon Ridge

Blaze Color: Yellow
USGS Map Number: 270

Phillips Branch

USGS Map Number: 278

Raider Camp

Blaze Color: Yellow
USGS Map Number: 277

Thorps Creek

USGS Map Number: 279

Upper Creek Falls

USGS Map Number: 268B

Upper Steels Creek

USGS Map Number: 237

Wilson Creek

USGS Map Number: 258

Wilson Ridge

USGS Map Number: 269

Yellow Buck

Blaze Color: Red
USGS Map Number: 265