High Country Hikes – Hunt Fish Falls
Hunt Fish Falls
Ready, Set, Swim!
It’s that time of year again where it’s high-tourist season in the high country, meaning that most easy to access trails along the Blue Ridge Parkway are packed. If you love all that the BRP trails have to offer, but you’re looking to explore somewhere a little less crowded with your dogs, then Hunt Fish Falls is definitely the place to go!
Hunt Fish Falls is slightly off the beaten path, but close enough that it’s accessible from Blowing Rock, Boone, and Banner Elk. It’s technically part of the Mountains to Sea Trail, and is located along Lost Cove Creek in the Wilson Creek Area.
Regardless of which direction you come from, you have to take a dirt road to get there. That’s just part of the charm! I have gone via two different routes from Blowing Rock – via the BRP to State Road 1518, and via Globe Road from downtown Blowing Rock to State Road 90 to 1518. Although the latter route is shorter, mileage-wise, it’s not any shorter time-wise because you spend more time on windy backroads. With that being said, these roads aren’t for your average sedan. I highly recommend having an SUV with all- or 4WD, particularly if there’s recently been inclement weather.
When you arrive at the trailhead, it’s very unceremonious and there isn’t much parking, so be advised that you might have to parallel park in the dirt on busy weekend days. There’s also no National Park Service signs telling you exactly where you are and what your elevation is, and you most likely won’t have cell phone reception, either, but who wants to be on your phone when there’s hiking to be had?
The trail down to the falls is just under a mile one-way. Be advised that you descend downward to get to the falls, so save some energy to coming back up. According to HikeWNC:
“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 swimming hole at the bottom of the falls is really what makes this trail fun and particularly dog-friendly. My dogs love to splash around in the water (although they aren’t great swimmers), and every time that we’ve gone there have been other dogs playing in the water as well. There is a sandy area at the bottom which is a great landing spot for dogs (and humans) who prefer not to go in too deep, as well as dry rock to put your gear. Even in the warmest days of summer, the water stays pretty cold, but most dogs don’t seem to mind that!
As always, we try to be mindful of others also taking advantage of the Hunt Fish Falls swimming hole. Even though I love my dogs, and pretty much every dog I meet, I know that not everyone feels the same way about them. Thankfully, the swimming hole area is large enough to accommodate dogs, families with kids, and everyone in between even on weekends when it’s a bit more crowded.
There’s a saying that there’s no WIFI in the forest, but that you’ll certainly find a better connection. Hunt Fish Falls certainly embodies this quotation.
