Carter Falls is a lovely series of cascades which make a 50-foot waterfall in Elkin, NC. There are several ways to get to the waterfall and additional connected Elkin Valley Trails Association (EVTA) trails in the area. All the below hikes were moderately easy with natural dirt paths, roots and rocks on the trails, and some elevation gain with switchbacks.
Carter Falls and Powerhouse Trails
The easiest and quickest way to get to Carter Falls is the Carter Falls Trail. There is a gravel parking lot that can hold around 20 to 25 vehicles. From this lot, you can take the Carter Falls Trail or Powerhouse Trail which are both 1-mile roundtrip routes. Or combine both trails into a 1-mile loop.
Carter Falls Trail
This trail starts on the upper right corner of the lot by the trail information sign. They were creative making this information board, by crafting a metal person to hold the map. A word of caution – the colors on the map did not correspond to the actual trail blazes when I visited. White circle blazes mark this route.
Carter Falls flows down Big Elkin Creek. This trail brings visitors along the creek to the Upper Falls. On the path from the parking lot, we found mountain laurel in bloom.
We hiked this area the day after a huge rain, so the water was muddy and fast-flowing. Several large, flat rocks are available to carefully walk or rest on. Here is the perfect spot to view multiple cascades on the creek as it flows in and around the rocky creek bottom.
Some hikers have also made their way down the steep descent to the largest drop’s base. On this day, the water flow made this too risky for our group.
From here, you can backtrack to the lot, or continue to the Powerhouse Trail to see the Lower Falls and loop back to the other end of the lot.
Powerhouse Trail
The creek and waterfall provided hydroelectric power in the early 1900s. There are still remnants of the station base near the lower falls and hydroelectric parts along the tail.
Coming from the Carter Falls Trail, you will come across a wooden platform. To continue the trail, you will need to take the stairs up to the platform.
After a couple turns – right around a curve and left at a signpost – you will reach the future site of the “bridge of dreams” which will cross Big Elkin Creek near the Lower Falls.
Over and over we found millipedes like the one below. We joked that it was the same one following us.
There are a couple of viewpoints for the Lower Falls, including a narrow walkway which takes you directly next to the falls.
To head back to the parking lot, take the trail to the right as it climbs up a few switchbacks before leveling out. There will be a rundown shack on your left shortly after the switchbacks.
Grassy Creek Vineyard Trails
There are several trails and sites to see from a trailhead at Grassy Creek Vineyard. If you enjoy wine, you can end your hike with glass (or more 😊). There was live music the day we visited.
Grassy Creek Vineyard Trail
From the vineyard tasting room, take the trail into the woods. Grassy Creek Trail has red, reflective blazes. All trail signs from this trailhead are on painted wood signs.
The trail starts with several small signs spelling out the John Muir quote “Into the woods I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.”
We saw tulip popular trees in bloom and butterflies like a summer azure and great spangled fritillary.
When you dead-end with Grassy Creek, you can take the left Wells-Chappell Spur Trail or turn right for the rest of the trails on this route including Grassy Creek.
Wells-Chappell Spur Trail
This spur trail is a 0.2-mile trail in and out. I recommend taking this short path for the Cascade Loop trail along it. We also found a small fairy house nestled in a tree trunk!
Cascade Loop ambles closer to the creek than the main trail. There are multiple small cascades and one larger drop.
Grassy Creek to Carter Falls
Shortly after turning left at Grassy Creek, you’ll cross a large wooden bridge over the creek. There is a picnic table here if you need to rest or stop for a snack.
After the bridge, turn left for Carter Falls. The path joins a portion of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail which connects it to the Carter Falls Trail. To visit Carter Falls from the vineyard trailhead, it is 4.5 miles roundtrip.
Forest Bathing Trail/Klondike Lake Trail
After crossing the bridge over Grassy Creek, instead of turning left for Carter Falls, take the right path for Klondike Lake Trail. This trail is 0.5-miles each way.
Klondike Lake Trail has been officially designated as a Forest Bathing Trail. There is a small sign at the beginning to explain the purpose of a forest bathing trail.
To learn more about forest bathing, check out Forest Bathing (Shinrin-Yoku) – How Nature Can Improve Your Health.
The trail follows Grassy Creek upstream. This portion was especially lush with vibrant ferns covering the forest floor.
Many small single-person benches dot the trail if you want to soak in nature.
A large tree has fallen over the path, creating a low arch. As a warning to hikers, a small wooden duck is attached to both sides – a clever pun letting you know to ‘duck’ under it.
Next through the trees you can see a dam, which creates the lake. We saw some Canadian geese roaming in the water. The trail wraps around the lake until you hit a “Trail End” sign.
Retrace your path to take another trail or head back to the trailhead parking lot.
Have you hiked any of these trails? Which is your favorite? Comment below!
We haven’t been to this area of North Carolina. It looks like we will definitely need to head this way. What beautiful trails and a wine vineyard close by? What’s not to like.
We especially love the colorful signs, the ‘duck’ sign being the best! So much to see and they laid out the trails so nicely. Thanks for sharing.