Wintergreen Falls is a 20-foot waterfall in DuPont State Recreational Forest. This waterfall tends to be less crowded as it is separated from the other more popular falls in the forest. It is 1.7 miles from the parking lot to the waterfall. This waterfall gets its name for the teaberry ground cover along Grassy Creek.
Park at the gravel Guion Farm access area. The trail starts at the back end of parking lot near the forest. Follow the trail toward the meadow and away from the farm. Turn right on Tarkiln Branch Road.
The trails alternate between dirt, sand, and gravel paths. Horses and mountain bikers share the trail like much of Dupont Forest, so pay attention and keep an ear out.
Half a mile into the hike, the trail splits. The paths create a loop, and both will get you there – the left is shorter, but the right is easier and stays on the flatter road. I took the trail to the right.
When the area to your right opens to a field, there is a sign directing you to veer left to continue on Tarkiln Branch Road. Then, turn left on the Wintergreen Falls Trail.
Wintergreen Falls Trail
You will start to hear the falls after the Sandy Trail sign, which veers to the right. Stay on the Wintergreen Falls Trail.
When you reach Grassy Creek, head uphill / upstream on the trail to your left to view the falls. There are a couple of spur trails open to the water for views of the creek or the waterfall in the distance.
To face Wintergreen Falls, you will need to climb up some boulders at the end of the trail. On the day I visited, there was a clear blue sky which really made the water rushing over the ledge pop.
From the base, the creek makes a 90-degree turn and heads downstream, cascading over another sets of boulders.
Alternate Route
Sandy Trail offers an alternate route. To get back to the Guion Farm access area, head back on the Wintergreen Falls Trail. When you get to Sandy Trail, turn left. Follow this trail until it hits Tarkiln Branch Road. Turn right on Tarkiln Branch. You’ll turn left for the meadow trail back to the parking lot.
The route is 2 miles back or 3.7 miles total.
There is another waterfall on the same creek – aptly named Grassy Creek Falls. There are 6 named waterfalls in DuPont State Forest (7 if you count Merry Falls). How many have you visited? Comment below!
What a beautiful sunny day you had! We will definitely have to check this one out. Thank you for sharing.
Happy Trails 2022