Upper Creek Falls — Attraction in Newland

Upper Creek Falls is a beautiful location with multiple cascades and a swimming hole complete with a rope swing for diving! It's located in the North Carolina mountains in the Pisgah National Forest. Trave along NC Highway 181 near the small community of Jonas Ridge, about 13.5 miles north of the town of Morganton and about 5.5 miles south of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Once in the parking area, there are two options to start your hike on the loop trail. Take the Upper Falls trail first to a series of cascades which drop about 80 ft. along the rocky slope. The hike is 4/10-mile one-way with a downhill section near the water. After you descend a small staircase to the water's edge, you have three choices: turn left to reach the swimming hole; turn right for a view from the top of the main waterfall; or cross the creek to continue on the loop trail and get a better look at the main waterfall.

This is local to where we live - one county over from us in Burke county. So, we've been here many times. Great hiking and scenery! Well worth the time and effort if you like hiking...

Upper Creek Falls is a beautiful setting with multiple cascades and a swimming hole complete with a rope swing for diving! It's located in the North Carolina mountains in Pisgah National Forest along NC Highway 181 (near the small community of Jonas Ridge, about 13.5 miles north of Morganton) and about 5.5 miles south of the Blue Ridge Parkway. At the parking area, there are two options to start your hike on the loop trail. Take the Upper Falls trail first to a series of cascades dropping about 80 ft. along the rocky slope. The hike is 4/10-mile one-way with a downhill section near the water. After you descend a small staircase to the water's edge, you have three choices: turn left to reach the swimming hole. Depending on the flow of the creek, it will be a wet crossing! There are several spots to rock hop - but if the water is high, you cannot avoid getting your feet in the water. Of course, DO NOT attempt to cross the creek if the water is running too high. And wet rocks can be very slick rocks. If you don't want to cross, simply reverse your hike...

Visited on 8/26/17 with my wife and enjoyed the hike. Completed the 1.6 mile loop trail beginning with the trail to the Upper falls. Trail began level but with roots every step of the way for the first quarter mile. Trail then began continually descending thru easy but rocky switchbacks to arrive at the top of the falls. To continue the loop cross the stream and pickup the second half of the loop which in places steeply descends to lower portions of the falls. Due to the many sections it is not possible to view or photograph the entire falls but each section is photo worthy in its own right. After rock hopping the creek again you begin the ascension for the last 3 quarters of a mile back to the parking lot. Along this last section you will pass a 30 foot high boulder that is very picture worthy. Please note that there have been many shortcuts to the switchbacks that have been made that are contributing to the trail erosion so please resist the urge to use these and just take it...