Carter Falls Trail Head — Attraction in North Carolina

📍Carter Falls Trail Head Pleasant Ridge Rd, Elkin, NC 28621

Hidden gem near town of Elkin, NC in beautiful Yadkin Valley. The loop is only 1 mile and is very easy even with kids. Carter Falls have two areas: the upper waterfall which is about 50 ft and the lower waterfall which is about 8ft tall. The location is perfect as it is really few minutes away from downtown Elkin, about 25 minutes from Stone Mountain State Park and about an hour away from Winston Salem NC. The area has several Vineyards nearby,  nice playground with trail that takes you under the bridge and to a small man made waterfall.

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📣Please note: ✅️ there are NO restroom facilities at the trailhead. ✅️Cost: free ✅️Difficulty: easy ✅️Dog friendly

Grassy Creek Vineyard and Winery is also a great option to start your hike as it will take you to Carter Falls as well.

There are 6 (six) trails in EVTA:

Carter Trail (0.5 miles) Chappell Spur Trail (0.2 miles) Grassy Creek Vineyard Trail (0.4 miles) Mountans to Sea Trail (2.5 miles) Powerhouse Trail (0.5 miles) Skull Camp Spur...

We took two of our grandkids and walked/hiked the Grassy Creek Trail that starts at the Grassy Creek Winery and winds through the woods for about 1.5 miles or so. This trail is very well marked, easy to navigate and geared towards children with an "enchantment forest" theme along the way with ghome and fairy type figures and such (see the photos).

Now once you get to where the cascades and falls are the difficulty does rise to a more moderate level to maneuver. But our 5 and 8 year old grandkids were able to do it with our assistance.

We walked to Carter Falls but...you can actually just drive straight to the falls and then walk maybe 1/2 a mile (I didn't measure it) or about 10 minutes or so and you're at the falls. But you'll miss all the neat stuff along the way in the enchanted forest. We chose to do the hike and were glad we did. (See photos)

Grassy Creek Trail is part of Segment 6 of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, the hiking trail that connects North Carolina from Clingman’s Dome in the Great Smokey Mountains to Jockey’s Ridge on the Outer...

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Trailhead on Pleasant Ridge Road is a parking lot holding maybe 15 cars. Lot is also the trailhead for Power House Trail (left) and Carter Falls Trail begins to the right. Combined, both trails are a one mile loop back to the lot. Very easy trail and great for families with children and seniors.

Several opportunities to get in the creek above Upper Falls. Lots of rock outcroppings. Some smaller, more gentle falls here above it. There is one optional, very steep, side trail that takes you down to the foot of the falls. Very rocky. Very slippery. Has rope to assist but the foot of upper falls is a great view and worth the descent. Easier coming up and back to the trail. Just beyond Upper Falls the trail switches over to Power House Trail and eventually back to the lot.

Nice quick hike to see falls and great for families or those wanting a quick trip for scenery without hiking...