Accessibility – Difficult

Height – 15′

Distance – 1.0 miles (out and back)

Beauty – 6

Photo rating – 6

Solitude – 8

GPS Info: LAT 35.25872 LONG -82.3.9353

Last Updated – 09-15-2018

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Pinhook Falls is a 15 foot high waterfall on Pinhook Creek accessed from Charleys Creek Road. The hike is only half a mile in each direction but most of it involves creek-walking so it rates as difficult. There is a lot of downfall in the creek to negotiate so it is going to be time consuming after you get to the creek.

To get to the trailhead from NC215 make a left onto Charleys Creek Road. This is 13.5 miles from the intersection with US64 and 3.2 miles South of where NC215 meets the Blue Ridge Parkway. Follow Charleys Creek Road 1.7 miles to a pullout on the left side of the road. There is a trail into the woods at this point which I didn’t explore but I think heads down to Tanasee Creek close to the convergence with Pinhook Creek. From the parking area, walk up Charleys Creek Road toward NC215 and keep an eye out on the left side of the road where an overgrown logging road veers to the right. It was overgrown at the outset but easily followed as it makes its way to an intersection with the creek.

At the point you’re about 0.35 of a mile from the falls and the creek is going to be the way forward. Following the creek upstream will have you going over and around a lot of downfall and at times you will find some scramble paths to navigate around some of the more overgrown sections. The land on river right is private property and signage on the left side indicates the property line is the mid-line of the creek. There are some open areas along the bank that make the going easier but even so it isn’t an easy hike and certainly not for everyone.

The waterfall is photogenic and on my visit the cloud cover provided awesome lighting and there were enough colored leaves on the dark rock to make the falls look really nice. At only 16 feet a lot of people might not think this waterfall is worth a lengthy creek walk is worth it.