638 – Fall Creek Falls (Hanging Rock)

Accessibility – Easy

Height – 16′

Distance – 0.5 miles (out and back)

Beauty – 5

Photo rating – 7

Solitude – 4

GPS Info: LAT 36.54121 LONG -79.98474

Last Updated – 01-15-2023

Last Visited – 08-15-2019

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So you want to take on The Kevin Adams 500 Waterfall challenge, and you don’t want to take 20 years to complete it, well this is the kind of thing you have to do. August 15, 2019 began at 8:00 a.m., getting me to Otter Falls at 10:35. At 11:55, I was looking at Bluff Mountain Falls. The X-Terra pulled at the view of Sharpes Halls at 12:15 p.m. Half an hout later, at 12:45 p.m., I reached Riverview Falls. It was close to 2:00 p.m. that I pulled off the parkway to look at Horse Cove Vreek Tributary Falls. With it coming up on 4:00 p.m. I reached Fall Creek Falls, where I hung out for about an hour. I had a long drive home, and I didnt want to get back in the X-Terra right away. Before leaving, I hiked the Mayo River Trail into Virgina. Three and a half hours after leaving Fall Creek Falls, I arrived home. It was 9:30 p.m, ending one of my longest 500 List days, crossing off 6 waterfalls, but hiking less than three miles.

After a long day, Fall Creek Falls (DeShazo Mill Falls) was my final stop. After hours of driving from one roadside waterfall to another, I finally got to stretch my legs again. My last hike had been at Otter Falls.

The parking area is along DeShazo Road at: 36.54084, -79.98264.

The hike leaaves from the back of the parking area on a connector trail. It comes to a T intersection with the Mayo River Trail. Make a left and follow this trail for 0.1 to an obvious path on the left that reads to the base of the falls. I really liked this one, but the fact I had to drive through Southern VA to reach it probably means I won’t be heading back this way anytime soon. If you decide you want to enjoy a longer hike, you can follow the Mayo River trail down to the Mayo River. That only adds about 0.3 of a mile each way. When you reach the river, it you follow the trail upstream about 0.2 of a mile you will be in Virginia.