Accessibility – Moderate
Height – 25′
Distance – 4.2 miles (out and back)
Beauty – 6
Photo rating – 5
Solitude – 7
GPS Info: LAT 35.35999 LONG -82.83918
Last Updated – 12-23-2024
Home Alphabetical Listing Numerical Listing Location Listing NC276N
Where to park: The parking is at the Shining Creek Trailhead on NC276. The parking area is located at easiest place to park is at 35.36581, -82.81791 and can hold quite a few cars.
The hike: The hike is going to follow the Shining Creek Trail, which leaves from the end of the parking area just past the kiosk. The hike will follow the Shining Creek Trail all the way to the waterfall. At 0.8 of a mile it will pass the junction with the Old Butt Trail. Approximately Two miles from the trailhead, the trail will reach the creek. The waterfall is a short distance up the creek from the trail crossing, but you can see it from the Shining Creek Trail. Getting up to the waterfall requires some scrambling, but nothing too crazy. When you get back to the Shining Creek Trail, if you hike another 0.3 upstream, you will come to Shining Trail Falls. There isn’t much else to see over this way as far as waterfalls, but if you’re looking for a hike less than five miles with some kind of payoff, this isn’t so bad if your out this way.
