Trail Guides

East Fork Falls, Gravley Falls, & Reese Place Falls | Headwaters State Forest, North Carolina

Headwaters state forest hiking trail guide North Carolina

5 months ago

Protecting the headwaters of the French Broad and Savannah River, Headwaters State Forest is one of the most dynamic and truly wild hiking destinations in Western North Carolina. This beautiful mountain wonderland featuring pristine trout streams and rare mountain bogs is also home to 25 waterfalls. Accessible through three distinct trailheads, outdoor enthusiasts can easily visit the more commonly known waterfalls of East Fork Falls, Reese (Reece) Place Falls, and Gravley Falls. Part of a 100,000 acre conservation corridor between North and South Carolina, this state forest is conveniently located 20 minutes from Brevard and 1 hour from Asheville.

headwaters state forest trail map North Carolina

Updated map of Headwaters State Forest as of 2024.

Headwaters State Forest Trail Map | NC Forest Service

Getting There

Headwaters State Forest is little known outside of the outdoor community, making it a great place to explore away from the crowds. Despite being located right across from DuPont State Forest, its management plan as a working forest by the North Carolina Forest Service will ensure that it never becomes overrun with visitors. Freshly opening in 2018, this new public lands property has a constantly changing trail system with new maps and access points being created annually. The best resources for getting around here are the maps provided by ncforestservice.gov and using a gps guided trail app like Gaia or Alltrails. Most of the trail system was built upon old logging roads so if you’re using the map provided by the forest service, the black squiggly lines on the map that look like roads are in fact trails. The forest is also an active game lands throughout the year so make sure to wear an orange blazed garment if you’re going to be hiking here during hunting season. With that in mind we will be visiting three of the best established trailheads today to see East Fork Falls, Reese (Reece) Place Falls, and Gravley Falls.

Approximate route of East Fork Falls located on East Fork Rd.

East Fork Falls

Roadside Pull Off | 0.17 Miles

East Fork Falls Access Point | Google Maps

East Fork Falls GPS Coordinates | 35.11386, -82.74810

This is easily the most visited landmark in Headwaters State Forest as East Fork Falls can almost be seen from the side of the road as you drive by. The waterfall sits on East Fork Road, which is a small backcountry road off of Pickens Highway and only 20 mins from Brevard. Its location is clearly marked on the Gaia App and Google Maps which makes it a breeze to find. If you plan on exploring Headwaters State Forest then this should be your first stop. As you near East Fork Falls heading south on East Fork Rd, keep an eye out for a gravel pull off along the highway. A diamond blaze with the forestry logo will let you know that you’re at the right spot.

Trailhead and roadside pull-off for East Fork Falls on East Fork Rd.

View of the upper falls of East Fork Falls from the side of the road.

A short 100 yard walk will take you to a rock outcropping at the base of East Fork Falls.

At a little over 12 ft tall, East Fork Falls packs a punch after a few days of rain.

As soon as you exit your vehicle there is a wide clearing in the rhododendrons where you can see the upper rapids of East Fork Falls. This is one of the main tributaries of the French Broad River, which travels all through downtown Asheville, before merging with the Pigeon River in Tennessee. Even with little rainfall, this is a reliable waterfall to see year round. A narrow trail near this point will take you 100 yards downstream to the bottom of the falls where you can get that picture perfect image of East Fork Falls. At a little over 12 feet tall, it is one of the smallest waterfalls in Headwaters State Park, but its location makes it the most picturesque. Anyone with a little extra time can walk back up to the pull-off and hike upstream along the East Fork French Broad River to see several more cascades and small tiered waterfalls that currently sit undocumented.

headwaters state forest hiking trail waterfalls Asheville North Carolina Reese place falls

Approximate route of trail to Reese Place Falls from the Turkey Mountain Access Point.

Reese (Reece) Place Falls

Reese Place Falls Trail | 2.15 Miles

Turkey Mountain Access Point Location | Google Maps

Reese Place Falls GPS Coordinates | 35.11526, -82.70926

If you start by visiting East Fork Falls, the next logical waterfall to visit should be Reese Place Falls. As little information that exists on what the correct spelling of this waterfall is, Reese Place Falls is the premier waterfall destination in Headwaters State Forest as it is a double waterfall. Sitting only 3 miles upstream from East Fork Falls on the same river, it is a short drive west on East Fork Rd to the Reese Place Falls Trailhead. Accessible through the Turkey Mountain Access Point, this is a large trailhead with enough space for a dozen vehicles and includes a kiosk with a map of the property. At 2.15 miles roundtrip, this easy to follow trail includes three stream crossing as you navigate a patchwork of decommissioned logging roads on the north slope of Turkey Mountain.

The Turkey Mountain Access Point is one of the largest and best established trailheads in Headwaters State Forest.

One of several stream crossings you'll encounter on this 2.15 mile hike.

Leaving the parking area, you start with a 0.50 mile descent behind Big Hill Cemetery where you’ll find your first stream crossing over Big Branch Creek. This stretch consists of an equally steep uphill portion totaling 250 ft in elevation gain. Making your way up from the creek the trail exits out onto an old logging road with a “T” intersection. Hang a left turn here and almost immediately take a right turn at the next intersection to stay on the correct trail. Other hikers have put up small barriers made of sticks and brush to keep visitors on the right track. Another downhill section leads to a second “T” intersection where you’ll turn left for the last 0.50 miles of this hike.

Reese place fallsheadwaters state forest hiking trail waterfalls Asheville North Carolina

The first part of Reese Place Falls you'll encounter is the secondary cascade of the Lower Falls. It is not a commonly showcased part of the falls, but in my opinion, it is the most interesting and photogenic.

These are the Lower Cascades of Reese Place Falls with a 20-ft drop. The brush is so overgrown that one can hardly see the 60 ft tall upper falls just above this point. Take note of the twin cascade on the far left of the picture.

With the upper section of Reese Place Falls out of sight, getting a shot of the double cascades makes for a more interesting and new way to view this gorgeous waterfall.

Traveling through a remote part of Headwaters State Forest, the trail parallels the East Fork French Broad River until finally crossing over the river directly below the Lower Falls of Reese Place Falls. There is no way you can miss this beauty. Reese Place Falls is really 4 or 5 different waterfalls smashed into one. The main drop which you’ll find hundreds of pictures online is of the main artery consisting of a two tier 60 foot drop. At this spot the trail goes uphill over a very narrow ridge where you can reach the very picture worthy main waterfall. The upper falls which can't be seen in the background is roughly 20 ft tall and empties into a small pool which feeds the lower falls. It is also flanked by another two tiered waterfall of the same height that empties into the same pool, but with a thinner stream. To add even more interest, that pool drains into two separate streams creating a double cascade. While most people hike here with the intent of going up top to the main falls, the focus of my trip where the Lower Cascades which get little to no recognition. Photographers will easily fall in love with all of the various photo compositions available at this spot.

Approximate route for to Gravley Falls from the Gravley Mill Shoals Access Point on Gladys Fork Rd.

Gravley Falls

Gravley Falls Trail | 1.24 Miles

Gravely Mill Shoals Access Point Location | Google Maps

(Incorrectly labeled as the White Oak Bridge Trailhead)

Gravley Falls GPS Coordinates | 35.08930, -82.75624

Our final stop in Headwaters State Forest is situated southwest of East Fork Falls on the small tributary of South Prong Glady Fork. Gravley Falls is proof that a waterfall doesn’t have to be big to be beautiful, but if you catch after a good enough rain it can certainly be both. If you’re leaving Reese Place Falls, you’ll have to double back along East Fork Road, drive 2 miles past East Fork Falls, and turn south onto Glady Fork Rd. The trailhead for Gravley Falls is located in the Gravley Mill Shoals Access Point. There is a small gravel pull-off here with a fence blocking off a forest road. This is a new access point created by the forest service, but you can use Google Maps for directions as it is listed incorrectly as the White Oak Bridge Trailhead.

This tiny 2 car pull-off is the new Gravley Mill Shoals Access Point off Gladys Fork Rd.

One of the quieter 0.62 mile hikes in Headwaters State Forest.

From the trailhead it is a quick 0.62 miles to Gravely Falls. There is one intersection at the very beginning to keep in mind where the road splits into two. Stay to the RIGHT as this path veers slightly southeast on its way to intersect South Prong Gladys Creek. After a short, yet very serene walk through the woods the sound of the falls will become more apparent as you near an overlook of the upper cascades of Gravely Falls. Continue hiking past the falls to reach a frontal view of Gravely Falls from the trail beautifully framed through the trees. To get a closer look, keep an eye out for a side path leading down to the falls basin.

As the trail nears Gladys Fork Creek a small side path spurs to the right for a view of the cascades above Gravley Falls.

The main overlook of Gravley Falls from the trail.

The slanted rocks here are EXTREMELY SLIPPERY so use caution as one could easily slip into the creek at this location. Though it is a little dangerous, this vantage point gives you an entirely different perspective of Gravely Falls. At 20-ft high, Gravely Falls gently cascades over the side of a cliff into a secluded cove surrounded by a sand bars that would make this a perfect swimming hole during the summer. At the far end of the pool, the streams drains another 20 feet over an “S” shaped waterfall into a deep valley. The entire scene is so pretty that it almost seems fake. With less flow it is possible to scoot down the side of the lower falls to get a better view of it and continue a little further down the creek to see several interesting cascades. To finish off this hike simply retrace your steps back to the trailhead for a 1.24 mile roundtrip.

A little off-trail scrambling will get you a front row seat to Gravley Falls 20 ft drop surrounded by gorgeous cove.

The cove surrounding Gravley Falls.

Gravley Falls drains down another 15 ft long "s" shaped waterfall giving this spot so many photo compositions to play with.

Up next, we’ll be headed south of the border, of North Carolina that is, to explore some of the rugged back country waterfalls in Upstate South Carolina. As part of the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area, Wildcat Branch Falls was once one of a dozen wayside parks situated along the Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway. Made up of three separate waterfalls totaling 140-ft high, visitors can easily spend an afternoon exploring the parks 1 mile trail loop. This is a popular swimming hole during the summer months so make sure to plan your visit in the early morning or late afternoon to find a parking spot. Stay tuned for this upcoming article and as always, see y’all on the trails!