Comments on: Harper Creek Falls, Wilson Creek Wild and Scenic River, Pisgah National Forest

By: Chris Berrier

Chris Berrier — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 21:49:00 +0000

In reply to Jason Duffy. Thank you for sharing the photos of South Harper Creek Falls Jason. That is a very high waterfall. I plan to take an afternoon trip up there soon and hiking a shorter trail to photograph this one. Not too sure about crossing Harper Creek 10 times in the winter. I did make it to Bard Falls in the late fall, that was a nice one as well.

By: Jason Duffy

Jason Duffy — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 00:57:00 +0000

In reply to Chris Berrier.

Hey chris, hope you get back there someday (problem free) to get pics. Here are my own of South Harper Creek Falls:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.207185799412157.49811.100003622157692&type=1&l=ae615fe81f

Been enjoying your blog posts too. Like Jeff here, I’ve got a bunch of your recent trips bookmarked for myself. Both you guys are a great source of info.

By: Jeff Clark, Meanderthals

Jeff Clark, Meanderthals — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 19:08:00 +0000

In reply to Chris Berrier. Hi Chris. Thanks for the comments. All I can figure is that granite must not be as slick in the summer when it's dryer. On the October day that I was there it was quite wet. Most likely all those people there for a summer swim are 40 years younger than me too. :)

By: Chris Berrier

Chris Berrier — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 16:36:00 +0000

Nice, unique shot of Harper Creek Falls. I almost did not recognize it.

By: Chris Berrier

Chris Berrier — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 16:35:00 +0000

Hey Jeff, sorry to hear about your scare at Harper Creek Falls. It is a dangerous place to get down to, but in the summer there will as many as 40 people down there at a time. Some of my first pictures from there show it packed. Jason Duffy linked my everytrail hike that i did back in 2011 there. I had quite an experience myself there, suffering my one and only run-in with heat exhaustion. It scared me somewhat, plus i never got my photos of South Harper Creek Falls.

By: Jeff Clark, Meanderthals

Jeff Clark, Meanderthals — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 02:09:00 +0000

In reply to Jason Duffy. Hey Jason. Thanks for the tips about the additional trail to the lower pool. I will definitely look for that way of easier access the next time I'm there.

By: Jason Duffy

Jason Duffy — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 01:40:00 +0000

Hey Jeff. Let me first say that your website is awesome … I’ve read many of your writeups and bookmarked quite a few western NC hikes that I wanna do. I too had a very similar experience as you on my first hike to Harper Creek Falls back in July … stayed right at the fork and blew right past it, eventually ending up at Bard Falls on the North Harper Creek Trail. My intention was to do the Harper Creek Trail & Raider Camp Trail loop, hitting South Harper Creek Falls in the process, but like you mentioned, the orange blazes are VERY sparse and trail forks not well marked at all. I backtracked and spent a great bit of time swimming in the pools of Harper Creek Falls. I was probably one of 10 doing the same on a Sunday in July. I did manage to do the loop successfully just last month, VERY challenging but VERY worthwhile. The Wilson Creek area really is awesome, I will definitely be back to hit more trails there.

One thing I will add, I was at Harper Creek Falls back in the blazing heat of July and I was gonna be damned if I didn’t take a dip in those nice pools. I took one look at that rope descent down to the bottom of the first fall and thought “Hmm, let’s see if there is a way to scramble up to there from a little further downstream.” Sure enough, there was a trail and not so steep and long scramble down an embankment (no rope needed) to some campsites just a ways downstream from the rope and I managed to rock scramble up the creek to the bottom of the 2nd pool. Easy entry to the 2nd pool, small 10 foot rope climb up to the 1st pool. Obviously water height and temp might make this impossible for some at other times of the year, but just wanted to let you know there was a way to access at least the lower pool to swim/dunk feet without rappelling that very long, very thick rope or creek wading.

I do sort of wish I had given the rope a try, but since my rock-scramble was a success i decided not to.

Anyone wanting to read more about the loop of Harper Creek Falls and South Harper Creek Falls should go here, I’ve added feedback in comments to the original write-up:

http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=1215054

Again, great blog and write-up of this great hike and falls!