When you travel to Asheville, consider a stay at Pinecrest Bed & Breakfast which is ideally located to all the best adventures in Western North Carolina. Head south toward Pisgah National Forest for some of the rugged mountain scenery and waterfalls including this hike, complete with 4 waterfalls in one stop! This is a good year-round hike off US Route 276 which is open even when the Blue Ridge Parkway is closed for the winter season.
DIY or Hike Bike Kayak Asheville
We had the good fortune to spend the day with Dave, a certified Blue Ridge Naturalist and owner of Hike Bike Kayak Asheville. He took us to Log Hollow & Discovery Falls Trailhead along with 3 other waterfalls, all in one stop and hike. Although you can DIY, we thoroughly enjoyed all the views and scenery while Dave did the driving and pointed out landmarks along the way during the one hour drive. And we didn’t have to worry about getting lost in the woods!
The Route
There are 3 ways to reach Discovery Falls
- via I-40 West to US 276-South
- via I-26 East to 280 then US 276-North
- Blue Ridge Parkway South to I-276 South
Either direction, look for Headwaters Road (Forest Service Road 475B.) Travel 1.6 miles on the gravel road then park at the pull-off which is on a hairpin turn. Please do not block the gate. You can walk past the closed gate and follow the old road (Forest Road 5043.)
Two of the waterfalls on this hike can be seen from the road: Log Hollow and Logging Road Falls which are an easy ½ mile hike, out and back. With a little scrambling, hikers can see Upper Log Hollow Falls and Discovery Falls. We hiked at Thanksgiving so all the leaves were off. We recommend hiking boots for these two as the paths can be steep, slippery, and there are some streams to cross. It’s worth it!
Plan Your Stay
Make a plan to explore the Land of the Waterfalls and be sure to book direct at Pinecrest Bed & Breakfast. We’ll awake refreshed to the smell of our homemade breakfast and be ready to explore the beautiful outdoors surrounding Asheville, North Carolina.