High Shoals Falls

This is a beautiful hike to the High Shoals Fall at South Mountain State Park. There are multiple hiking trails throughout the park. We choose to hike this one for the waterfall. When you enter the park, you drive all the way to the last parking lot. There are restrooms and beautiful picnic areas. Take the time to look at the map at the entrance of the park. It will advise you which paths to take and the intensity of the hike. The hike once you get closer to the falls and after is pretty intense, but thankfully, they do have resting benches along the way. The trail follows the river, and there are plenty of places to stop and rest as well as cool of if need be. The water is cold but feels great on a nice, warm day. The trails are well marked with color markers, and there are signs everywhere along the trail that help direct you. Bring plenty of water with you to stay hydrated. This was a beautiful hike, and we definitely recommend this hike. Beautiful views and trails.

A great place to be in touch with nature. A couple of great hiking trails. However, no RF signal in this area. You won't be able to communicate using cellphones. So, bring walkie talkies radios. We didn't know that before arriving in different vehicles and had some trouble, luckily we found each other along one of the trails. Come before 10AM to get a free parking space in the parking lot. It's less than a mile from the visitor center.

One of the most beautiful hikes I’ve ever been on! The fall foliage was noticeable. We went with our one year old & five year old, it was definitely a struggle with all the rocks & how steep the stairs were. They could very easily fall and get hurt. So I wouldn’t recommend doing the high shoals hike with kids 5 & under unless they are familiar with it. There are definitely other hiking trails perfect for the whole family! It is a very popular hiking spot, which is understandable because it is absolutely beautiful. They also have tons of picnic tables and small grills. I recommend packing a nice little snack/lunch. There are bathrooms right as you walk onto the trail, they are very well kept! This is our go to spot for our family.

TLDR; Lovely hike with many other hiking options in the same parking area. I would suggest you wear sturdy shoes as the trail can be wet and slick with tons of rocks to trip over. In the summer I’m betting it’s stunning and there are spots you can get into the river! This hike was just what I needed. We started a new tradition of hiking on Christmas Eve and this was the one we landed on! The topography varies and the parking, trails and stairs are all very well maintained. This review is specifically for High Shoals Falls Hike but there are many other trail options that we will be back to try. There are some horse riding trails here as well. The Hemlock Nature path goes right against the river and has many little educational spots to stop and read! While it was a bit strenuous on the stair portion I saw many families heading up and our dog did just fine. Definitely recommend. I love that it is also only 1 hour from Charlotte! Move over Crowders!

Great experience! Beautiful views. Refreshing water! I wouldn't normally go for a hike when it's >95 and humid but, it was my birthday🎂 and the perfect way to experience it. Experience: approximately 2.5 miles round trip. The trail is wide in the beginning which is nice. It becomes more narrow and rocky as you progress but that's the beauty of nature! The last leg towards the falls was a little tough because of the climb. The heat and humidity was more likely the real challenge. It's probably much easier on a cooler, less humid day. It was a wknd so lots of families were there. I thought I was going on a solo excursion 😆 but I'm also glad I wasn't alone (for the sake of safety). Overall it was a great hike! I enjoyed the water in areas that could be accessed safely. I mention this for a reason 👇. Warning: There was a life threatening incident that occurred with another family who ignored posted signs. *Sadly a child was injured. Signs say no swimming. Truly, it's unsafe and it takes a long time to get help! Think about that before making a decision to go into the falls! The water looks fun but those rocks under the water are very slippery! If you can't resist, do yourself a favor and bring pool shoes with rubber soles 👟. Lastly, it is not the place to bring alcohol for obvious reasons. Recommended: Nonetheless, bring along cold water. Perhaps being along some "all natural" bug repellent 🌱 for minimal disruption to the ecosystem. Be Responsible/ Respectful: If you bring trash 🗑️ in, how about you take it out with you. Why entice bears? That creates a safety issue for all visitors! Plus it's unappealing. Beer cans and dirty diapers! Free access doesn't mean free housekeeping 🙄.