Harper Creek Falls and South Harper Creek Falls - Pisgah National Forest, NC

Описание: Tackled the Harper Creek Trail/Raider Camp Trail lollipop hike in the Harper Creek Wilderness Study Area on a hazy Sunday to see Harper Creek Falls and South Harper Creek Falls. The wilderness study area is part of the large Wilson Creek watershed in the Grandfather Ranger District of Pisgah National Forest. Beginning at the Harper Creek Trailhead on SR 1328 the trail passes beside a long stretch of excellent campsites in a wide floodplain beside Harper Creek.

A long side trail leads to Harper Creek Falls. First I scrambled down the bank and used the old climbing rope to get to the base of the falls, which is an awesome swimming hole but not the best view. The main side trail ends at a viewpoint of the upper drops. Then I climbed down the steep rock face beside the middle pool using the comically thick boat rope. This is not for the faint of heart. Next the trail closely follows Harper Creek with many great views. Once the Harper Creek Trail branches from the Mountains-to-Sea Trail it takes on a true wilderness feel, with lots of undergrowth and many confusing creek crossings. In total there were 14 creek crossings on this hike, 12 of them wet, ankle to knee-deep.

I spied a relatively easy scramble down to the base of South Harper Creek Falls, heading upstream mostly dry close to the base. The trail to the top of the waterfall was heavily eroded with almost impassable blowdowns. A side trail takes you to the middle of the waterfall on flat bedrock, which is awesome but looks scary in pictures. Above South Harper Creek Falls is another 25-foot waterfall with many small drops which I didn't show here because the waterfall is on private property. Then the trail swings around high to a cliff overlooking South Harper Creek Falls. The rest of the Raider Camp Trail is easy but boring compared to earlier, overall a great water-feature loop. Combine this with Gragg Prong/Lost Cove and that's a perfect weekend of waterfalls.

Hike was 10.9 miles in 6 hours and 35 minutes.

Hike location
https://goo.gl/maps/182WmyUKL8Aa3Xaj7

Hike report
http://www.hikingupward.com/PNF/Harpe...