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Looking to hike the Log Hollow Falls Trail in North Carolina?

One of my favorite waterfall hikes in North Carolina was the Log Hollow Falls hike. But, in what seemed to be classic North Carolina trail marking, we ended up following the wrong trail for like, a mile before turning around and trying the other option.

Our experience on the Log Hollow Falls Trail

I didn’t really know what to expect from this hike but I really loved it, once we got onto the right trail, at least.

We made the drive out to the trailhead where we were presented with two options: a gated-off forest road and a small trail going up into the woods.

We waffled a bit and decided to go up the small trail into the woods. I knew it wasn’t too far to the falls but there was nothing indicating a waterfall nearby on this trail. We pushed on for a bit on this trail, coming to another fork, picking another random trail.

This whole trail felt really steep, which I think was part of it, but I was also (am also, not was, who am I kidding) in great shape which didn’t help.

After about a mile, maybe less, who knows, it felt like a mile, we sat down for some water and trail finding where we decided to turn around and try the forest road.

So, down we went, back to the trailhead and to the forest road. What I read about the trail before going mentioned going over a bridge or creek or something and we just weren’t finding that on the first trail, but after a few minutes on the forest road, what do you know, we were on the right track.

About 0.25 miles into the trail, you’ll come to that little bridge that isn’t on the other trail and the first of three waterfalls here: Discovery Falls.

There is a small trail on the right just before the bridge that will take you about halfway up the falls.

This little side trail is pretty steep, a little muddy, and fairly rocky/rooty. This is the biggest waterfall on the Log Hollow Falls trail, like most water and just generally beefiest waterfall of the three. It’s 50-feet high, which is pretty impressive though it isn’t the tallest.

We hung out here for a bit before heading back down to the trails namesake: Log Hollow Falls. This one is about five minutes down the trail from Discovery Falls and a little smaller (more narrow) and around 30-feet high.

I really loved this one and we had it to ourselves, which always makes it better. There is another little bridge but you can go down by the water and pretty close to the falls if you’re comfortable on the somewhat slippery rocks or comfortable crossing the creek.

I didn’t go from the left side to the right over the creek but I was just hanging out down by the water for a bit. I really liked this one a lot and am very glad we found it (not that it’s hard to find.)

Apparently to the left of Log Hollow Falls is a little trail (if you can call it that) that will take you to Upper Log Hollow Falls, which is just up the creek. We didn’t go to this one, but it looks pretty cool and brings the tally to four waterfalls on the trail!

Finally, we headed up to find the third waterfall, an unnamed one just along the side of the logging road. It’s about ten minutes further from Log Hollow Falls and will also be on the right of the trail.

Since we were there in the fall, I think it was easier to see this one with a lack of leaves on the trees, though there were still enough to have color and make it super pretty.

This one (we’ll call it Final Falls to make it easy) is a whopping 75-feet high (roughly) but a lot more narrow than the other two.

I still really liked it and glad we decided to go up to this one, too. I also got one of my favorite waterfall pictures here (the one with the flowers and the falls between them).

Once we got on the right trail, I really enjoyed this hike. The weather was perfect, it wasn’t busy, and it was easy, which is always great! I’m so glad I found this hike and would definitely recommend it if you’re visiting Brevard or Asheville.

Where is Log Hollow Falls?

Log Hollow Falls is about 30 minutes from Brevard and an hour from Asheville in Pisgah National Forest.

It’s off of Highway 276 near Looking Glass Falls. It is down a dirt road, but any car should be fine on it. It’s not a super rough dirt road.

From Brevard, which it’s closest to and where I would recommend staying, head out to Highway 276. Follow that for about 10.3 miles and turn left onto Headwaters Road (this is the dirt road).

The trailhead will be about 1.6 miles down Headwaters Road on your right. There are some small parking areas available along the road but it is pretty limited. We saw one or two cars there.

Once you’re parked, there is a gated-off forest road and a small trail next to that. The forest road is the trail to Log Hollow Falls, not the small trail.

You can hike that if you want, we accidentally did, but about a mile in it didn’t go to much and it’s much steeper than the correct trail.

How long is the Log Hollow Falls hike?

The Log Hollow Falls hike is 2.5 to 3 miles round-trip on an old logging road, depending on how far you go.

We walked more than this because we started out on the wrong trail, but the actual trail went by pretty fast.

You can also keep going further down the forest road if you want, but I’m not sure whats down there. This is a good hike to do on the same day as Cove Creek Falls, Daniel Ridge Falls, Moore Cove Falls, or Looking Glass Falls.

How long do you need to see Log Hollow Falls?

I would say 1-2 hours to see all three. Depending on where you’re coming from, you’ll have to add 1-2 hours to get there and back (round-trip drive time, 30 minutes to one hour each way).

Is the Log Hollow Falls hike hard?

Mostly no. The little spur up to the first waterfall was fairly steep and a little muddy but the main trail isn’t hard.

It has about 347 feet of elevation gain but it’s pretty gradual so it doesn’t feel super difficult. Most of it seemed like it was to the last unnamed waterfall.

The trail is just a forest road so it’s easy to follow and doesn’t have any steep narrow edges. It’s also not a road that is really used (I don’t think) or if it is, it’s not used a lot.

What to bring on the Log Hollow Falls hike

Hiking poles – These will be helpful on longer hikes that are on the steeper side.  They’ll be good if you have bad knees for when you’re going downhill and will give you something to lean on going up the hills.

Water bottle – It’ll be hot and you’ll need to stay hydrated.  Even if it’s not hot you need to stay hydrated.  A Hydro Flask will keep your water ice cold all day long.

Sunscreen – If you plan on being outside, you’ll want sunscreen.  I like the Hawaiian Tropic Sheer Touch a lot AND it’s reef safe! If you’re sensitive to fragrance though, it’s not a good choice. I also like the same one but specifically for your face.

Hat – You’ll want some kind of hat to keep the sun out of your eyes, or a visor.  A baseball hat should be fine but I like my giant sun hat, too.

Sunglasses – This is a must no matter where you are.

Light Jacket – Because you just never know.  Weather can change quickly depending on where you are, time of day, and season.  I usually use my rain jacket for this.

Headlamp – I tend to carry my headlamp around all the time when we’re hiking, just in case. 

Log Hollow Falls opening hours

The Log Hollow Falls trail is open all the time!

Log Hollow Falls entrance fee

There is no entrance fee for the Log Hollow Falls trail.

How tall is Log Hollow Falls?

• Log Hollow Falls – 30 feet
• Upper Log Hollow Falls (some scrambling required) – 20 feet
• Discovery Falls – 50 feet
• Final Falls (officially unnamed, some scrambling required) – 75 feet

Is the Log Hollow Falls hike worth it?

Yes! Not only do you see one waterfall on this hike, but THREE! It’s in kind of a weird spot down a dirt road but I think it’s overlooked for other waterfalls nearby and I loved this one a lot, once we got on the right trail.

This is a pretty easy hike with great waterfall payoff that you should definitely add to your North Carolina bucket list and check out when you’re in Brevard or Asheville!

Where to stay in Brevard

Holiday Inn Express – This is a great chain option located right on the outskirts of Brevard. They serve a typical hotel breakfast and it’s in a prime location for exploring a ton of hiking trails in the area.

Kanuga Inn & Lodging – This is a gorgeous stone lodge situated by Kanuga Lake just outside Hendersonville, a few miles east of Brevard. The best part? They’re pet-friendly and even have tennis courts and a terrace.

The Greystone Inn – It’s another modern rustic option, located just a few miles southwest of Brevard on the breathtaking Lake Toxaway. The Greystone Inn serves up a tasty breakfast, and they’ve got a restaurant and bar right on the premises, too!

Comfort Inn & Suites – If you’re looking for a no-frills, straightforward option, this is the place for you. It’s another reliable chain hotel with breakfast. It might not be fancy, but it’s comfortable, gets the job done, and you’ll love its convenient location for those nearby hikes.

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Have you done the Log Hollow Falls hike? What did you think of it? Do you want to do it?