Grogan Creek Falls is a unique and absolutely gorgeous waterfall, located in the Ranger District of Pisgah National Forest near Brevard, NC. Grogran Creek Falls is accessible via a 5.5 mile roundtrip hike, that has four different waterfalls on it.
Grogan Creek Falls Details |
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Location: Pisgah National Forest, Ranger District near Brevard NC |
Roundtrip Distance: 5.5 miles |
Difficulty: Moderate |
Handicap Accessible: No |
Dog Friendly: Yes |
Features: Waterfalls, bridges, forest, creeks, and meadows |
Directions: From The Blue Ridge Parkway, take Highway 27 towards Brevard. After passing Looking Glass Falls, watch for FR475 on the right, and turn right onto FR475 (sharp turn). Watch for signs for the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education, and turn left into the center. Park in front of the Education Center. |
Recommended Gear: Standard Day Hiking Gear |
Grogan Creek Falls NC
Grogan Creek Falls, in the Ranger District of Pisgah National Forest is one of four waterfalls that can be access via the Cat Gap Loop trailhead, which begins at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education. Grogan Creek Falls is the 4th of these four falls, and is a 5.5 mile roundtrip hike.
Grogan Creek Falls is really unique due to the way the water falls down it. The water cascades down in a number of vertical lines separated by spaces with little to no water. You can see what mean in the header photo. This waterfall looks very unique, and is just beautiful and well worth the hike.
The Cat Gap Trail and Butter Gap Trail to Grogan Creek Falls
While hiking to Cat Gap Trail, be sure to visit the first two falls along this trail, Cedar Rock Falls and Upper Cedar Rock Falls. Follow the directions to these waterfalls via the links, then return here to pick up the trail and continue on up to Grogan Creek Falls.
From Upper Cedar Rock Falls, exit the campsite and return to Cat Gap Trail, and go to the left (on up the trail from where you started).
Not long after, you'll reach the intersection of Cat Gap Trail and Butter Ridge Trail (blue blaze). Cat Gap will head across a bridge and to the left. Butter Ridge Trail will veer to the right, and into a grassy meadow. Take Butter Ridge Trail, which will take you up to Grogan Creek Falls.
At this intersection, and below the bridge for Cat Gap Trail, is an unnamed waterfall, that while not gorgeous, is rather pretty.
Follow Butter Gap Trail along the sandy Grogan Creek. You'll fairly quickly walk through a grassy meadow, containing a primitive campsite, and then travel right along side the creek.
The forest will then darken, and you'll be traveling through a thick Rhododendron forest, and then begin a gradual climb up, with the creek far down to your left.
You'll hear a couple of falls as you hike the trail, but these falls are not easily accessible due to the steep drop, and the dense Rhododendron. You'll hear and see Grogan Creek to your left, and a trail going to the top, and bottom. The rocks at the top are very slick, and we do not recommend going to the top.
Grogan Creek Falls
You'll need to scurry down a the hill to get to the bottom of the falls, but it's not bad at all, and there is a clear and easy to follow trail.
Grogan Creek falls is simply gorgeous. Water cascades about 20' over a gradual rock base, that is covered in moss. The water forms vertical lines as it flows over the rock and moss, and down onto even small cascades below. The flow isn't super heavy, and makes great sounds as it flows in the pool at it's base.
Return to the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education parking areas the same way you came.
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