Hidden Falls
Lake Toxaway, North Carolina
| Address: | Rainbow Falls Trail, Lake Toxaway, NC 28747, USA |
| GPS: |
35°5'20.1"N 82°57'43.7"W Maps | Directions |
| State: | North Carolina |
| Trails/Routes: | 1.0 mi |
Hike and Swim
Hidden Falls is a serene family-friendly swimming hole in Pisgah National Forest just down river from the towering Rainbow Falls. It's on the Horsepasture River "hidden" just a few steps off the main trail. Most hikers miss it. The waterfall is less than 10 feet tall, but it drops into an idyllic pool surrounded by boulders that act as a small dam and provide sunning and picnic spots.Courtesy of romanticasheville.com
This spot is also known as "Hollow Falls."
More Information
Hidden Falls, NC
Hidden Falls on the Horsepasture River is a perfect mountain swimming hole for the family, located near Rainbow Falls with a hike from Gorges State Park.
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https://ashevilletrails.com/cashiers-highlands-nc/rainbow-falls-nc-hiking-gorges-state-park/swimmingholes.org North Carolina Swimming Holes and Hot Springs rivers creek springs falls hiking ca
THE web site for beautiful, natural places for a cool dip or hot soak.
https://www.swimmingholes.org/nc.htmlBe courteous, informed, and prepared. Read trailhead guidelines, stay on the trail, and don't feed the wildlife.
Read More
- Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Travel & camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly
- Leave what you find
- Minimize campfire impacts
- Respect wildlife
- Be considerate of other visitors
Directions
From Lake Toxaway, North Carolina
- Head southeast on NC-281 S toward Toxaway Point (0.5 mi)
- Keep right to stay on NC-281 S (131 ft)
- Continue straight onto US-64 W (2.7 mi)
- Turn left onto NC-281 S (1.6 mi)
Other Swimming Holes and Hiking Trails Nearby
Rainbow Falls
Lake Toxaway, North Carolina
0.3 miles EA 150-foot spectacular cascade on the Horsepasture River can be admired from front, side, bottom, and top — one showstopper in a 2-mile series of incredible falls.
Hike, Swim 1.4 mi
Turtleback Falls
Lake Toxaway, North Carolina
0.3 miles NWTurtleback Falls' dome-shaped slide drops riders 10 feet into the Chug Hole pool, but wait for calm currents — strong flows have swept swimmers downriver over 125-foot Rainbow Falls.
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Big Creek Area
Tuckasegee, North Carolina
11.2 miles NSeveral remote swimming holes near the TN-NC border in the Big Creek Recreation Area of the Great Smoky Mountains — very secluded, and dogs are not allowed on the trail.
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Bear Creek Area
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Courthouse Falls
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Big Creek
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Midnight Hole
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Swim 3.1-4.3 mi
Farlow Gap
Canton, North Carolina
15.5 miles NEOne of Pisgah's most technical downhills — a minefield of boulders dropping 2,000 feet in 3 miles, best ridden as part of the Fish Hatchery loop.
Hike, Mountain Bike 7.1 mi
Daniel Ridge Loop
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Whaleback Swimming Hole
Asheville, North Carolina
15.7 miles NEA horseshoe of massive bedrock around a deep, green swimming hole where Cove Creek meets the Davidson River — locals' quiet answer to crowded Sliding Rock.
Swim
Cove Creek Tubs
Brevard, North Carolina
15.9 miles NEThree perfectly rounded pot holes — the Pisgah Forest's finest — stack up to 12 feet deep in sun-drenched pools that are best described as nature's own jacuzzi collection.
Swim 0.8 mi
Daniel Ridge Falls
Brevard, North Carolina
16.5 miles NEAn easy half-mile hike in Pisgah National Forest near Brevard to a 150-foot waterfall known by three names — most impressive after rain, modest in dry spells, with an optional 4-mile loop to the top.
Hike, Mountain Bike, Swim
Butter Gap / Trail #123
Brevard, North Carolina
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Hike, Mountain Bike 1.8 mi
Flat Laurel Creek
16.8 miles N
A 3.18-mile multi-use trail following Flat Laurel Creek through colorful rock formations and forest, with distant views of Sam Knob and a small waterfall — open year round.
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Graveyard Fields
Brevard, North Carolina
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Skinny Dip Falls
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Hike, Mountain Bike, Swim 0.1 mi
Looking Glass Falls
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18.0 miles NEOne of North Carolina's most popular and accessible waterfalls — the 60-foot Looking Glass Falls drops roadside along the Forest Heritage Scenic Byway in Pisgah National Forest, with easy viewing from the parking area or a short walk.
SwimNearby Campsites
Davidson River Campground
Pisgah Forest, North Carolina
18.9 miles NEA year-round campground in Pisgah National Forest just four miles from Brevard and less than an hour from Asheville, with shaded loops, hiking trails, waterfalls, and fishing spots nearby.
Camp, Hike, Swim
War Woman Dell Wildlife Management Area
Clayton, Georgia
26.3 miles SWA short 0.8-mile out-and-back hike near Clayton, Georgia through a nature trail to a waterfall — good for all skill levels and accessible year-round.
Camp, Hike, Horseback
Mt. LeConte Lodge
Sylva, North Carolina
26.9 miles NWThe highest guest lodge in the eastern United States at 6,400 feet, with spectacular Smokies views from an open glade just below the Mt. LeConte summit in Great Smoky Mountains NP.
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Cosby Campground
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48.2 miles NCamp and Swim near Cosby, Tennessee
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