waterfall on Thorps Creek
waterfall
on Thorps Creek
5-16-08 This waterfall is only about 15' high, but worth a stop if you are in the area. The hike is kid friendly and is either a short 1/4 mile or about 1/2 mile if the gate is closed. It's at the Mortimer Recreation Area which includes a small campground with first come sites - no reservations. It does have 2 hot showers and is a nice place to stay for exploring the Wilson Creek area. The campground has a camp host, but is seasonal. I don't have dates, but it's mid spring through late fall.
Directions: From Morganton traveling north on NC 181, reset your mileage where the 4 lanes goes to 2 lane and drive 10.3 miles to Brown Mountain Beach Road and the church on the right. Turn right and continue for 5 miles to a bridge across Wilson Creek. Turn left on SR 1328 just after the bridge and drive for about 8.5 miles along Wilson Creek to where the road ends at the gravel NC90. Turn left and drive a short distance to the Mortimer Recreation Area on the right. This area includes a small Pisgah NF campground and is seasonal - closed late fall through early spring. If the gate is open, you can drive all the way back to the second camping area and park without being in the way of campers. If the gate is closed, you'll have to park and walk through the campground which adds maybe an easy 1/4 mile to the hike. The trail begins at the far end. It's a short distance to the waterfall, but the trail continues up Thorps Creek and connects to other trails in the area.