Hidden Falls & Window Falls Hanging Rock State Park, NC
miles
LENGTH 1.2 MILES
DIFFICULTY 3.2 Easy
DURATION 1 hour
ELEVATION GAIN
380
feet
TRAIL TYPE
There And
Back Again
Hidden Falls & Window Falls

Journeying along the Indian Creek trail to Hidden Falls and Window Falls offers guest a quick easy hike within Hanging Rock State Park. Only an hour away from Winston-Salem and Greensboro, this is an excellent park for a quick getaway.

As you enter the park, winter views abound along the 1.7 mile entrance road to the visitor center. The massive parking lot should be an indication of how busy this park can get, so if at all possible check it out on a weekday or in the off season. Before heading out, be sure to stop by the visitor center, equipped with clean restrooms, snacks, and a complimentary trail map.

If not up for the longer Indian Creek trail, be sure to head down it for just over half a mile to be rewarded with two waterfalls along this short, easy section of trail. Most people include this as a more relaxing finale to the parks namesake, the Hanging Rock trail.

Beginning at the very end of the parking lot, the trailhead is marked with a sign including the mileage to each fall. The path descends slowly at first, passing numerous picnic tables and several picnic shelters. To the right, views of Hanging Rock can be seen through the trees.

The trail is blazed with red squares; however, you will also notice the white circles designating that this is also part of the Mountains-to-Sea trail that stretches from Clingman’s Dome in the Smokies to the North Carolina coast. At .4 miles, a short side trail to the right leads to the small Hidden Falls. Continuing on to .6 miles, the trail descends two stone staircases, both with viewing platforms for Window falls, nestled under rock ledges.

Here the Indian Creek and Mountains-to-Sea trails continue along the creek. Getting down to the falls is easy as it is entirely downhill, which of course means that hiking back to the parking lot will be completely uphill. It’s a short trek, but worth the time.

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Elevation Map Length (miles) by Elevation (feet)
Terrain Map Click to control map
Details
length1.2 miles
difficulty3.2 Easy
duration1 hour
features Dog Friendly  Waterfall 
trail typeThere And Back Again
blazeRed Square
elevation gain380 ft.
park/forestHanging Rock State Park
ranger districtHanging Rock State Park
1790 Hanging Rock Park Road
Danbury, NC 27016
336-593-8480
parking feeNone
trailhead coordinates 36.395508, -80.264955 (Degree Decimal, DegDec)
N 36°23.73, W 80°15.9 (Degree Minutes, MinDec)
N 36°23'44'', N 36°23'44'' (Degree Minutes Seconds, DMS)
Trailhead Directions
36.395508, -80.264955 (Degree Decimal, DegDec)
N 36°23.73, W 80°15.9 most GPS units use this one
N 36°23'44'', N 36°23'44'' (Degree Minutes Seconds, DMS)
Google Map It
The trailhead is at the end of the long parking lot in front of the visitor's center.
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Reviews / Comments
Average Review Rating
3 (1)
hikethesouth-6 years ago
Two Small Falls
These waterfalls are ok after a good rain, but this trail will really only appeal to families or anyone who doesn't want to go very far.
Easy | Hiked Winter 2012
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