Home › North Carolina › Valdese › McGalliard Falls Park
McGalliard Falls Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,412 Google reviews · Running trail in Valdese, North Carolina · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Not reported
- Distance
- 2 mi
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from McGalliard Falls Park's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Modest park with a waterfall, swimming area and sand volleyball court.
What runners say about McGalliard Falls Park
“There are several hiking trails other than the one up to the falls with waterwheel, clean and maintained bathrooms, water fountain, etc.”
“The trail around the lake is beautiful and well-maintained — perfect for a relaxing walk.”
“The trails along the river and lake are peaceful and beautifully maintained, and the historic old mill adds such a charming touch to the scenery.”
Looking for an easy hike to a beautiful waterfall? Whether it is spring, summer, fall or winter, visitors will not be disappointed. Luckily this area only had minimal damage from 🌀Helene.
This was a beautiful park to visit. The falls was beautiful and the park is maintained well. There are public restrooms and waterfalls is about five minutes from the parking lot. If you want to be adventurous you can take half mile hike to the suspension bridge or 2 mile hike to park. Will visit again.
This park is truly a hidden gem. The trails along the river and lake are peaceful and beautifully maintained, and the historic old mill adds such a charming touch to the scenery. The mountain views are absolutely stunning in every season.
This is a great little park with a relatively small waterfall. Not too far from the town I live in. It's a great place to go walk and especially go walk with your dog. It's not very far from town and easy to get to and for the most part the terrain is very even and not hard to walk on
Trail conditions & character
“Had a great time exploring, the waterfall is peaceful and the swinging bridge is fun to cross, great exercise in the woods!”
“The trails along the river and lake are peaceful and beautifully maintained, and the historic old mill adds such a charming touch to the scenery.”
“A great place to take your dog; there are usually not many people here during the week, and the hike to the waterfall is easy/moderate, only about 1/4 of a mile.”
“There are several hiking trails other than the one up to the falls with waterwheel, clean and maintained bathrooms, water fountain, etc.”
“There are several hiking trails other than the one up to the falls with waterwheel, clean and maintained bathrooms, water fountain, etc.”
Plan your run at McGalliard Falls Park
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- Distance2 mi as reported — check whether that is one way or a round trip before you commit
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadrestrooms, water — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Phone(828) 879-2120
Hours
| Monday | 8 AM–8 PM |
| Tuesday | 8 AM–8 PM |
| Wednesday | 8 AM–8 PM |
| Thursday | 8 AM–8 PM |
| Friday | 8 AM–8 PM |
| Saturday | 8 AM–8 PM |
| Sunday | 8 AM–8 PM |
Running trails near Valdese
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Valdese Lakeside Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 166 reviews
Family-friendly destination featuring clean trails and a suspension bridge crossing a creek.
Parker Road Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 5 reviews
Tuttle Educational State Forest
4.6 ★★★★★ 47 reviews
Park with trails, picnic tables, and educational experiences for children.
Lakeside Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 395 reviews
Popular waterfront park, with hiking trails, picnic tables, benches and fishing.