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Skinny Dip Falls Trailhead
4.7 ★★★★★ 800 Google reviews · Running trail in Canton, North Carolina · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Natural surface
- Loop distance
- 2.5 mi
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Skinny Dip Falls Trailhead'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.
A gentle hike through a tranquil forest leads to this cascading waterfall & popular swimming hole.
What runners say about Skinny Dip Falls Trailhead
“It is a beautiful stop that feels so secluded in the wilderness if it wasn't for so many people being out there.”
“I wouldn't call this an Easy hike due to the ups & downs, rocks & roots, uneveness, and muddy slippery conditions if wet (it rained when we were there).”
What an awesome trail! We were in Asheville for the weekend and drove out to the Blue Ridge Parkway to check out this trail. First off, the views you get to soak in on the way to the trail are magnificent! The roads are full of tight turns to get up there, but that was half the fun!
Absolutely beautiful place to visit. Easy access off the Blue Ridge Parkway (mm 417 I think) and parking at the Looking Glass Rock overlook. This place can get crowded fast in the summer, but it is worth it. The Hike: From the parking lot just walk across the Blue Ridge Parkway and you will see the trail head.
This place is just gorgeous! A beautiful short hike to a waterfall and swim area. The water is cold, but so worth getting in. If you hike to the falls you have to jump off the rock!
Easy hike from the Blue Ridge Parkway. Note that the trail starts across from the north end of the parking lot on the west side of the road. Easy out and back. Floods in the area a few years back have greatly impacted the falls in that there are a lot of downed trees clogging the upper part of the falls.
Trail conditions & character
“It is a beautiful stop that feels so secluded in the wilderness if it wasn't for so many people being out there.”
“No signage so it was hard to find the beginning of the trail (across the street from the parking area, we watched locals enter).”
“There are natural and man made stairs, lots of roots and stones and a lot of up and down hill, but is easily traversed.”
“I wouldn't call this an Easy hike due to the ups & downs, rocks & roots, uneveness, and muddy slippery conditions if wet (it rained when we were there).”
Plan your run at Skinny Dip Falls Trailhead
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
- Loop distance2.5 mi back to where you parked
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
- Websitenps.gov
- Phone(828) 348-3400
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 7:30 AM–7:30 PM |
| Tuesday | 7:30 AM–7:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 7:30 AM–7:30 PM |
| Thursday | 7:30 AM–7:30 PM |
| Friday | 7:30 AM–7:30 PM |
| Saturday | 7:30 AM–7:30 PM |
| Sunday | 7:30 AM–7:30 PM |
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Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
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