High Shoals Falls Mountains State Park, Connelly Springs

High Shoals Falls Reviews

• P

  Philipe Lorenzo
  4

  One of the great hikes within the Northern Carolinas, a 2.4 mile roundtrip trail that could either be easy or strenuous depending on your age and physical capability, there were climbing and hoping between rocks (as always ascending makes you give up but going back descending the trail gives you pride and joy that you made it) that could turn into an unfortunate incident if your not careful enough. Take your time breath the air these living environment we do not have in the city. A worth while time expenditure for physical health, nature experience and memories to keep.

• N

  Nareshkumar Acharya
  5

  High Shoal Falls is a scenic waterfall in the South Mountain State Park of North Carolina. This is also one of the popular hikes at this state park with dense forest, creek, waterfalls, etc. Take the Hemlock Nature Trail to access the High Shoals Falls which is around 1 mile one way. The trail is moderate, well-marked, unpaved, slippery but still well-maintained. The view along the trail is scenic especially during fall season. One has to climb several wooden steps to reach to the viewing platform and is quite tiring. The view of waterfall is just spectacular and worth all the hiking. The overall hike along the trail is very scenic and one would most enjoy it during fall and summer seasons. There is plenty of parking available.

• G

  Gene Bell
  5

  Beautiful walk to Falls. Worth the hike. Extremely picturesque. Great family outing.

• C

  Clint Calhoun
  2

  First of all, I would like to say that my low review of this place has nothing whatsoever to do with the beauty of the waterfall. High Shoals Falls is a very scenic and beautiful waterfall and certainly worth paying a visit. My low review comes from the fact that this place was so overcrowded on the day of my visit that there is no way that NC State Parks can live up to their mission statement when people are climbing all over every single rock, swimming and wading in every single pool, climbing over fences to get to unsafe places, smoking, and littering. At what point does the gate need to be closed so that the whole reason for preserving a place is protected? Granted, I know its hot and people want to cool off, but what gives them the right to throw their trash everywhere, trample areas of sensitive vegetation, and just go about destroying a place just because its there? This was my first time to South Mountains State Park and I have never seen such overuse of a State Park facility in my life. As a tax payer and citizen of North Carolina, I think more should be done on the protection and preservation side of things than what is currently happening. I've seen accidents in National Parks due to human stupidity and there's nothing that can ruin a trip quicker than seeing something tragic happen. Human stupidity was on display on this particular day and I just knew my kids were going to see somebody get hurt or killed. Thankfully they didn't! There were no rangers anywhere in sight. Why? Because they were having to direct traffic. Again, I have to ask, at what point does it become too much for the resource to handle. I hope NC State Parks realizes that they've created a monster, at least at this particular location.

• m

  millman BN
  5

  This is a beautiful hike to go on. The falls are amazing and is worth the short hike.

• K

  KLH_LKC
  5

  Beautiful place to visit. We took the 1 mile hike to see the water falls. We did not do the additional 2.7 High Shoals Falls Loop. These are some things I wish I knew prior to visiting. 1.You will lose cell service about 20-30 minutes before you get to the parking lot so send any calls or texts that you need to before this time. 2.Follow the road all the way to end. This is where parking will be. 3.There are restrooms once you park and start to walk towards the trail 4.GET THERE EARLY!!!! We had a party of 7 adults, 4 tweens, and 2 toddlers and 1 baby. When we got there at 10am and the parking lot was about 75% full. When we left around 1, there wasn't an empty parking space anywhere 5.If you have children under the age of 3, don't bring a stroller. The second half of the hike is a lot of rocks and steep steps.You'll spend the second half just carrying it. 6.If you've never hiked before, the first half is pretty easy, but the second half is strenuous. Once you pass the bridge with railings, this is where it gets a little harder 7.Once you get to the actual water fall, the viewing plat form is big enough to hold may 30 people comfortably. 8.If there is a line to see the actual waterfall, there isn't really much room to stand and wait. I hope this helps!!!

• J

  Joanne Church
  5

  Hard climb for me(I'm very out of shape) but it was worth it.

• S

  SAM ROCK
  4

  Probably the most nearest waterfall one can find from Charlotte.

• D

  Darren Wallace
  4

  It was nice to get outside and enjoy some nature. This was our first trip to High Shoals Falls and it was quite a pleasant surprise. Hard to believe that only an hour away was such beautiful scenery. We chose to do the High Shoals Falls loop and it didn't disappoint. We look forward to returning in the future!

• P

  Paramedic NC
  5

  Beautiful Hike. The last stretch to the falls is all up hill but they have built steps to make it easier.