Hanging Rock State Park: Indian Creek Trail to Window Falls (Blog Hike #127)

Trail: Indian Creek Trail

Hike Location: Hanging Rock State Park

Geographic Location: west of Madison, NC (36.39643, -80.26345)

Length: 1.2 miles (to waterfalls only)

Difficulty: 1/10 (Easy)

Date Hiked: March 2003

Overview: A short, moderately steep hike featuring two of the park’s best waterfalls.

Park Information: https://www.ncparks.gov/state-parks/hanging-rock-state-park
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=718701
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: From Madison, go south on US 311 11 miles to SR 89.  Turn right on SR 89.  Take SR 89 7 miles to Hanging Rock Rd. and turn left on Hanging Rock Rd.  Take Hanging Rock Road 4 miles, enter the park, and turn left on a park road, heading for the visitor center.  Park at the far end of the large, paved visitor center parking lot.

The hike: Located high atop the Sauratown Mountains in north-central North Carolina, Hanging Rock State Park is an ideal destination for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts alike.  The park is named for an unusual rock outcrop that towers just south of the visitor center.  Actually, Hanging Rock is only one of several steep knobs within the park, and is not even the highest.  These knobs surround a small fishing and swimming lake, two campgrounds, a set of cabins, and some bridle trails.

            Hanging Rock is also a very popular destination for hikers, and for good reason.  18 miles of trails go up and down the park’s 6921 acres.  The most popular trail is the Hanging Rock Trail, which leads 1.2 miles one-way from the visitor center to the top of Hanging Rock.  The views from the top of Hanging Rock are incomparable, and this makes a great destination if you have 2 or 2.5 hours.  If you have less time, the short hike described here allows you to see Hanging Rock from beneath as well as a couple of decent-sized waterfalls. 

Hanging Rock, as seen from parking lot

            Begin at an information kiosk at the far end of the visitor center parking lot.  Pick up the orange-blazed Indian Creek Trail, which heads into the forest through a small picnic area.  Views of Hanging Rock can be seen to your right in the colder months.  The trail at this point runs atop a ridge, and upon reaching the end of the ridge begins descending moderately at first, then more steeply using steps.

In 0.2 miles take a short side trail exiting to the right that leads to Hidden Falls.  Hidden in a narrow, rocky rhododendron-choked ravine, the waterfall is about 12 feet high and can be seen quite nicely from a small overlook at the end of the side trail.  A nearby bench makes a nice place to listen to the water tumble onto the rocks.

Hidden Falls

            Back on the main trail, the trail level out briefly, then continues descending.  In another 0.2 miles, reach a side trail that goes right for a view of Window Falls from above.  This overlook is obstructed by a rock outcropping, but the falls can be seen somewhat narrowly through a gap in the rock, hence the name Window Falls.  For a better view, descend some stone steps for a look at the falls from below.  From the bottom view, the waterfall is similar in appearance to Hidden Falls, but a little bigger.

The Indian Creek Trail continues downstream from this point and eventually ends in 3.7 miles near the park entrance.  The trail is downhill most of the way from Window Falls, but several crossings of Indian Creek are made.  To return to your car, retrace your steps 0.4 miles back uphill, gaining 300 feet on the walk back to the visitor center.