Brevard is an incredibly beautiful place. There is beautiful scenery anywhere you go.

We traveled Early October and caught pre-peak fall foliage! Here’s our favorite website for fall foliage predictions so you can plan a fall trip anywhere in the continental US!

Hiking in the fall can leave you wondering what you should wear and bring. Here’s what we suggest.

Long weekend in Brevard? Follow our footsteps! Above is a Map of places we visited!

Cullasaja Falls

Cullasaja Falls was one of our few stops on our way to Brevard. Parking for this waterfall is just a small pull-off on the side of a very narrow winding road. Be very careful here. It’s a scramble to get to the bottom of the waterfall and the dirt is very loose the whole way down. It’s easy to lose your footing and fall. 

Dry Falls

Dry Falls is definitely not dry. We also stopped here on our drive into Brevard. Its a beautiful 1 drop waterfall. Views from above are handicap accessible and there is a walkway with stairs to down and underneath the falls. Parking costs a few bucks. Be sure to bring cash. They have an option to pay online, but there isn’t enough cell service to bring up the website.

Rainbow Falls and Turtleback Falls

MUST SEE:

Rainbow Falls and Turtleback Falls are 2 waterfalls located in Gorges State Park, NC. It’s a 4-mile round trip hike and is of moderate difficulty. 

Looking Glass Falls

MUST SEE:

Looking Glass Falls is a very popular waterfall to visit. It’s crowded, so be sure to get there early. Parking is along the road. There’s no hiking required for this waterfall.

Sliding Rock Falls

Sliding Rock Falls is exactly as it sounds, a rock you can slide down. Go and swim for a bit or just enjoy the views. The entrance fee is $4 per person. This place does take credit cards.

Blue Ridge Parkway

Blue Ridge Parkway meanders through the Appalachian mountains providing incredible views of the valleys around.

Cost

Gas from Huntsville to Brevard and back: 710 Miles / 20 miles per gallon * $3 per gallon = $106.50

3 nights in Brevard AirBnB: Abount $100/night * 3 nights = $300

 Driving around Brevard and seeing the waterfalls: 50 Miles / 20 miles per gallon * $3 per gallon = $7.50

Total: $414.00 for 4Days/2 adults 

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Difficulty: Difficult
Distance: 2.5 miles roundtrip
Entry Fee: Free
Be sure to Bring: CLOSED TOED SHOES, LONG PANTS, AND GPS!!

Expect to get wet going to this waterfall!

Collier Falls is a secluded waterfall in the Bankhead National Forest. There really isn’t an official, maintained trail to follow, so please keep your GPS handy. You will be passing Shangri-la falls which has been popular lately. As this place has grown in popularity, there have been unofficial trails popping up. These may or may not take you to Shangri-la so do not rely solely on these unofficial trails.

This area is part of dispersed recreation in Bankhead National Forest. There is NO MAINTAINED TRAIL. Please note that dispersed recreation sometimes has a "social trail" that you can follow. Some of these are easy to follow and some of them you cannot follow. Please note that these trails can change very quickly and may be easy to follow one season and completely overgrown the next. Always bring a map, compass, and GPS with you while hiking Bankhead National Forest.

If you are still using your phone for navigation. You should at least buy a power bank.

Bankhead Map
Buy a printed map here.

Find nearby hikes:
Coal Mine Falls
Painted Rock Falls
Sougahoagdee Falls

Even though you spend a good bit of this hike treading through water, we don’t suggest outdoor sandals. Find out why.

Collier Creek Falls is located under an hour and a half’s drive southwest from Huntsville. It is located in Bankhead National Forest

You cannot just Google Collier Creek Falls, click here for directions!

Collier Creek Falls Coordinates: 34.279891, -87.310883
Parking Coordinates: 34.282917, -87.300278

Trailhead/Parking Lot

MARK YOUR CAR ON YOUR GPS BEFORE YOU LEAVE.
The parking lot is not well marked but is very apparent from the road. There is another parking lot about 100 yards before you get to the parking lot we used. It is visibly different than the first parking lot. The first parking lot looks like it had been bulldozed to keep people from driving on a road behind it. This one is smooth and the only thing blocking it is 3 verticle posts, the middle one reading “Do not block gate”

Drop into the Canyon

The drop into the canyon is hard, BUT you shouldn’t have to question which way to go. Both drops have a clear path down where many have paved the way. Follow this down, but be CAREFUL getting into the canyon! It is steep, muddy, and difficult terrain. If you choose the “fun” side near the top of the falls, please know there are back to back 3 ft drops, plus a shelter you have to duck under!

Canyon Hike From Shangri-la Falls to Collier Creek

After you pass Shangri-la Falls you will be following Collier Creek upstream to get to Collier Creek Falls. 

If the water is high enough, there is no way to avoid getting your shoes wet. You will be treading through the water. If the water happens to be low enough, you will be crossing the creek several times. Either way, be very careful as you navigate the canyon. There is likely no cell phone service and the surfaces can get very slippery. F

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Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Distance: No hiking
Entry Fee: Free
Traffic: Moderately Trafficked

Old Red Mill is exactly what it sounds like, an old red mill. There’s a nice waterfall and swimming hole here.

Find nearby hikes:
Cave Mountain
Honeycomb Natural Bridge

This is a great place to take your outdoor sandals. Find out why.

Old Red Mill is only an hour southeast of Huntsville.

You can Google “Red Mill”, but it can be difficult to locate. Click Here for directions.

Be sure you come in from the south side, there is a bridge out on Alethea Nixon Drive that cannot be crossed. If you accidentally come in from the North side, just reroute yourself to the south side.

Parking

When you get here park on the side of the road. There should be plenty of room to park. You can see the old mill from the side of the road. You will walk towards it. The only thing difficult about getting to the waterfall is the embankment next to the bridge. We didn’t see a better way down so be careful! It’s like climbing down a big boulder. 

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