Hooker Falls

Nikon D800, Nikon 17-35mm lens at 17mm, f/13, 1/13 second, ISO 200, polarizing filter.

Driving Directions
The trailhead is the same as for Triple Falls. From the junction of US 64, US 276, and NC 280 in Brevard, drive 3.5 miles east on US 64 and turn right on Crab Creek Road (SR 1528). Go 4.2 miles and turn right on DuPont Road (SR 1259), which becomes Staton Road when it crosses from Henderson County into Transylvania County. It is 3.1 miles on this road to a large, well-signed parking area on the right just before the bridge over the Little River. Drive to the far section of the parking area, at the footbridge over the Little River.
Hike Description
See the DuPont State Recreational Forest introduction before following these directions.
Don’t cross the footbridge. Instead, follow the wide path downstream to an overlook at the top of the falls, then continue about 0.1 mile to the base.
Overview
Fourteen feet is not high for a waterfall. But what Hooker Falls lacks in height, it more than makes up for in width and water volume. This is really an impressive waterfall! It’s popular, too. During summer, you’ll find the huge pool below the falls filled with people.
The waterfall was named for Edmund Hooker, who operated a mill below the falls in the late 1800s, when the waterfall was known as Mill Shoals. In the early 1990s, Hooker Falls was used for another type of enterprise—a Hollywood production. If you’ve seen The Last of the Mohicans, you’ve seen Hooker Falls. It’s the one Hawkeye and company go over in canoes.
At first glance, you might think I’m being overly generous with a photo rating of 8, but slow down a bit and think about the possibilities here. This is among my favorite waterfalls to photograph because it offers so many different options, both from in front and from the side.