The Wildcat Falls Trail In North Carolina Leads You Straight To An Abandoned Bridge That Crosses The Waterfall
There seems to be no end to the unusual things you’ll encounter while hiking through the wilds of the Tar Heel State. From an old airplane crash site to a ghost town, and more, the thrill is ever present. Set aside some time to follow an old logging road through the Pisgah National Forest to discover an old abandoned bridge in North Carolina.
The Wildcat Falls Trail travels less than a mile into the forest before reaching the Lost Bridge, a concrete bridge that crosses over a 60-foot waterfall.
The majority of the falls is located above the spot where the bridge crosses, making the view outstanding. You'll feel so close you may think you can reach out and touch the falls (although you technically can't).
If you begin your hike near the campground entrance, you'll travel over a small water crossing, so beware that your feet will get wet. And with a recent rain, the water may be moving swiftly, too.
Much of the hike follows an old logging road, which is no longer maintained. But parts of the trail traverse the forest on skinnier paths. There's a variety of terrain on this hike.
The whole trail, which is located just off the Blue Ridge Parkway, is a high-elevation adventure. Get ready for some spectacular peek-a-boo views, like this one!
All Trails rates this 1.4-mile (total distance) hike as easy and the elevation gain is a mere 124 feet... an unusual stat for a hike along the Parkway.
Note, there's no swimming hole at the Lost Bridge, but you can dip your toes in that legendary cold Blue Ridge Mountains water in that small water crossing along the trail. As always, be careful of slippery rocks.
Have you hiked to Lost Bridge, and abandoned bridge in North Carolina yet? If so, let us know your thoughts in the comments! If not, learn more about the hike from our friends over at All Trails.
Address: Wildcat Falls, Lake Logan Rd, Canton, NC 28716, USA
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Robin Jarvis is a travel writer and editor for OnlyInYourState.com with a bachelor's degree in Journalism. Her love for travel has taken her to many parts of the world. She's lived in the Carolinas for nearly three decades and currently resides in Charleston. When she's not working, she loves to cook with friends and check out new adventures. General questions and FAM tours: rjarvis@onlyinyourstate.com.