This Beautiful Covered Bridge in North Carolina is a Perfect Road Trip Detour

When I think about covered bridges, my mind tends to wander to New England—or maybe even Ohio or Pennsylvania. I spent about five years living around Boston and would always spend some time checking out all of the covered bridges around the area—they look so magical surrounded by fall foliage! Although Pennsylvania tends to get all the glory when it comes to covered bridges (they have over 200, the most of any state), I wouldn't write off North Carolina's covered bridges by any means.

There aren’t that many covered bridges in North Carolina, but that just means that the few that we do have are extra special. If you’re up for a side quest, this covered bridge in North Carolina is the perfect road trip detour. This day trip into the Dupont Forest is filled with hiking trails, waterfalls, and more.

The Dupont State Recreational Forest is located in Henderson and Transylvania counties of North Carolina. With 12,500 acres to explore, this majestic landscape attracts nearly 350,000 visitors annually. It’s a natural playground overflowing with hiking trails, scenic views, and waterfalls to explore. The areas we will be exploring today are about an hour south of Asheville and can easily be done as a day trip.

Here's a fun fact about the Dupont Forest: It was one of the filming locations for The Hunger Games!

Speaking of waterfalls, High Falls, Hooker Falls, and Triple Falls are three epic waterfalls in this area that are worth checking out. Many explorers choose to hike to each one, which is about a three-mile adventure. 

While you’re visiting High Falls, take a detour to check out the historic High Falls Covered Bridge. Even though it looks like it was constructed a century ago, this covered bridge in North Carolina was actually built in the late 1990s! It was originally built as a part of a gated community housing project that never came to fruition. The state purchased the land and continues to maintain it today.

The bridge crosses the Little River, not far from High Falls or the Dupont State Recreational Forest Visitor Center. Several hiking trails are nearby, including the Triple Falls Trail, the High Falls Trail, and the Pitch Pine Trail. This entire area is worthy of getting some steps in, so plan accordingly and prepare to spend an afternoon exploring it. The trails are more popular on the weekends, so hit this hidden gem during the week if you want to avoid the crowds. As with any hiking adventure, we always recommend downloading an AllTrails map ahead of time.

Have you ever visited the High Falls Covered Bridge in North Carolina? Share this article with someone you want to visit this unique covered bridge with!

Inspired to visit all of the covered bridges in North Carolina? We have a covered bridge road trip that will take you to seven of our favorites!