Visit the Waterfalls of DuPont State Recreational Forest

Watch Our 2026 Visit to Dupont

What to Expect if You Visit DuPont State Recreational Forest

To maximize a visit to DuPont, park in the Hooker Falls area on Staton Road and combine the Triple Falls Trail, the High Falls Trail, and Hooker Falls Road for an unforgettable three-mile hike to visit three of the most popular and beautiful falls in the area. Two of the falls (Triple Falls and Hooker Falls) you might recognize from the movie The Hunger Games, a portion of which was filmed in DuPont in 2011. Triple Falls featured prominently in Last of the Mohicans.

Please note: DuPont State Recreational Forest and the waterfalls are extremely popular. Arrive early to secure a parking spot and avoid the crowds! Parking is first come, first served, and lots fill up quickly.

Pets are welcome, but visitors must keep them on a leash at all times. There is no fee to visit. The forest has restroom facilities at the High Falls/Visitor Center and the Hooker Falls access area.

Just a short half-mile from the Hooker Falls parking area is Triple Falls, with three distinct cascades that drop 120 feet. The first overlook is just a short distance from the parking lot, and a few hundred feet further is the spur trail that leads down to the large rocky area between the falls. Bring a picnic to enjoy the spectacle – natural and human – before jumping back on the main trail.

Triple Falls trail and High Falls trail form a loop, but you can choose to stick close to Little River on High Falls trail and cut out a bit of the mileage by doing a there-and-back. (Triple Falls trail heads west, hitting Buck Forest Road and intersecting with High Falls trail and the Covered Bridge Trail about 1/3 mile from High Falls). To reach the base of the 150-foot cascade, take a detour on the short River Bend spur trail for a memorable view of the falls and the covered bridge at the top. The bridge is a cool place to relax and take a picture or two.

High Falls is the largest waterfall in the area, and together with the beautiful covered bridge, were part of a planned real estate development in 2000. After a lengthy legal battle, the state was able to purchase the land from the developer, ensuring the view of the falls would be preserved.

The trail leading to High Falls is somewhat steep, so make sure to bring water and to set a comfortable pace in the summer heat. On hot days, people enjoy wading in the river at the bottom of the falls. If you go, beware of slippery rocks. Some areas are restricted to visitors, so be respectful and obey the signs. Check the forest website for notices about trail closures.

Once you’ve retraced your steps to the parking area and crossed back under Staton Road, you’ll turn west on Hooker Falls trail. Make sure to pause at the observation area above the falls before circling down to the base of the 12-foot waterfall. From the popular swimming hole at the base of the falls, Little River flows on into Cascade Lake, outside of the state forest’s boundaries. The hike to the falls is relatively easy, a mildly sloping 0.4 miles down a gravel road.

These three DuPont waterfalls make for a perfect year-round destination. The weekends during the summer will find a crowd at Hooker Falls, cooling down in the natural swimming hole, while autumn brings unparalleled fall foliage to the views around High Falls. Winter will decorate the waterfalls in ice, and finally spring means wildflowers and the return of the blue ghost fireflies.

Whichever season you visit, you’ll find the scenic and tranquil beauty of DuPont State Forest and its waterfalls a memorable experience you’ll want to repeat again and again.

Want more information?

• DuPont State Forest website.
• Friends of DuPont website.
• Dupont State Recreational Forest waterfalls map

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