Daniel Ridge Falls (also called Tom’s Spring Falls or Jackson Falls) is a 150 foot waterfall located in the Pisgah National Forest in Brevard. Depending on the trail conditions and which way path on the trail you take will determine the difficulty. The Daniel Ridge Loop Trail is 4 miles, however you can reach the waterfall in 1/2 a mile and return the way you came for a 1 mile hike if you go to the right when the trail splits.
From the small parking area, walk around the gate and you will see the sign for the Daniel Ridge Loop Trail. The trail is marked with red blazes. After a short distance you will come to an iron bridge crossing the Davidson River. Follow the trail straight ahead. Not long after crossing the bridge, you will come to a fork in the trail. If you want to go straight to the waterfall, go to the right (you will see a sign that says falls) and you will reach the waterfall in about a half mile. Then you would return the same way you came for a 1 mile round trip. If you hike the entire loop it will be a 4 mile hike and end here.
Stay on the trail and you will come to a front full view of the entire waterfall, viewable from the trail. Just before this there will be a short side trail that will take you to a side view of the top portion of the waterfall.
The 4 mile hike is moderate, the 1 mile hike is easy to moderate depending on how slick the trail is and if you take the side trail for the side view of the waterfall.
There are many waterfalls nearby including Looking Glass Falls, Cedar Rock Falls, Moore Cove Falls and Slick Rock Falls.
Leave a Reply