DuPont State Forest

This 4.7-mile loop trail passes the Thomas Cemetery, the Dry and Tarkiln Branches, and includes the 20' Wintergreen Falls. It can be hiked separately, or as a continuation of the North Flatwood Loop Trail.

Take the path north (Hickory Mountain Road) that leads to and through the large clearing behind the farmhouse. Turn left on the larger Buck Forest Road at 0.1 miles and follow it into the pine forest. At 0.5 miles pass straight through the intersection with White Pine Trail and Thomas Cemetery Road (formally Bridge Road), continuing on the Buck Forest Road.

(***If continuing on from the North Flatwood Loop, turn right off White Pine Trail onto Buck Forest Road)

(To short-cut the Buck Forest Road part, turn left on Thomas Cemetery Road from this intersection about 0.8 miles to the intersection of Tarkiln Branch Road. Continue on Tarkiln Branch Road as described below to Grassy Creek Road.)

Continue down the Buck Forest Road past Jim Branch Trail on the right and take a left on the second intersection of Thomas Cemetery Road at 1.5 miles. See the historic 19th century Thomas family grave sites on the right at 1.6 miles. Hike down a gradual grade to Dry Branch Creek at 2.0 miles. After the creek, take the left fork in the road, and climb up the gradual grade to the intersection of Tarkiln Branch Road at 2.3 miles. Take a right on the Tarkiln Branch Road and cross the Tarkiln Branch shortly afterward. At 2.6 miles, pass a right fork labeled Sandy Trail, an alternate route to Wintergreen Falls, but continue left on Tarkiln Branch Road to the intersection of Wintergreen Falls Trail (formally Grassy Creek Road) at 2.8 miles.

Wintergreen Falls is a one mile round-trip down Wintergreen Falls Trail. (To bypass the falls, continue up the Tarkiln Branch Road to shorten the loop to 3.4 miles). Turn right on Wintergreen Falls Trail and proceed down a gentle grade, bearing to the left at the fork after 0.4 miles (the right fork leads to the ford of the Grassy Creek). Continue parallel to the creek to the falls. Do not take the eroded path to the left up the steep incline, but find the footpath just beyond and to the right of it. Continue though under story and across boulders until seeing the 20' falls. Return up Wintergreen Falls Trail and turn right at the Tarkiln Branch Road intersection.

Continue up the Tarkiln Branch Road and fork left at 3.0 miles. At 3.2 miles, bear left and cross the Tarkiln Branch at 3.5 miles. The road curves left and enters the clearing along Sky Valley Road. Continue to the Access Area at 3.7miles. (Total length 4.7 miles including Wintergreen Falls)

Updated by Lynn Harton per 2005 maps.

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