Otter Falls: Hiking in Boone NC

By Boone, Local Information, Local Parks, Seven Devils July 21, 2020
Dogs sitting on a rock at a waterfall on Otter Trail in Seven Devils, NC.

If you are looking for a super accessible and beautiful hike close to Boone, Otter Falls is a great option! The trails are easily accessible, gorgeous and family friendly. If you are coming from Boone, you will take Highway 105 South, towards Banner Elk. At about the ten mile point, you will make a right turn onto Seven Devils Road (there is a gas station on the corner) and take this road for about two miles before turning left on to Skyland Drive. After a little over half a mile, you will see the sign for Otter Falls on your left.

It is a great destination if you are hoping to get outside but have time constraints or just are not up for a serious hike. At the trail head, you will see a map that outlines the four trails within the Otter Falls Trails system. There are two loops and two dead end trails. The route to see the spectacular falls is 0.6 miles, so if you complete the loop you are looking at 1.2 miles. It is downhill the entire way down to the falls, but you pass various benches and overlooks that allow for a breather if this is tough on the knees!

Once you have made it down to the bottom, you will see an observation deck that provides a great view of the falls, and stairs down from the deck that will take you to the Valley Creek. You will pass native plants including, rhododendron, wild flowers, huge black locust trees, nettles, and mossy boulders throughout. The Otter Falls Trails are part of a ten acre tract that was funded by the Conservation Fund, North Carolina’s Parks and Recreations Trust Fund, the town of Seven Devils, and over 100 individuals and entities. Pretty cool! The trails are considered moderately strenuous due to the steepness, but they are all graded and smooth. Dogs are welcome on leashes. Make sure to pack out whatever you bring it and practice Leave No Trace habits!

Trail head address is 870 Skyland Drive, Seven Devils, NC 28604. You can prepare for your hike even more with these resources from the Seven Devils website. If you’re looking for even more places to hike in the High Country of North Carolina, let us be your guide! We have comprehensive articles to help you prepare for hikes at Lower Pond Creek, Crab Orchard Falls, and other locations that offer some of the best views in the South East.

Waterfall over mossy rocks at Otter Falls Trail in Seven Devils, NC.

About the Author
Taylor Higdon, Office Manager & Marketing Director, [email protected]

Taylor Higdon was born and raised in Atlanta, GA, and was fortunate that family ties in North Carolina allowed her to fall in love with all North Carolina offers. One of her fondest memories was staying at the family’s cabin overlooking Pilot Mountain and spending long summer days trekking down the Blue Ridge Parkway to “Mr. Martin’s Store” for an orange crush and a moonpie, then stopping at “Turtle Rock” to take in the views. This fueled her love of traveling and experiencing all the world has to offer. 

Taylor studied Advertising and Graphic Design at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. Still, her passion for learning has taken her through additional areas of study, and she refuses to stop learning. 

Her love for community led her to publish a neighborhood-specific magazine in the neighborhood she grew up in to bring people together and keep the community informed. Taylor brings her love for community and helping people with her to 828 Real Estate has jumped in headfirst, and is an active member of The Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce. 

When Taylor is not working at 828 Real Estate, she spends time with her parents in Blowing Rock, exploring the many hiking trails, kayaking with friends, and spending time with her two cats, Inigo Montoya (Monty) and Pumpkin.