Green River Game Land

Stairstep Falls–Emily Falls Loop, 7 sights

3.8 mi · ▲ 643 ft · 1 hr 35 min

Stairstep Falls–Emily Falls Loop, 7 sights is a 3.8-mile loop in Green River Game Land near Mount Valley, NC. The route passes Emily Falls and Stairstep Falls. It climbs 643 ft, with sections as steep as 15% grade. It scores 74/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi1,729 – 2,195 ft · steepest grade: 15%3.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Long Ridge Road 35.29050, -82.31861
Nearest town Mount Valley, NC

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Stairstep Falls–Emily Falls Loop, 7 sights

3.8 mi · ▲ 643 ft · 1 hr 35 min

Elevation 1,729–2,194 ft

Loop · Green River Game Land

Trailhead: Long Ridge Road · 35.29050, -82.31861

Weather Sep 4: Mostly clear, high 92°F / low 72° · precip 10% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 7:05 AM · sunset 7:54 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Long Ridge Road, heading SE.
  2. 50 ftSharp right onto Connector Trail, heading W.
  3. 0.3 miTurn left onto Bishop Branch Trail, heading SE.
  4. 50 ftPass Emily Falls.
  5. 0.7 miSharp left onto Bear Branch Trail, heading E.
  6. 0.1 miTurn right onto Long Ridge Road, heading S.
  7. 0.2 miTurn left onto Stair Step Falls Trail, heading S.
  8. 1.3 miPass Stairstep Falls.
  9. 50 ftBear left onto Turkey Gut Trail, heading NE.
  10. 0.7 miBear left onto Long Ridge Road, heading N.
  11. 0.5 miThe loop closes back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Weather

Mostly clearTemperature 92°F72°
Feels like84°Precip10%Wind4 mphUV7Humidity58%
Hourly temperature
95°70°
Sunrise 7:05 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 7:54 PM
Sat 96°74°
Sun 92°68° 62%
Mon 77°65° 62%
Tue 82°63°
Wed 89°61°
Thu 91°65°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.3 mi in (~39 min). Leave by 6:55 PM for the 7:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:42 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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