Was it worth going back to to a nostalgic waterfall after all those years? For me, that answer was yes. The same waterfall might be much bigger and louder after many rains or delicately peek out from behind an early morning fog.ġ61 Steps Look Better from the Top of Mingo Falls Trail! © Katrena The wonder of waterfalls is they assume different personalities depending on weather patterns. We visited in late June, and I think the waterfall was beautiful. Another addition since my previous view of the waterfall is the addition of a viewing bridge that traverses the creek at the base of the waterfall. Mingo Falls Hiking Trail in Cherokee Indian Reservation © Katrena Those with mobility challenges would find it difficult to navigate the steps, but you can hear Mingo Creek as it meanders right by the parking area. One of my kids looked up and called it the Kung Fu Panda trail, but this trail is much shorter than the trail at Stone Mountain State Park. The 0.4 mile trail now includes 161 steps. The trail now has a sign to mark its start. When I was a young girl, I remember walking up a dirt trail with lots of roots. I noticed right away that a few things had changed in forty years. There is a small parking area at the trailhead. Big Cover Road is quite curvy - those with children who get carsick may want to bring emergency supplies! Thankfully, the drive on Big Cove Road was pretty short. We turned onto Big Cove Road off Hwy 441 and signs for Mingo Falls Campground were very easy to spot. We found a map at our hotel, and the receptionist had grown up in Cherokee, so she was very helpful in giving us directions. Would Mingo Falls be one of those memories that was bigger in my imagination as well? The high things aren't really all that high when peering from an adult's perspective. As we grow older, sometimes those old memories pale. Although we stayed at a local hotel, I wanted to see if I could find that beautiful waterfall again. Waterfall in Western North Carolina © Katrena Visitors are still welcome to come and enjoy the natural beauty of the waterfall without charge. We camped at Mingo Falls Campground, and I particularly remember hiking to see the waterfall located there on the Cherokee Indian Reservation. For me, one such trip was going to Cherokee, North Carolina.Ībout forty years ago, my family headed to Cherokee with a pop-up camper, sunscreen, and lots of food.

Some trips were more memorable than others. They took all four of us kids camping in various locations in America and even Canada.

Mingo falls nc