Laurel Falls Out and Back from Dennis Cove

Starting from Dennis Cove trailhead, the hike begins down a wide, flat trail surrounded by rhododendrons, and the river on the right. After about 3/4 mile, go around a few curves and downhill to a bridge across the river, followed by uphill stone steps -- these are just a sample of what is to come. After a few more curves through rock canyons, at about the one mile mark, look for a wood sign on a tree pointing to the left down the steep stairs towards Laurel Falls. If you don't see the sign and hike past the stairs, a blue trail mark will greet you at a rock just past the turn, this is the high-water AT alternate route. The AT goes down the stairs, but I don't recall seeing any white marks. This is the difficult part -- about 0.3 mile down to the falls. Good shoes and poles will be helpful. Will be treacherous if wet, please be careful! About 10 steps before the bottom, the AT turns right along the river, but there is the Laurel Falls in front of you! At about 50 feet high and 40 feet wide, Laurel Falls is probably one of the bigger falls directly on the AT, and quite picturesque. After some time at the Falls, retrace your path up the stairs, turning right at the top, and back to Dennis Cove trailhead for a total mileage of 2.6.