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Walk DuPont State Forest’s High Falls and Triple Falls with friendly llamas at your side. This two-hour, family-friendly guided hike by Headwaters Outfitters and Llama Caddy combines animal interaction, waterfall views, and easy trail time.
Walk DuPont State Forest’s High Falls and Triple Falls with friendly llamas at your side. This two-hour, family-friendly guided hike by Headwaters Outfitters and Llama Caddy combines animal interaction, waterfall views, and easy trail time.
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Operated by Headwaters Outfitters · Cedar Mountain, North Carolina
DuPont State Forest, North Carolina, offers a rare way to meet the forest: a relaxed guided llama hike to High Falls and Triple Falls. Headwaters Outfitters and Llama Caddy run a two-hour, family-friendly loop that lets you walk alongside gentle pack llamas while hearing natural-history notes about the forest and the herd. The meeting point is 89 Buck Forest Rd, Cedar Mountain, NC 28718, where guides introduce the animals and outline the route before you set off.
The hike follows the High Falls and Triple Falls loop, a short trail that visits two of DuPont’s most photographed cascades. High Falls plunges over broad bedrock slabs and cuts a clear channel through mixed hardwoods; Triple Falls drops in three distinct steps, offering layered perspectives and classic photo compositions. The trail is primarily packed dirt and well-worn rock ledges with a few short, moderate grades—ideal for children age five and up and adults seeking an accessible outdoor experience. Guides from Headwaters Outfitters explain llama behavior, packing techniques, and leave-no-trace practices as you pause for photo stops and waterfall views.
What makes this outing distinct is the llamas themselves. Unlike larger pack animals, llamas carry modest loads and move calmly alongside walkers, creating a slow, social pace that suits families and photographers. The mix of moss-covered rocks, rhododendron corridors, and the constant sound of rushing water gives the hike a strong sense of place specific to western North Carolina’s forests. Trips run weekdays only to avoid crowded trails; groups are kept small (6–16 participants) so each guest can spend time beside the animals and at the falls.
Practical details matter: the two-hour schedule includes a meet-and-greet, a guided walk with interpretive stops, and return to the trailhead by around noon. No dogs are allowed for the llamas’ safety, and children must be supervised at all times. Depending on conditions, guides may require participants to share llamas if the trip fills. Transportation or shuttle service is sometimes available for an extra fee—ask Headwaters Outfitters when booking.
For visitors planning a short outdoor day, this hike is a memorable combination of hands-on animal interaction, easy trail walking, and some of DuPont’s best waterfall scenery. It’s a gentle, social, and photogenic way to experience the forest’s water-carved rock and cooling river voices without the commitment of a long backcountry trek.
Headwaters Outfitters and Llama Caddy prioritize animal care and low-impact guiding. Groups are small (minimum six, maximum sixteen) so guides can teach llama basics and trail safety. If guides cancel you receive a full refund; guest cancellations require at least seven days’ notice for refunds. The hike makes an excellent half-day family activity or an easy introduction to DuPont’s waterfall country. Bring sturdy shoes and water.
Children must be at least 5 years old and be closely supervised by an accompanying adult.
Meet guides at the trailhead: 89 Buck Forest Rd, Cedar Mountain, NC 28718. Check in at 10:00 AM unless otherwise instructed.
No — dogs are not permitted for the safety and comfort of the llamas.
If guides cancel you receive a full refund; guests must cancel at least seven days in advance to receive a refund.
Groups run with a minimum of six and a maximum of sixteen participants to keep the experience intimate.
No. The trail includes rock ledges and uneven sections that are not suitable for strollers or wheelchairs.
Headwaters Outfitters, based in Rosman, NC, operates guided fishing, paddling, camping and outdoor education on the French Broad River and surrounding lakes. The outfitter offers a wide range of experiences including guided fly-fishing lessons, trout wade trips on private waters, smallmouth and bass float trips, musky targeting adventures, and multi-hour self-guided paddling options like Hap Simpson and Island Ford runs. Classes and workshops include Fly Fishing Foundations, Advanced Casting, Spey Casting, Angler Entomology and Selecting a Fly, all taught with low student-to-instructor ratios for personalized skill-building. Paddling-focused offerings include guided Bear Lake sea kayaking trips to Sols Creek Waterfall, overnight canoe camping trips on the Upper French Broad, family-friendly floats, and festival paddles like Paddle to the Pork. Headwaters Outfitters also coordinates collaborative events with local breweries — Paddle then Pints with Ecusta Brewing Company and Cruise then Booze with Oskar Blues — and hosts seasonal community programs such as the Annual Upper French Broad River Clean-Up and Appalachian Santa Night. The business manages the first private campground on the French Broad Paddle Trail, featuring six primitive riverside campsites and options for full campground rental. Gear, shuttles and guided instruction are provided on many trips, and experienced guides such as local captains lead species-specific charters. Emphasis is placed on safety, Leave No Trace ethics, environmental stewardship and authentic local partnerships, making the outfitter a resource for anglers, paddlers and outdoor learners visiting Western North Carolina.
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