Hooker Falls trip there and back

Over hill and dale -
starting in Black Mountain, go south and west, Asheville airport, south on US 280 through Mills River to the Brevard intersection with US 64.  If you take a right and head west, you're on US 276 into the Pisgah National Forest which passes Looking Glass Falls right on the road, and in a few more miles you meet the Blue Ridge Parkway.

However, if you turn left at the intersection of US 280 and US 64, going east, you are headed to Etowah.  But don't go that far (though there's not really a "town" that represents Etowah...just a few shops spread about, and a golf course.  Before getting to that area, there's a signal light at a quarry on your left, and a turn on the right.  The quarry is part of a large cliff face as well as some rocks near the road. The best clue for your turn is the small airport and a sign to DuPont State Forest. Or maybe it says Waterfalls...I can't remember.  They are both to the right.

 You immediately cross railroad tracks that are no longer used, actually the tracks are gone and just the crossing guard is left.

The waterfalls signs are blue, and another one will come along (another right turn) in a few miles.  It's less than 10 miles.  The hills really climb at that point, and there're only a few private drives off this road.  The first parking lot of the state forest is on the left, but that's not the one I go to.  A quarter mile further is one on the right.  That lot gives access to both Hooker Falls in one direction on the river, and Triple Falls in the other direction.

 The sand was deposited all over after a flooding rain on the Little River

 Once you have walked down the hill, there's a nice flat area around the rock-enclosed swimming/wading area below the falls.

Since it's mid-winter, people have come here for fire circles.

Or perhaps to see the kayak and rafts that went down the falls the day I visited.

Returning to Hwy US 64, you can see the quarry easier.

And back to home again in reverse.  I was pleased that the odometer said it was exactly 50 miles from my home.  I can do that in around an hour usually, and find someplace to eat lunch as well as sight-see, and I will enjoy a half day trip coming home in another hour's drive.