Paint Creek

Great Hiking, Biking and Swimming
Can be combined nicely with dinner or lunch in Hot Springs
Picnic tables available by the creek
Waterfalls, Beautiful Rocks, Views of the River, Picnic opportunities

To access this general area:

Drive to Hot Springs on Hwy 209 N.
Go through town and cross the French Broad River
Immediately after you cross the river, turn left to access River road.
At the stop sign, turn right to head downstream.Love Road is so romantic
This road takes you several miles down the river on a very scenic drive.

In a few miles, it will turn to a dirt road. Then you will come to Murray’s Branch Recreation area.
The parking lot is on the left and the trail begins on the right of the road, just before you enter the parking area.

Hiking at Murray’s Branch
T & R Rating
Moderate
Yellow Blazes
1.3 miles
This short loop has gentle switchbacks through the forest up the ridge. About 3/4 mile in you will come to a Y. This is the loop. Stay to the right to see incredible ridgetop views of the river. Continue on and this trail joins with another trail, that has blue blazes. It winds on in the woods but does not loop. You can add to your hike with this “in and out” section.

Paint Creek to Dudley Falls
Paint Creek Road is very passable, but is narrow with turnouts. You will have a choice to take the high road or the low road.

The upper road is best done in a 4-wheel drive vehicle.

The low road takes you to Dudley Falls. It takes you by a beautiful creek with lots of picnic opportunities. Dudley falls is a beautiful waterfall that is accessed by car. This is a great place to wander around and dip in the creek.

The campground is 5.5 miles up the paved road. There is a loop hiking trail that starts there.

We love to park at the bottom of the paved road and ride our bikes up to the campground and back. It is a lovely ride by the creek.

Trout

Fishing

Fishing is really great in our area.  All of our streams are stocked with trout every Spring. Our creeks flow into Roaring Fork creek which flows into Meadow Fork creek , then Spring Creek into the French Broad river.   Here is a link to the Madison County Fishing Guide.

It is a fun day trip to visit the NC fish hatchery at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education.  The drive will take you throuh miles and miles of creeks and rivers and many, many waterfalls before you arrive at the hatchery at a place called John's Rock, which is one of our favorite hikes in the spring.

Brook Trout

You will need a NC Fishing License.  The pond at Max Patch is also stocked with trout every year.   This pond is located beyond the parking lot for hiking. To reach this pond, take Roaring Fork road to Meadow Fork road.  Turn right on Meadow Fork.  Proceed until you see the brown sign pointing you to Max Patch.  Turn right onto Little Creek Road.  It will turn to dirt.  Continue until you come to a T intersection.  Turn right at the T.  In about a mile you will see the parking lot for Max Patch on the right.  Just continue on the road and the pond is about 1/4 mile past the parking lot on the right.

Max Patch pond
Max Patch Pond is stocked for some wonderful still water fishing.

Pond at Max Patch Max Patch Pond