North Carolina has more than one cave you can hike to, but the trail to Tory’s Den cave at Hanging Rock State Park contains a bonus… and that bonus is the view of a 240-foot waterfall tumbling down the mountain only steps away from the cave. If there’s only one cave hike that you take in the Tar Heel State, make it this one.

Historically speaking, the cave known as Tory's Den was instrumental during the Revolutionary War.
alltrails/Jack M Brewer Jr
As the legend goes, the British used the cave as a hideout during the war, but their campfires were a dead giveaway and they were quickly pushed out of the cave.
Today the cave is a main attraction on the Tory's Den Cave and Waterfall Trail at Hanging Rock State Park.
alltrails/Jack M Brewer Jr
After only a short distance of a little more than two-tenths of a mile, hikers reach the cave, which is approximately 20 feet deep.
TripAdvisor/SherriThacker
But there's more to love about this trail than just the historical significance of Tory's Den. There's also a waterfall of the same name (Tory's Waterfall) along the trail.
alltrails/Joan Cress

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Visitors can't get too close to this falls because the terrain is just to steep, but there's an overlook along the trail with a full view of this tumbler which pours water down the ledges on the side of a mountain for 240 feet.
alltrails/Jack M Brewer Jr
The trail, itself, is rated as easy by AllTrails.com and has a total elevation gain of just 95 feet.
alltrails/Austin Stewart
It's worth it to see this secret cave used by the redcoats during the American Revolution so many centuries ago.
TripAdvisor/Brian F
The trailhead is found at 1185 Charlie Young Road in Danbury, NC. The trail begins at the east end of the parking lot and is only 0.5-mile long.
alltrails

Learn more about the Tory’s Den and Waterfall Trail here, or from our friends at AllTrails.com.

For more waterfalls to gawk at, read: Spend The Day Exploring North Carolina’s Tallest Falls On This Wonderful Waterfall Road Trip!

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Hanging Rock State Park, 1790 Hanging Rock Park Rd, Danbury, NC 27016, USA