Tory's Den Cave & Waterfall, Hanging Rock State Park

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Tory’s Den Cave & Waterfall, Hanging Rock State Park

The tiny Tory’s Den cave in Hanging Rock State Park is named for its role in the Revolutionary War.

The Tory’s Den cave and waterfall are off of Charlie Young Road, which is most easily reached by leaving the main entrance to Hanging Rock State Park and taking Moore’s Spring Road to Mickey Road and then Charlie Young. It’s about three miles. From the parking lot there, the trail is only 0.2 of a mile.

If you missed it, see our main page about Hanging Rock State Park.

A second option from within the park is the Tory’s Den Trail, a 2.7-mile moderate spur off of the Moore’s Wall Loop Trail at Huckleberry Ridge, which is a hike of not quite 5 miles one way.

The Tory’s Den Waterfall …

The eastern end of the Sauratown Trail, which connects Hanging Rock and Pilot Mountain State Park, is across the road from the Tory’s Den parking lot.

From the parking lot, the trail descends into the woods before heading up over a ridge.

Once you crest the ridge, you start down the stairs.

The story of Tory’s Den is that Redcoats used it as a hideout during the Revolutionary War, but their campfires were spotted at night and they were quickly routed. It’s a small cave, which you pass by on the way to the waterfall.

Looking out from inside the cave …

Just a few yards beyond the cave, the waterfall can be seen from a ledge. You can move around on the ledge to get a little bit of a better view, but there’s not really a good – or worthwhile – way to get closer.