Are you ready for an off the beaten path waterfall hike? While it might not be the biggest waterfall you’ll ever see, at least it’s something and getting out in nature is always a bit of fun, right? Here’s a detailed guide for hiking the Pauline Longest Trail in Fayetteville where you can see a cool waterfall and gorgeous river views. As always, if you have any questions just let me know otherwise I hope this helps you plan your hike!
Here’s How To Hike The Pauline Longest Trail In Fayetteville, NC
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Before we get started
If you want to make the most of your time living in Fayetteville, check out my Ultimate Fort Bragg Bucket List.
It’s full of adventures, events, and long weekend inspiration to help you fill your weekends and experience North Carolina to the fullest.
FAQ for the Pauline Longest Trail
Where is it located?
Fayetteville, North Carolina.
How long does it take?
About an hour depending on your pace.
What skill level is required?
Beginner.
What type of trail is it?
Can be point to point (to the waterfall and back) or loop.
Is there parking?
Street parking. There isn’t a dedicated parking lot for this hike unless you have access to the University.
Is it kid friendly?
Yes – but you know your kids better than I do. Use this guide and your best judgment to decide what’s suitable for them.
Is it dog friendly?
Yes – but make sure they have protection against ticks.
What should you bring with you?
- Tick repellant – something with DEET like this
- Lightweight hiking shoes if you have them – these are my favorite for slippery trails/waterfall hikes
- Water – I use this insulated water bottle
- Camera – I use this one for outdoor adventures with this compact tripod and selfie stick
Where to park
So this is the tricky part.
There isn’t a dedicated parking lot for the hike.
If you can access the Methodist University grounds, you can park at the lot by the baseball field at the end of Lower Field Drive. This is about as close you can get to the start of the trail. I tried getting onto the University for the hike but the guards wouldn’t let me in.
Instead, I used street parking and walked to the start of the trail. Here’s how I did it and I’ve added a map to help describe it.
I parked at the end of an inlet off Dobson Drive, then walked up Dobson Drive towards the train tracks. Once I got there, I took a left and walked on the grass alongside the train tracks until I got to the start of the trail. There is plenty of open space next to the train tracks so no need to be walking on them.
Of course, if you use street parking just be respectful of people that live there and don’t block driveways.
Walking alongside the train tracks to get to the start of the trail
Nearing the start of the trail – it is over to the left
Start of the trail
How to find the trailhead
The trailhead is almost directly across from the baseball field. If you’re walking up from the Dobson Drive end, it will be on your left.
You will be able to see a path that goes from the University side across the tracks which is at the start of the trail so keep an eye out for that.
There is also a sign for the start of the trail so it isn’t too hard to find. You’ll also see a sign at the start for tick prevention as it’s a heavy tick area.
The trail is almost directly opposite this
Tick sign at the start of the trail
Beginning of the hike
What to expect on the trail
The trail itself is fairly simple and short.
To get to the waterfall, you pretty much just follow it directly into the bush. The wide trail is easy to follow and there are also signs to guide you along the way.
At the start, there is also a trail to the left with an ROTC obstacle course which is cool to see.
To get to the waterfall, you just keep following the trail then as you get closer you will probably hear the water. If not, there is a sign to let you know which way to go for the waterfall.
I’d recommend following the signs for waterfall first then doing the other trails after if you want to do them too.
Obstacle course
Signs along the trail
The waterfall
I don’t want to get your hopes up too high but the waterfall isn’t anything huge and majestic like the big ones in the mountains.
But… it’s fun to get outdoors and cool to have a waterfall right here in Fayetteville.
To get to the waterfall viewing area, there is a really small section of the trail that is downhill and over tree roots. I can imagine it could be a little slippery if it has been raining, so just take your time on that part. It’s nothing too crazy though.
These are my favorite hiking shoes for these types of trails (and beginners in general) because they have really good grip and are super lightweight. If I end up getting them soaked by walking through water, then they don’t get bogged down and dry easily. I’ve had mine for about 6 years and they’re still going strong.
The only other thing I would mention for safety is that there isn’t a fence or barrier around the top of the waterfall. Just something to keep in mind if you have energetic little ones.
There’s a viewing area at the top of the waterfall, a bridge behind it with a bit of a view, and also a path that goes down to the bottom of it if you want to see it up close. The trail to the bottom is very short, but steep and slippery. There’s a rope in that section for stability which makes it a lot easier.
The waterfall
The best shoes for waterfall hikes
Viewing area of the waterfall – as you can see there is no barrier by the edge so be careful
The downhill section to get to the viewing area of the waterfall
The rope section to get to the bottom of the waterfall
How to get back
After the waterfall, you have a few options.
One option is to turn around and go back the way you came.
You can also go over the bridge above the waterfall, then follow that trail around which will bring you out by the train tracks further down from the baseball field area. Then you just follow along the side of the train tracks back passed the trailhead.
Another option is to go to the bottom of the waterfall and follow the trail of the water around the back. It leads to an awesome spot at the edge of the river which is a pretty spot for nature pics.
There’s a little trail back from there which has a rope section at the start and it leads you up to the main trail.
That’s another cool thing about this hike – I like the different options you can take because it gives you more to explore than a standard point to point trail.
Gorgeous river views
Looking back at the rope section to hike the loop back from the river
If you go over the bridge above the waterfall, the trail brings you to this spot after a short walk. Follow it around to the right and then walk straight back to where you started the trail.
Other Fayetteville guides you might enjoy:
A Detailed Guide For The Cape Fear River Trail In Fayetteville, NC
How To Visit The World’s Largest Chest Of Drawers In North Carolina
6 Of The Best Coffee Shops In Fayetteville (And Surrounding Area)
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We tried to hike Thursday but trail was closed. Do you know how long trail will be closed?