Window Falls is a 40-foot tiered waterfall on Indian Creek in Hanging Rock State Park, Stokes County, North Carolina, where the creek emerges from behind a natural opening in a quartzite wall. It lies 0.6 mile down the Indian Creek Trail from the park's visitor center, just past Hidden Falls.
The falls
Indian Creek drops in two steps beside the rock wall. A lidar survey puts the cumulative drop at about 40 feet with a tallest step of about 25 feet; older surveys listed 27 feet. The water appears from behind the "window" in the quartzite.
Getting there
The Indian Creek Trail starts at the east end of the visitor center parking lot, 1005 Visitor Center Drive in Westfield. Window Falls is 0.6 mile from the trailhead, rated strenuous, on a natural surface with gravel; it is not accessible. The trail crosses Hanging Rock Park Road, so watch for traffic. Hidden Falls comes first, at 0.4 mile. Beyond Window Falls the trail continues down Indian Creek to the Dan River, 3.6 miles one way, crossing the creek several times without footbridges. There is no day-use fee at Hanging Rock.
When to go
Hiking trails were open as of September 2026. The main gate is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. in September, with shorter hours in winter, and the park closes on Christmas Day.
On site
A railed overlook gives the park's designated safe view of the window and the falls; stay behind the rail. Dogs are allowed on a leash no longer than 6 feet.
History and name
The falls take their name from the small opening in the neighboring rock formation that visitors can look through.
Nearby
Hidden Falls, on the same trail, is about 0.1 mile away. Upper Cascade Falls is about 0.7 mile away and Lower Cascade Falls about 1.1 miles, both on Cascade Creek; the lower falls has its own trailhead on Hall Road. Torys Falls is about 2.3 miles away.
Distances are straight-line.