Torys Falls is a 50-foot horsetail waterfall on a small unnamed stream in the Tory's Den section of Hanging Rock State Park, Stokes County, North Carolina. A short trail from the Tory's Den parking lot leads to the falls and on to the cave that gives them their name.
The falls
Lidar measurements place the main drop at about 50 feet, with possibly more cascades just downstream. Other accounts report much larger numbers: state park descriptions cite water dropping 240 feet over a series of gentle rock terraces, while separate records give 100 feet. The stream is small, and the whole falls are difficult to take in from any one spot.
Getting there
The Tory's Den Cave and Waterfalls Trail can only be reached from the Tory's Den parking lot at 1185 Charlie Young Road in Westfield, separate from the park's main entrance; the trail starts at the east end of the lot. The easy walk puts the falls 0.2 mile away, over a natural surface of gravel, dirt and rock with some wooden steps, though it is not accessible. There is no day-use fee at Hanging Rock. The Tory's Den gate opens at 7:30 a.m. and closes at 5:30 p.m. in December and January, 6:30 p.m. in February and November, 7:30 p.m. in March, April and October, and 8:30 p.m. from May through September; the park is closed on Christmas Day.
When to go
The stream carries much water only during or right after heavy rain, sometimes dwindling to a trickle. Plan a visit after a wet spell.
On site
A designated safe viewpoint sits at the end of the trail. From there the path continues to Tory's Den, a natural cave 20 feet deep, and a display at the parking lot covers its history. Dogs are allowed on a leash no longer than 6 feet.
History and name
The falls are named for Tory's Den, the nearby cave used by Tories during the American Revolution. Local tradition recounts that Tories held a Whig's daughter captive there.
Nearby
The rest of the park's waterfalls lie to the east, reached from the main visitor center or Hall Road. Upper Cascade Falls is about 1.8 miles away, Lower Cascade Falls about 1.9 miles, Hidden Falls about 2.2 miles and Window Falls about 2.3 miles.
Distances are straight-line.