DuPont State Recreational Forest sessions: meadows and falls
DuPont is one of the most photographed forests in Western North Carolina, and one of the most regulated. Here is what the NC Forest Service actually says about shoots and ceremonies.
The forest is known for its waterfalls and long trail network, with the High Falls Loop and the Turkey Knob Trail called out by the forest itself. It is run by the North Carolina Forest Service, not the state parks, so the rules are a different set from Mount Mitchell or Chimney Rock.
What I can share is how I would plan, and the real price of doing it properly, because DuPont is not the easy choice for most couples.
From a Stories by Esi session
Ceremonies live in one place
The Forest Service says weddings, elopements and other ceremonies need a special use permit, and that they are allowed only at the Guion Farm picnic shelter and surrounding meadows. The permit is free and valid for one day, with restrictions that range from location to group size. Processing takes 30 business days, so this is a plan-ahead kind of day.
The meadows are the part I would build a session around. Open grass takes backlight well, and late afternoon turns it gold. If you want waterfalls in the background, you are asking for something the ceremony rules do not allow.
What a photo shoot costs
The forest's permits page lists film and photo shoots with a minimum daily reimbursement charge of $760, and requests must be made at least three weeks before the shoot. It does not give a group size limit for photo shoots. Separate from that, a commercial use permit is required for anyone doing business in the forest.
I would rather say this plainly than send you toward a place that quietly adds a large cost. For many couples, a trail walk that is simply the two of you and a camera you own is the better fit, and I can point you to other places with simpler rules.
From a Stories by Esi session
Crowds, hours and the closures
The forest opens at 5 a.m. and closes at 10 p.m. in summer. Parking lots fill early. The forest advises arriving before 9 a.m. or after 5 p.m., and in summer the lots are often full by 9:30 a.m. That lines up with how I would choose light: early morning or late afternoon.
On October 23, 2026, the forest's alerts page listed the Triple Falls stairs as closed, the Turkey Knob Trail bridge as closed, and a long list of permanently closed trails. Check the alerts page and the forest's current closures before you plan around any specific waterfall.
Rules that shape the photos
No drones, no campfires, no alcohol, no e-bikes. Dogs must be leashed. The forest calls its waterfalls beautiful but dangerous and asks people not to slide on, dive from, jump off or climb them. I will keep your feet dry and well back from the edge.
From a Stories by Esi session
Good to know
Before we go
Ceremonies
As of October 2026, weddings, elopements and other ceremonies require a special use permit and are allowed only at the Guion Farm picnic shelter and surrounding meadows. The permit is free, valid for one day, with restrictions from location to group size. Processing takes 30 business days.Official info
Film and photo shoots
Listed with a minimum daily reimbursement charge of $760, to be requested at least three weeks before the shoot. No group size limit is stated. Commercial use permits are separate; the 2026 application window ran through Sept. 15, 2026 and processing takes 30 to 40 business days. Contact commercialuse.dsrf@ncagr.gov or 828-877-6527.Official info
Picnic shelter
Guion Farm picnic shelter requests are due at least three weeks ahead. The fee is $40 and is nonrefundable.Official info
Rules
Drones, alcohol, e-bikes and campfires are prohibited. Dogs must be leashed. Forest rules are state law. Hours are 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. in summer. Lots often fill by 9:30 a.m. in summer.Official info
Current closures
Read October 28, 2026 from the alerts page updated October 23, 2026: Triple Falls stairs closed, Turkey Knob Trail bridge closed, and 11 trails permanently closed and removed from new maps.Official info
Questions
Asked and answered
Where can we have an elopement ceremony at DuPont?
According to the NC Forest Service, ceremonies need a special use permit and are allowed only at the Guion Farm picnic shelter and surrounding meadows.
How much is a photo shoot permit?
The forest lists film and photo shoots with a minimum daily reimbursement charge of $760 and a three week request deadline. Check with the forest at 828-877-6527 for how it applies to a small session.
