Upper Creek is a small trout stream located about 18 miles north of Morganton, NC, in the Pisgah National Forest. It supports a population of brown and rainbow trout and smallmouth bass in its lower reaches, and brown trout in its upper reaches. Upper Creek is managed under Wild regulations.
The lower reaches of Upper Creek, which are accessible by a forest road, support a healthy population of forage fish for the trout and smallmouth bass. This portion of the creek features a relatively flat gradient, with some pools and riffles. When fly fishing this section of the stream, use streamer flies, such as our sculpin imitations or the big brown trout fly. From my experience, there are relatively few fish in this area, probably due to the streamside camping and good access. As you fish up the stream from where the road is closed, the stream becomes steeper with better pooling. At this point, the fishing improves. A trail beside the stream offers some access to the creek, though there are portions of stream that are not well served by a trail.
Further upstream there are a couple of trails that offer access for fly fishing Upper Creek. The more notable trail is the loop trail that descends from a parking area near the highway and accesses the Upper and Lower Falls. The trail is generally moderate, though it becomes steeper as you approach the creek, and becomes very steep for the short stretch between the Upper and Lower Falls. Be very careful when fishing in the vicinity of the falls; an accident here could prove fatal. Do not try to fish the stream immediately above the falls or during periods of high water.
The stream in this upper portion is cooler than the lower stretches (4-5 degrees), and offers better habitat for the trout. The stream between the falls features plunge pool after plunge pool, with large boulders and steep descent. There are good numbers of brown trout in this area. Fly fishermen should use flies from the Southern Trout Stream Fly Collection in this area. Keep in mind that the brown trout in this stream can often be very wary, and they will sometimes hide in out of the way places. The large boulders and steep terrain, though tiring, will help anglers hide from the fish. Note that the stream in the area of the falls can be very popular, especially among the local college kids during warm months. I've even had them wade through the pool I was fishing.
The lower portion of Upper Creek is accessible from gravel National Forest Road 982. The forest road can be reached from NC 181, about 18 miles north of Morganton, NC. If you are traveling north on 181, the forest road will be on your right. After approximately 1.3 miles on the forest road, you will cross Upper Creek. After crossing the stream, you can turn left or right to follow the creek upstream or downstream. There is ample parking along the road in either direction. If you take a left, the road follows the stream for a mile or so until the road is closed. At this point, you can continue on foot. If you take a right, the road follows the stream for a short distance before leaving the stream. At this point, another road/path proceeds downstream.
About 5 miles up the road from the intersection of the forest road and NC 181, there is a parking area from which a loop trail originates. This loop trail, which the trailhead map lists as 1.6 miles long (though it seems longer), accesses the upper and lower falls and the area between them on Upper Creek. The loop trail leaves the parking area in two directions. Taking the trail on the left side (as you face away from the road) of the parking area, toward the upper falls, will bring you to the stream sooner.
There is small (and difficult to identify) parking area and trail leading to Upper Creek in between the forest road and the parking area for the Upper and Lower falls. Note that this trail requires a longer hike, but probably sees fewer people.