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Fabulous Waterfalls in North Carolina
North Carolina is well known for the Blue Ridge Parkway, Biltmore Estate, and gorgeous waterfalls. If you are planning a trip to North Carolina and looking for the best waterfalls while visiting, you are in the right place. The Brevard area is full of hiking trails through gorgeous forests and 250 waterfalls. You will find cascading water into a swimming hole, a natural rock slide, rocks at the base of a 150-foot drop to picnic on, a waterfall to walk behind, another to drive behind, and so much more. Scan this bucket list of top waterfalls while in North Carolina to ensure you don’t miss a thing. Make the most of your day trip chasing waterfalls from Ashville or add road trip stops when traveling to the Great Smokey Mountains. Enjoy your time out of the office!
Read 10 Day Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smoky Mountains Road Trip Planner
Dupont State Recreational Forest: Hooker Falls, High Falls, Triple Falls
Dupont State Recreational Forest is about a 45-minute drive from Ashville, North Carolina. The 10,000-acre forest has 86 miles of trails including a three-mile roundtrip hike to three North Carolina waterfalls: High Falls, Triple Falls, and Hooker Falls. Hooker Falls is a 12-foot cascade into a popular swimming hole. From the parking area go left and follow the .5 mile path down to the falls. The hike to High Falls and Triple Falls begins at the opposite side of the parking lot. Cross a small pedestrian bridge and climb a steep hill to the 150-foot High Falls. You will be at the base of the falls and can sit on several flat rocks to rest or have a picnic. Continue on to the 120-foot Triple Falls. The Triple Falls waterfall in North Carolina was featured in The Hunger Games and The Last of the Mohicans.
Pisgah National Forest: Looking Glass Falls, Sliding Rock
Pisgah National Forest is 40 minutes from Asheville, North Carolina. You will find 500,000 acres of hiking trails, waterfalls, and whitewater rivers. Looking Glass Falls and Sliding Rock are two great stops in Pisgah National Forest. Both are on the Forest Heritage Scenic Byway (Highway 276). Looking Glass Falls is a 60-foot fall visible from the roadside viewing platform, or, descend the stairs for a closer view of the falls and go for a swim. Sliding Rock is a 60-foot natural water slide, 11,000 gallons of 50-60-degree water flow down the sloping rock per minute. The slide ends at an eight-foot-deep swimming hole. Be sure to wear old shorts and sneakers if you plan to slide and bring a life jacket if you are not a strong swimmer. Entry is $3.00 and parking is limited.
Consider a stop at Daniel Ridge Falls, Mill Shoals, and French Broad Falls before leaving the Pisgah National Forest area. Daniel Ridge Falls is a 1-mile roundtrip hike on National Forest Road to a 150-foot waterfall best viewed after rain. Mill Shoals and French Broad Falls are located on a riverside trail off Parkway Road next to the Living Waters Retreat in Balsam Grove.
If you are spending the day chasing waterfalls in North Carolina, continue on Hwy 64 toward the Mountain Waters Scenic Byway. Take two quick detours to visit Whitewater Falls and Silver Run Falls. Whitewater Falls is a gorgeous 811-foot North Carolina waterfall in the Nantahala National Forest. The falls are viewed from two overlooks. Follow the paved 0.25-mile path to an upper overlook and take the 154 wooden steps to the lower overlook. Silver Run Falls is a 25-foot waterfall cascading into a swimming hole; the falls are a short 0.2-mile walk off NC 107 near Cashiers.
Mountain Waters Scenic Byway: Bridal Veil Falls, Dry Falls, Cullasaja Falls
Mountain Waters Scenic Byway is a 61-mile drive through Nantahala National Forest’s two river gorges. There are three North Carolina waterfalls located on US-64: Bridal Veil Falls, Dry Falls, and Cullasaja Falls. Visit Bridal Veil Falls and drive under a veil of water falling 40 feet. Dry Falls is a 75-foot waterfall flowing over a cliff. The falls can be seen from the overlook adjacent to the parking area or walk down the path and behind the falls. This is one of the best waterfalls in North Carolina and is not to be missed! Continuing on the Mountain Waters Scenic Byway Cullasaja Falls can be seen from the road; it is not possible to stop for a photograph of Cullasaja Falls. At the end of the Mountain Waters Scenic Byway, head north toward Cherokee to visit nearby Soco Falls and Mingo Falls.
Download the Mountain Waters Scenic Byway Map from the National Forest Service
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