The BEST waterfalls near Asheville NC: 20 Asheville waterfall hikes

The Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina are often called the “land of waterfalls.” This area has one of the highest concentrations of waterfalls anywhere in the U.S. — over 500 and counting. You’ll find swimming holes, huge drops, rock slides, and every other variation of cascade among the waterfalls near Asheville.

There’s nothing better than escaping the city on a hot summer day and hiking to a waterfall in the mountains. As a Western North Carolina local, I’ve explored dozens of these trails. But on a short trip, it can be hard to narrow down your options.

In this post, I’ll show you the best waterfalls near Asheville NC to prioritize on a quick weekend trip. I’ll include all the details to plan your own hike, no matter your experience or fitness level. Let’s dive in — and don’t forget your camera!

Note: This post may contain affiliate links. If you decide to purchase through these links, I receive a percentage of the sale at no additional cost to you.

A few practicalities for waterfall hikes in Asheville, NC

Before we dive in to the waterfalls themselves, let’s talk about safety.

Waterfalls can be extremely dangerous if you don’t respect them. And if you hike to enough Asheville-area waterfalls, you will see lots of people risking their lives. Several people die every year in the rivers of WNC. At some popular waterfalls (*cough* Catawba Falls *cough*) rescues and serious injuries are a near-weekly occurrence.

Here are a few essential waterfall safety tips:

• Stay on the trail. Not all waterfalls can be reached with strictly on-trail travel. But most casual visitors to WNC won’t have the experience or environmental context for bushwhacks. If you have these skills there is tons of additional waterfall fun to be had, and I’d be happy to tell you more if you email me. For the handful of waterfalls in this post that require minor off-trail travel, I’ve included detailed notes.
• Don’t climb on rocks or scramble up to the tops of waterfalls. No matter how safe it looks. Not only could you hurt yourself, you could also damage the extremely fragile river ecosystems.
• If you take your dog on waterfall hikes, keep them on the trail as well. People die at waterfalls trying to stop their dogs from falling over.
• Never, ever, ever enter a river above or alongside a waterfall. Before you enter the river anywhere, check your topographic map to ensure there aren’t more falls out of view downstream. Some of the biggest falls are fed by teeny-tiny creeks that you can’t tell are dangerous until it’s too late.
• If you swim or wade on your waterfall adventures, make sure you have a way to dry off. Hypothermia can set in at temperatures as high as the 40’s Fahrenheit in wet conditions. You will encounter those temperatures in summer at high elevations.
• Wear appropriate shoes and pack appropriate gear for your hikes. All the hikes in this post are muddy year-round and often icy in winter. Hiking boots and a good rain jacket are essential.

If you want to explore North Carolina waterfalls more extensively, pick up a copy of Kevin Adams’ book. It is the definitive guide that all the locals use to plan our waterfall hikes. You’ll learn so much more about the history and environment of our waterfalls from him.

Feeling compelled to give back after you visit a few of these cascades? Consider donating your time or money to Waterfall Keepers of NC. This volunteer-run organization works in partnership with WNC communities, landowners, and land management agencies to preserve waterfalls and their surrounding ecosystems. I’ve “adopted” the two falls at Graveyard Fields and Gina Falls in Pinnacle Park, so I can personally vouch for this organization’s awesomeness.

Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, let’s talk trails! Read on for all the details. Or, skip to the absolute best of the best waterfalls to see in two days in Asheville.

Waterfalls near Asheville in Pisgah National Forest: Route 276 and surrounds

The Pisgah Ranger District, in Pisgah National Forest, has the greatest density of waterfalls in Asheville and the surrounding area. In fact, there are over 250 known and named waterfalls in a single county. These include some of the most impressive Asheville waterfalls and many smaller ones.

Route 276 runs from Brevard to the Blue Ridge Parkway, cutting through the heart of the Pisgah Ranger District. Along this (paved) road and the (gravel) Forest Service offshoots, you can hike to a dozen waterfalls in a single day. There are several roadside falls. Most of the rest are on easy trails. In addition to being great for waterfall viewing, these hikes are also highlights for spring wildflowers.

I could write several entire posts about the waterfalls in this small area, so I had to narrow it down for this post. These are my absolute top picks that are reliable all-season hikes. But if you love waterfalls, pick up a topographic map at Black Dome Sports and go searching for the rest on your own!

Looking Glass Falls

Plunging 60 feet into a gorge directly along Rt. 276, you can feel the thunderous spray from Looking Glass Falls from the roadside parking area.

The “hike” to Looking Glass Falls isn’t much of a hike at all. You park along the north side of the road and walk out to a wooden viewing deck. This deck offers nice photo opportunities and makes the waterfall accessible to those who are mobility-impaired.

You can get two other vantage points of the falls. The first requires you to walk down a set of stairs. This is a popular spot for engagement photo shoots and you’ll see people climbing on the rocks, but don’t follow them.

The final view is from the very bottom of the ramp to your right from the middle viewing deck. You’ll be riverside here. This view is especially worthwhile in winter, when chunks of ice float in the river and the gorge is snow-covered. Just be forewarned that you will get drenched from the spray.

Because of the easy access, Looking Glass Falls is one of the most popular waterfalls in Asheville. Parking backs up for half a mile and you’ll usually be shoulder-to-shoulder with other people. But I’ve had it to myself on 3 separate visits, including on a sunny June weekend.

Hike details:

• Length: None — visible from the road
• Elevation Gain: A few stairs
• Difficulty: Easy
• Driving time from Asheville: 45 minutes
• Road conditions and parking: Parallel parking in designated spots along Route 276
• Seasonal considerations: Good flow year-round. I’ve visited a dozen times and never not been wow’d.

Moore Cove Falls

Just a few miles up the road from Looking Glass Falls is perhaps Pisgah’s most beautiful waterfall. It doesn’t have the raw power of Looking Glass or the remoteness of some of the other Asheville waterfalls in this post. But it more than makes up for it with charm, wildflowers, and lots of vantage points to explore.

Park at the large parking area two miles north of Looking Glass Falls on Highway 276. If you’re traveling north, it’ll be on your right.

Pick up the trail at the footbridge. It meanders upward for about 0.6 miles. It’s a wide and well-maintained path, but it’s very muddy after rain. The wildflowers in spring and mushrooms in summer would make this hike worthwhile even if it didn’t end at a waterfall.

Eventually you’ll reach a large cavern with a trickle of water flowing over it. That’s Moore Cove Falls. A wooden viewing platform takes you to the base.

Moore Cove Falls is very popular. I had it to myself in February, but you’ll usually find the parking area and viewing platform packed.

Safety notes: There is tons to explore in the vicinity of the waterfall. You can walk below the viewing deck, out on to the rocks, and behind the waterfall. The rocks behind the falls are slick, but most visitors with good boots and poles should be able to safely navigate them when it’s not icy.

There is also an Upper Falls that you can reach along a steep and eroded scramble path to the left of the waterfall. I’m telling you it’s there because I specifically want to tell you not to attempt it. Trust me, it looks much easier from the bottom than it is. People have died falling from this area.

If you walk behind the waterfall and take the side trail to the left, you’ll come to an illegal campsite. Rock-hop across a couple drainages and keep following the manway and you’ll reach Moore Cove’s little sister — a nearly identical, but much smaller, waterfall. The best views are through the trees but you can scramble down to the base. This is an easy bushwhack on a clear path, and fit hikers could do it safely.

Hike details:

• Length: 1.2 miles round-trip
• Elevation Gain: 160 feet
• Difficulty: Easy
• Driving time from Asheville: 50 minutes
• Road conditions and parking: Paved parking area
• Seasonal considerations: High flow in spring only, but it’s still beautiful when water levels are down. Exceptionally lovely when icy.

Daniel Ridge Falls/Toms Spring Falls

You may see these two waterfall names used interchangeably on maps of Pisgah National Forest. Both refer to this 100-foot cascade that features several smaller drops.

The hike starts along Forest Service Road 475. You can get here by taking Route 276 to the turnoff for the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education. Continue straight until it turns to gravel. It’s another half-mile to the obvious parking area on your right.

The quickest way to see Daniel Ridge Falls is by crossing the footbridge and following the gravel path to your right. You’ll see the waterfall on your left after about 0.2 miles.

But if you’re up for a bigger hike, the Daniel Ridge Loop is an atmospheric and moderate stroll through the lower slopes of Pisgah. Cross the footbridge and follow the signs for the loop heading clockwise. The gravel road turns into a path after about 0.4 miles and climbs along a creek. The creek tumbles over rocks and rapids and creates small waterfalls the whole way up.

After about 2 miles, you’ll reach an intersection where you turn right to stay on the loop trail. This path is shared with mountain bikers, who often come down fast behind you, so keep an ear out. It’s steep and muddy for the first mile. You’ll cross the top of Daniel Ridge Falls at about 3.5 miles from the trailhead before switchbacking down to the gravel road. Take a left and walk 300 feet to the waterfall.

The best view of Daniel Ridge Falls is from the road. You can also get decent photos of the lower drops from the rocks to the left of the waterfall. This is a reasonably safe scramble in dry weather. Just stick to the rocks immediately by the shore — if you fall in here, you’ll be dragged down the lower drops.

The waterfall itself and the camping areas around it are busy from April-October. But the loop hike is quiet — I saw two hikers and two bikers on a warm, sunny Saturday morning.

Hike details:

• Length: 5.1 miles for the loop. The waterfall is 0.2 miles from the road if you don’t want to hike.
• Elevation Gain: 820 feet for the loop
• Difficulty: Easy if you just walk to the falls. Moderate for the full loop going clockwise.
• Driving time from Asheville: 50 minutes
• Road conditions and parking: Gravel road that all cars can handle in dry weather. Parking is a bit of a mess — be prepared to parallel park on the shoulder of the gravel road, in deep mud.
• Seasonal considerations: Always has decent flow. The loop hike is muddy after rain.

Cove Creek Falls

This one is similar to Daniel Ridge Falls — you can do a quick hike to the waterfall itself, or hike for longer with a few loop possibilities. You can even combine it with Daniel Ridge.

The hike starts from the group campground right before Forest Service Rd. 475 turns to gravel. Park in the small lot on your left — if you try to drive into the campground, you’ll encounter a vehicle ford that would be dangerous for anything but a Jeep or pickup truck.

The trail starts across the road from the parking area. Take the footbridge and follow the gravel road beside Cove Creek. Just before you get to the campground, veer right on the clearly marked trail to the falls. At the next intersection, take a left to stay on Cove Creek Trail.

Cove Creek climbs moderately up to the turnoff for the falls about 0.2 miles later. This waterfall is not on the trail — you have to take an unmaintained manway to reach it. That being said, it’s easy as far as off-trail travel goes and the path is very clear. Be sure to stay on the existing manway — if you carve your own path slightly to the left, you could tumble straight into the falls.

The waterfall itself drops a few times in a stair-step pattern. Supposedly the best views are from the other bank, but I didn’t want to wade the thigh-deep river on an 18-degree morning.

To continue the loop, go back to the trail and stay straight as you cross the creek about half a mile later. The next intersection is with the Caney Bottom Trail, where you can take a right.

Caney Bottom is one of the most fun trails on the lower slopes of Pisgah. It crosses a half-dozen log bridges that get increasingly inventive as you descend. At about 0.75 miles — right after you cross one of the log bridges above an open slope to your left — you’ll see a second small waterfall through the trees. The trail descends all the way to the campground, where you can walk back to your car along Cove Creek.

I hiked Cove Creek on a very cold winter morning and didn’t encounter a single other person. By the time I got back to my car, the parking lot was full, which indicates that this trail would be moderately crowded on a sunny summer weekend.

Hike details:

• Length: 4.6 miles for the loop. The waterfall is about 3/4 of a mile from the road.
• Elevation Gain: 603 feet for the loop
• Difficulty: Moderate; reaching the falls requires following a steep unmaintained trail.
• Driving time from Asheville: 50 minutes
• Road conditions and parking: All tarmac roads, but the gravel parking area fills up quickly.
• Seasonal considerations: Always has decent flow. Go in winter if you don’t want to walk through peoples’ campsites at the group campground.

Waterfalls of FS 475B

Forest Service Road 475B runs parallel to Route 276 for six miles through the Pisgah National Forest backcountry. It offers easy access to four waterfalls. This drive/hike makes for a great half-day outing to see waterfalls around Asheville when you’re not feeling so active.

Slick Rock Falls

Start from the entrance of FS 475B, to the right a couple hundred feet past the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education, and drive a mile up the road. Park in the obvious parking lot on the right, below the wooden sign. You can hear Slick Rock Falls, but you can’t see it.

The trail runs less than a tenth of a mile from the road. You’ll have to climb a few steps, but it’s otherwise flat, if muddy and slippery. You’ll see the waterfall plunging over the cliff in front of you.

You can walk behind the falls — the rocks get very slippery in the winter. You can also take the short path to your left from about 200 feet away from the falls to reach the top, but you can’t see much from up there.

Slick Rock Falls is rarely crowded. Visit in spring if you can — the flow slows to a trickle the rest of the year. This is also a good cold-snap waterfall for the “ice volcano” that forms at its base.

Log Hollow Falls

Continue up FS 475B for four miles. On your left, you’ll come to a gated logging road labeled 5043. Park on the curve in 475B, and be careful not to block the gate for 5043.

Hop out of your car and walk down 5043 for about half a mile. You’ll cross two wooden bridges. Log Hollow Falls is visible from the second bridge. Take the path immediately after the falls to the base.

Although it’s not high, Log Hollow Falls is atmospheric, with its mountain laurel bushes and sliding rocks near the base. Fit hikers will enjoy the quarter-mile off-trail trek to the Upper Falls — the path is clear (to the left of the waterfall). It’s steep, but not difficult or dangerous, until you reach the upper falls. If you’re not experienced scrambling around waterfalls stick with the view from a bit further away. There are no good, safe places for photos, but the waterfall itself is even more impressive than the lower one.

Log Hollow Falls is busy on summer weekends between 10 am and 2 pm. At other times, you’ll likely have it to yourself. It’s best in winter or spring when water levels are high, but still worth a visit at other times.

Logging Road Falls/Kissing Falls

Continue on FS 5043 past Log Hollow Falls for a quarter mile and you’ll find another roadside waterfall. This one’s formal name is Logging Road Falls, but the locals call it Kissing Falls.

Logging Road Falls is tall, and it’s spectacular after a good rain. Unfortunately, you’ll also have a hard time getting a good view when the leaves are on the trees. This is a fall or winter waterfall for sure — in spring and summer, it’s not worth the extra walk.

Few tourists know Logging Road Falls exists. You have a pretty good chance of having this one to yourself or only sharing it with local waterfallers.

Discovery Falls

From Logging Road or Log Hollow Falls, retrace your steps until you reach the first wooden bridge. Cross the bridge and look for a small path on your left along the creek. This path leads to Discovery Falls.

Discovery Falls is the most impressive of the cluster on 475B, but it’s the hardest to reach. The 0.5-mile trek is mostly uphill and gets quite steep near the base of the falls. I’d only recommend this for fairly fit hikers. This is also not a maintained trail, so you’ll have to contend with erosion and nettles.

Once you get to the base of the falls, you’ll be tempted to explore the rocks. You can do this safely if you’re careful — just watch for where the trail is extremely eroded. It would be easy to slip down from the ledges into the pool below.

This Asheville waterfall is very well-hidden from tourist crowds. You’ll probably be the only one there. It’s a good year-round waterfall hike.

Hike details to see all four waterfalls:

• Length: Total of about 2.5 miles.
• Elevation Gain: Nominal, unless you scramble up Log Hollow and Discovery Falls.
• Difficulty: Easy if you stick with the roadside views. Difficult if you venture off-trail or to Discovery Falls.
• Driving time from Asheville: 50 minutes
• Road conditions and parking: FS 475B is a gravel road. It’s not the worst Forest Service road in Pisgah, but low-clearance cars will need to be careful. The entire road closes in winter. You can still access the falls in winter by parking at the upper entrance, from where it’s an 8-mile round-trip hike if you skip Slick Rock Falls. I would not recommend walking this road when it’s open due to traffic and dust.
• Seasonal considerations: Discovery Falls is nice year-round. Logging Road isn’t visible when the leaves are on the trees. The other two are best at peak flow in winter/spring.

Waterfalls of Dupont State Forest

Dupont State Forest has so many amazing waterfalls that I wrote an entire post about its waterfall hikes. So I won’t go into much detail here, other than to say: go to Dupont! If you have to pick one waterfall hike near Asheville, this is the one to choose. It’s also one of the best winter hikes near Asheville.

The #1 trail is the Three Waterfalls Hike. Start from High Falls Access Area and follow the signs for the High Falls Loop. You’ll reach High Falls first, then Triple Falls, and finally Hooker Falls.

If you want to extend your hike, walk the additional four flat miles round-trip to Bridal Veil Falls. Or pop over to Grassy Creek Falls, about half a mile from High Falls. Finally, Wintergreen Falls requires a long hike from High Falls Access Area, but you can park at Guion Farm Access Area to make this a 3-mile trip.

While Dupont State Forest is always crowded, the trails are wide and flat so there’s room for everybody. Hooker Falls is a popular swimming area (so it’s hard to get photos without people in them unless you arrive early).

Hike Details for the Three Waterfalls Hike:

• Length: 4.5 miles
• Elevation Gain: 500 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Driving time from Asheville: 50 minutes
• Road conditions and parking: Good paved roads the whole way to High Falls Access. You must park in the lots, not along the road — arrive by 9 am in summer.
• Seasonal considerations: These waterfalls are always jaw-dropping, so the big question is how you cope with crowds. Summer weekends are a zoo.

Waterfalls of Shining Rock Wilderness

The Blue Ridge Parkway traverses the ridgeline of the Great Balsam Mountains between Asheville and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Along the way, dozens of cascades, large and small, spill down from the slopes below.

The Parkway passes through Shining Rock and Middle Prong Wildernesses as it heads south. These areas have a huge number of waterfalls. Unfortunately many of them are difficult and dangerous bushwhacks and creek walks that casual visitors should not even consider. But you can still find a handful of waterfalls on beginner- and family-friendly hikes.

The Shining Rock waterfalls I cover here won’t impress you on their own if you’ve visited Dupont State Forest or Gorges State Park. But they are in achingly beautiful settings. Think dense mountain laurel tunnels with bursts of bright-pink rhododendron dotting the riverbanks, or fiery red autumn ridgelines, or fog dancing across the valleys on a cool summer morning.

All of these trails are inaccessible when the Blue Ridge Parkway closes in winter. Exact timing varies depending on weather, but anytime between November and April is a possibility. Serious hikers can compile very long hikes up from accessible trails, which I mention in the notes for each hike.

Skinny Dip Falls

**** 2022 update After Tropical Storm Fred ravaged the Shining Rock area in August 2021, Skinny Dip Falls was washed out and will likely never recover. The bridge over the river is gone, the waterfall no longer exists, and it’s not a safe area for swimming.

You can still do the hike, and it’s a lovely trail to a pretty stretch of creek with some cascading water. The Dragon Tree is still there and is the highlight of the trip. ****

On this popular waterfall hike, you get to see both a waterfall and the “dragon” (tree) who guards it!

Skinny Dip Falls is a local favorite for its swimming hole and family-friendly vibe (despite the name). It’s on a portion of river that has basically no rapids, so it’s safe for wading.

The hike starts at Milepost 417 on the Parkway. There is an unsigned “overlook” here but it’s more like a dirt parking area. Just look for where there are lots of other cars. Follow the Mountains to Sea Trail (white-blazed) for three quarters of a mile and you’ll reach the falls.

There are a number of interesting vantage points, including the rocks around the base of the falls, in the water itself, and on the bridges crossing the creek. You can also see it from the trail on the opposite side of the bridge (heading toward Graveyard Fields). In addition to the waterfall itself, the people leaping off the rocks into the pool below make great photo subjects.

The legendary guardian dragon is right near the bridge crossing the waterfall, on the side of the creek where you parked. It’s on the left side as you approach the falls. You can’t miss it!

Skinny Dip Falls is one of the most crowded waterfalls close to Asheville NC. Arrive very early if you want to avoid other people. Or visit in spring or fall, when it’s too cold to swim.

Hike Details:

• Length: 1.5 miles round-trip
• Elevation Gain: 187 feet
• Difficulty: Easy
• Driving time from Asheville: 1 hour
• Road conditions and parking: Take the Parkway the whole way. Dense fog is common up here in the mornings. The parking lot is gravel.
• Seasonal considerations: Summer means low water levels but great swimming. In winter, you can hike up from Big East Fork — it’s 11 miles round-trip. The trail is moderate difficulty. It’s not marked and crosses a few confusing intersections, so you need AllTrails or a good topo map.

Waterfalls of Graveyard Fields

Graveyard Fields is a stunner, despite its morbid name. Carved out of a fire-cleared slope south of the biggest peaks in the Balsams, it explodes with wildflowers in spring and with bright-red foliage in the fall. Summer brings cool, rushing rivers, baby-blue skies, and Southern Appalachia’s most beautiful sunsets just a couple miles away. And winter up here at 5,500 feet means reliable snow.

All of that is before you even get to the two waterfalls within three miles, and the fact that this is one of the most biodiverse places in the entire country.

Don’t miss Graveyard Fields.

The hike starts from the Parkway overlook, which has long-drop toilets and trash cans. Walk down the staircase on your right side and follow the signs to the Lower Falls. You’ll pass through Catawba rhododendrons and mountain laurels galore before crossing the river on a boardwalk. A set of stairs takes you to the base of the falls, which is a popular swimming area.

Next, head back to where you crossed the river and follow signs for the Upper Falls. You’ll pass through a clearing with long-range views of Black Balsam Knob. This is one of the best places in NC for fall colors. A sign points to your left for the loop trail, but continue straight, then right, to reach the Upper Falls. There are clear signs at every intersection. It’s about 1.5 miles and requires a stream crossing that you’ll have to wade in high water.

Reaching the base of the Upper Falls involves a light scramble over big boulders. You’ll need to walk out on the rocks to get a good view.

When you finish at the Upper Falls, backtrack to the turnoff for the loop. This will take you back to the parking area along the other side of the river.

Hike Details:

• Length: 3 miles round-trip
• Elevation Gain: 305 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate, only because the last quarter mile to the Upper Falls is tough.
• Driving time from Asheville: 1 hour
• Road conditions and parking: Take the Parkway the whole way. The parking lot is a mob scene by 9 am on weekends year-round.
• Seasonal considerations: The road is closed in winter, but you can reach Graveyard Fields on a long hike. Park at Beech Gap and walk 6 miles along the Parkway to reach the trailhead (for about 15 miles total, of which 12 is on the road). Alternatively, hike up from Big East Fork — about 17 miles round-trip, with a long and difficult climb between Skinny Dip Falls and Graveyard Fields. Trails aren’t marked and it’s easy to miss the turnoff for the Lower Falls from the Mountains-to-Sea.

Wildcat Falls

Wildcat Falls is tucked away in a less-visited section of Shining Rock Wilderness. You can reach it from the Parkway or from Highway 215, depending on how far you want to hike.

The trek in from 215 is family-friendly. Park at the Flat Laurel Creek Trailhead (or, actually, don’t — details below in the Parking section) and follow the Flat Laurel Creek Trail for 0.75 miles. It isn’t marked but once you figure out where it starts, it’s easy to follow. The falls drop above a wooden bridge that crosses the creek. Return the way you came.

Alternatively, park at Black Balsam Knob and take the Flat Laurel Creek trail across the meadow below Sam Knob. You can detour to summit Sam Knob if you want to add 2 miles to your hike — the views are worth it. Then, continue down through the balsam forest for about two miles. You will have to wade the river, which is shin-deep. You’ll have nice ridgeline views of Middle Prong Wilderness on your right. You’ll eventually reach the wooden bridge that crosses the falls. Return the way you came.

Finally, you can create an epic backpacking loop that includes Wildcat Falls. Park at Devil’s Courthouse on the Parkway and take the Mountains to Sea west until it crosses Rt. 215. A quick road walk takes you to the Flat Laurel Creek trailhead 0.75 miles from the waterfall. Then, continue up to Sam Knob to set up camp. The next morning, use the Little Sam Knob trail to connect to the Mountains-to-Sea back to Devil’s Courthouse.

Hike Details if starting from Rt. 215:

• Length: 1.5 miles round-trip
• Elevation Gain: 125 feet
• Difficulty: Easy
• Driving time from Asheville: 1 hour
• Road conditions and parking: Route 215 is a good, major road. Unfortunately, this is the worst parking area I’ve ever seen. You really shouldn’t try it in anything other than a pickup truck or Jeep — you need 8 inches of clearance. Park at the pull-off where the Mountains to Sea crosses 215 about a third of a mile further up 215 instead.
• Seasonal considerations: This waterfall has good flow year-round, and Rt. 215 stays open all winter. The trail is very flooded after rains — I did the backpacking loop in August and my ankles were in the water the entire 12 miles.

Catawba Falls in the Black Mountain foothills

**** 2022 update Catawba Falls is closed for maintenance until spring 2023. Please respect the closure — the landscape desperately needs it after a massive increase in visitors in the past 5 years. ****

One of the best waterfall hikes near Asheville NC is Catawba Falls. It’s just 30 minutes from town, in the foothills below Mount Mitchell, on a good trail appropriate for all skill levels. But the reward is enormous.

The trail starts two miles off I-40 in Old Fort from a gravel parking area with restrooms. It crosses the creek on a bridge and heads gradually upward on the right bank. After about a mile you’ll run into a short rock-hop across a stream. It’s nothing to worry about; I’ve seen an 80-year-old woman with a walker handle it easily. It’s another 0.3 miles to the falls from here.

Catawba Falls has a single large drop, but it also has a bunch of smaller drops. Take your time exploring the rocks in the river for all the best vantage points. This is a brilliant waterfall for close-up photos of individual sections, especially in winter. The rocks are often slippery and crowded, and way too many people let their dogs off-leash to play on them, so watch your step.

Very important safety note: There is an unofficial trail heading the Upper Catawba Falls along the right side of the waterfall. It’s extremely steep and eroded. Do not take this trail. It’s really unfortunate, because the Upper Falls are incredibly beautiful. You will be very tempted upon seeing others climbing around. But I’d guess this short climb is responsible for more serious injuries than just about anywhere else in North Carolina. If you fall, you may end up going down the waterfall, which is near-certain death. This isn’t just about your personal safety. Rescues here put the rescue crew at risk.

The Forest Service is continuing to research safe ways to build a trail to the Upper Falls, but it’s environmentally complicated. I hope one day we can all hike to it safely — but until then, continuing to use the eroded trail will only make it harder to find a permanent solution.

On a lighter note, the Catawba Falls trail is always crowded. After all, it’s the closest waterfall to Asheville that’s worth a special trip. I went on a Sunday in October at 8 am and passed about 50 people on my way back to the car. Winter weekdays are your best bet for a quiet visit.

Hike Details:

• Length: 2.3 miles round-trip
• Elevation Gain: 350 feet
• Difficulty: Easy
• Driving time from Asheville: 30 minutes
• Road conditions and parking: Good paved roads the whole way to a good gravel parking lot with plenty of space.
• Seasonal considerations: Good flow year-round. Winter is gorgeous, but the rocks are dangerously icy.

Waterfalls on the Blue Ridge Parkway north of Asheville

The Black Mountains and Linville Gorge are the highlights of WNC north of Asheville. These are some of the most dramatic landscapes in the U.S. — multiple peaks above 6,500 feet, the “Grand Canyon of the East,” and rushing rivers galore. The area feels truly wild and remote despite huge visitor numbers.

Like the waterfalls in Shining Rock, many of these Asheville waterfall hikes are closed in winter. Unlike the waterfalls in Shining Rock, they are mostly inaccessible on longer treks. The Forest Service roads in the Black and Craggy Mountains are more rugged, and the hikes up from the foothills are unrealistically steep. Save these hikes for April-October.

Douglas Falls

**** 2022 update Parts of FS 74 were washed out in a landslide in 2021, but information about which stretches of road are closed has been sketchy. If you want to drive, check the Forest Service website for the latest. (It’s listed as closed, but several friends have found it open up to Douglas Falls in the last year. But other friends have found it gated at the entrance so…idk.) You can still hike in from Craggy Gardens without being impacted by the road issues. Walking down the road from Craggy Gardens to access FS 74 by foot or bike is not permitted due to the risk of triggering landslides — take the Mountains to Sea – Douglas Falls trail instead. ****

Most visitors to the Craggy Gardens area completely miss this waterfall, which feels more like it’s in a tropical rainforest than at 5,000 feet in the Carolina mountains. But those who make it here find a secluded swimming hole and totally unique cascade.

There are two ways to reach Douglas Falls. One is a difficult drive; the other is a difficult hike. I did the hiking option, so that’s what I’ll cover in detail here.

The hike starts from Craggy Gardens Picnic Area. Take the Mountains to Sea heading east for about two miles. You’ll reach a signed turnoff for Douglas Falls to the left.

From here, it’s a 2-mile, steep descent to Douglas Falls. It’s often very muddy and the trail is narrow and overgrown. You’ll have to rock-hop three streams on the way down, two of which are below smaller waterfalls. You can’t see Douglas Falls until you’re directly below it. Return the way you came.

The other option is to drive up FS 74 for 9 miles. This is not for the faint of heart. I would not recommend it for low-clearance vehicles in anything but the driest, sunniest of dry and sunny weather. Even then, think twice about your comfort on gravel roads. High-clearance cars should be okay in dry weather (a little mud won’t kill you) but should also steer clear in winter. The good news is if you survive the drive, the hike is just 0.1 miles.

Hike Details:

• Length: 10 miles round-trip
• Elevation Gain: 2,000 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Driving time from Asheville: 45 minutes
• Road conditions and parking: Good paved roads the whole way to a good parking lot with plenty of space.
• Seasonal considerations: There is no realistic way to reach this waterfall in winter. Flow isn’t great in autumn.

Crabtree Falls

This popular Parkway hike takes you to one of the most-photographed waterfalls in Asheville and the mountains. It has a dedicated parking area at Milepost 339 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. There are a couple hike options in the 3-4 mile range.

The hike begins from a camping area — you’ll have to walk through the campground to find the trail. It descends quickly and steeply along a well-maintained trail to the base of the waterfall. You’ll get your first views from a bridge crossing the creek, but the best views are on the other side of the bridge on a small ledge to the left of the trail.

The climb back out is steep and switchbacked for the first 0.2 miles, but then flattens out. It takes you through typical WNC green tunnel.

Crabtree Falls is extremely crowded and popular when the Blue Ridge Parkway is open. However, it’s a phenomenal winter hike when the road is closed. You can access it by taking Route 80 up to the Parkway from Burnsville, then going as far on the Parkway as you can — there are gates every half mile or so in this stretch so you’ll have to take your chances on how close you can get. When I did it as a winter hike I got to an overlook a mile away.

Hike Details:

• Length: 2.6 miles
• Elevation Gain: 600 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Driving time from Asheville: One hour
• Road conditions and parking: Large tarmac parking area off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Long-drop toilets available when the road is open.
• Seasonal considerations: Add at least a mile road-walk on the Parkway and you can access Crabtree in winter. Bring microspikes from October-April. Good flow year-round, but summer crowds are a bummer.

Linville Falls

Linville Falls comes crashing into Linville Gorge at a total height of 90 feet. It squeezes through a narrow opening in the canyon with impossible force. It’s one of the largest cascades by volume in the Carolina mountains. This is one of the best waterfalls near Asheville and if you don’t mind the drive, it should be on your list.

Linville Falls is accessible from the Forest Service parking area on Old NC 105 and from the Blue Ridge Parkway visitor center. (You can walk between the two parking lots, but they’re over half a mile apart.) You have a few hiking options to different overlooks, ranging from 1-1.5 miles. All are easy.

The #1 view of the falls is from the Plunge Basin Trail, which is accessed from the Parkway. Take the trail behind the restrooms and follow it to an intersection 0.2 flat miles in. To see the waterfall from above, turn right at the intersection, go down the steps, and walk out onto the stone viewing platform. If you head back from here the whole hike is 0.4 miles and easy.

To reach the base of the waterfall, hike back to the intersection and follow the signs to Plunge Basin. It’s a very steep 0.3 miles to the base. The Plunge Basin swimming area is phenomenal, but you’ll have to wade out into the river to see the waterfall from here — you’ll end up about thigh-deep in the river.

From the Forest Service parking area, there are 3 viewpoints: Upper Linville Falls, Chimney View, and Erwin’s View. This is also an easy walk along a wide, flat trail. The most rewarding overlook is Erwin’s View. The Upper Falls are small, but worth a visit so you can look down into the canyon carved out by the main drop. (There are no guardrails and a fall into the river would be certain death.) Chimney View is entirely skippable. Visiting all 3 is a two mile hike.

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can also hike to Duggers Falls while in the area. It’s best accessed from the Parkway lot. This trail is not maintained or marked and it’s super-overgrown, but it’s really pretty and quiet.

Finally – Linville Gorge is the most rugged wilderness area in the Carolina Mountains, and probably on the East Coast. The trails aren’t marked or maintained (although hikes to the Falls are in better shape because of visitor numbers). Last year, a group of 15+ people got lost and had to call SARS less than 0.2 miles from the trail because they walked to an off-trail overlook and couldn’t find their way back. Do not attempt to hike anywhere in Linville Gorge — including Linville Falls — without the excellent, community-maintained Avenza map. When using Avenza, stick to your planned route taking in only the Falls. All other “trails” that connect to the falls are difficult, dangerous, overgrown, decommissioned, and completely miserable. (Trust me, I’ve done every one of them.) If you want to hike elsewhere in the Gorge, drive to another access area.

Hike Details:

• Length: 0.4-1.7 miles depending on trails. Visiting all 5 overlooks is about a 5-mile hike starting from the Forest Service parking area.
• Elevation Gain: 200-800 feet depending on your route
• Difficulty: Easy unless you go all the way to the Plunge Basin, in which case that 0.3 stretch down to the river is difficult
• Driving time from Asheville: One hour 15 minutes to the FS parking area, 1.5 hours to the Parkway lot.
• Road conditions and parking: Large tarmac parking area off the Blue Ridge Parkway, or gravel Forest Service area. The FS lot is really early on Old NC 105 and is safe for all cars, but do not venture any further up Old 105 in a low-clearance car, or in a high-clearance car in anything but perfect conditions.
• Seasonal considerations: The Gorge tends to be hotter than the rest of WNC, and it’s very rattlesnake-y in summer. You’ll have a better experience visiting between October and May unless the aim of your visit is to swim in the Plunge Basin. Wildflowers bloom early — the rhodos peak around the last week of April.

Waterfalls of Gorges State Park and surrounds

Gorges State Park is one of the most exciting stories of conservation in the Carolina mountains. This relatively new park was created to save several hundred acres of wilderness from unsustainable energy development. After nearly 100 years of damming and messing with the fragile river ecosystems, NC State Parks is starting to help the area recover.

In addition to the State Park, this area boasts what is often called the largest waterfall in NC. (Measuring waterfalls can be a bit contentious.) And it’s home to Panthertown Valley, which has a plethora of stunning cascades.

Rainbow Falls, Turtleback Falls and Drift Falls

The crown jewel of Gorges State Park, Rainbow Falls is similar in appearance to Crabtree Falls and High Falls. But you can get much better vantage points from the totally-open viewing area.

The hike starts from the main visitor area in Gorges State Park. It descends for about a mile, flattens out, and then climbs moderately to a viewing deck parallel to the falls.

The best views are from this platform, but you can also hike down to the base of the falls. It’s dangerous to do this from where you came up — go to the other side of the railing and descend along the obvious trail. Don’t get too close to the water here.

This trail continues above Rainbow Falls to Turtleback Falls, which is not visible from the trail. You’ll need to climb down to the river along the obvious paths. Stay on the riverbank and do not venture out onto the rocks — this would be one of the most dangerous places in the mountains to slip into the river.

Finally, continue along the trail and take a left where it forks. After half a mile you’ll reach Drift Falls, a small but very scenic waterfall, especially in evening light. This one is also not visible from the trail. Hop out onto the rocks — the current is not strong here and the river is shallow, so it’s safe. Just be quick about it, as you’re right on the border of private property and the owner is not amused by people hanging out here.

Hike Details:

• Length: 4.5 miles round-trip
• Elevation Gain: 770 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Driving time from Asheville: 1 hour 30 minutes
• Road conditions and parking: Good paved roads the whole way to a good parking lot with plenty of space.
• Seasonal considerations: These are epic waterfalls even in summer. If you venture off-trail anywhere above Rainbow Falls in icy conditions, you are taking your life into your hands.

Upper Bearwallow Falls

Bearwallow Falls in Gorges State Park is beautiful, but it can be a bit hard to tell from the view you get. Unfortunately the viewing platform is in a spot where you can only get a long-range glimpse of part of the waterfall. But it’s still worth a visit while you’re here to see Rainbow Falls.

The parking area is about half a mile from Rainbow Falls — follow the clear signs. The trail is clearly marked. It’s an easy, downhill 0.3 mile ramble to the viewing deck.

In addition to the waterfall, the viewing deck offers nice views of the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Late afternoon brings golden light that almost looks like it sets the ridgeline on fire.

Hike Details:

• Length: 0.7 miles round-trip
• Elevation Gain: 200 feet
• Difficulty: Easy
• Driving time from Asheville: 1 hour 30 minutes
• Road conditions and parking: Good paved roads the whole way to a good parking lot with plenty of space.
• Seasonal considerations: Accessible year-round, with good flow in all seasons. The view is better when the leaves are off the trees.

Whitewater Falls

Whitewater Falls holds the title for being the tallest waterfall in North Carolina. It sits right on the border of NC, SC and GA in the middle of a deep gorge.

This is a super-easy, super-rewarding hike. You park at the Forest Service lot, pay your $2 parking fee, walk down a few steps, and get this unbelievable view of the waterfall.

There is no single place where you can get a full view of every drop in the Whitewater Falls system. In the past it was possible to bushwhack to the base of the main drop, but it’s become so dangerous that you can no longer do this (and really, really, you shouldn’t — I wouldn’t even consider it after seeing the slope you’d have to climb down).

But if you want a better feel for the area, you can take the Foothills Trail to a number of other points of view of various drops. One option is to park at the free pulloff where the Foothills Trail crosses Route 281. (This is a pretty great way to explore the area, because you think what you’re seeing is Whitewater Falls, and then you get to the top and realize what you were looking at was this tiny cousin of the main waterfall.)

Alternatively, head west on the Foothills Trail and drop down into the gorge. You’ll again get a lot of views through the trees, but once you reach the base of the falls you’ll continue down the river, where you’ll see another half-dozen waterfalls before it flattens out. The wildflowers and greenery along this route are fabulous, and it’s my single favorite stretch of the Foothills Trail. If you’re not thru-hiking, you’ll have a brutal climb back out of the gorge on your return hike.

Whitewater Falls can get very crowded. I had it to myself on an off-season weekday when it was hailing, but that’s about what it takes to avoid the mobs.

Hike Details:

• Length: 0.4 miles round-trip
• Elevation Gain: Nominal
• Difficulty: Easy
• Driving time from Asheville: 1 hour 30 minutes
• Road conditions and parking: Good paved roads the whole way to a good parking lot with plenty of space. Parking costs $2.
• Seasonal considerations: Accessible year-round, with good flow in all seasons. The photo above is from mid-April, which was ideal for wildflowers on the hike into the gorge.

Great Smoky Mountains waterfall hikes

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is home to dozens of waterfalls, large and small. Some require hikes of less than a mile, while others require bigger commitments to the trail.

I haven’t come close to exploring all the waterfalls of the Smokies. I’ll add to this section as I visit more.

Deep Creek Waterfall Loop

If you want to maximize waterfalls and minimize effort/travel time, the Deep Creek Loop is the way to go. This easy trail takes you to three waterfalls and gives you a good chance to spot wildlife.

The hike starts from the Deep Creek Trailhead just outside Bryson City. First you’ll come to Tom Branch Falls, right near the parking area. This cascade is framed with mountain laurels in spring.

Indian Creek Falls is half a mile further along after you cross a footbridge. You can walk to a few vantage points, including a wooden viewing platform and a lookout above the falls.

Finally, follow the signs for Deep Creek Loop to traverse Juney Whank Ridge. This will bring you around to the other side of Deep Creek, where a short spur trail takes you to Juney Whank Falls. Be sure to view this waterfall from the trail, the river itself, and the base of the falls (along a short and easy scramble path to the left).

As with any hike in the Smokies, you will probably see deer and turkeys along the trail. You may come across bears or wild hogs as well. Even elk occasionally roam in this area. Always keep a safe distance from wildlife.

Hike Details:

• Length: 5 miles
• Elevation Gain: 900 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Driving time from Asheville: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Road conditions and parking: Good paved roads the whole way to a good parking lot with plenty of space.
• Seasonal considerations: Springtime is the best time to come, for wildflower blooms. Summer gets very crowded since Deep Creek Campground and several tubing companies are right there.

The PERFECT itinerary for seeing the best waterfalls in Asheville and surrounds

Okay, okay, I know I told you this post would help you narrow down your waterfalling options for a quick trip. I swear there are at least 30 waterfalls I’ve seen that I didn’t even mention here!

But I can help you narrow it down further. The ideal Asheville waterfall itinerary would be two days (not solely dedicated to viewing falls).

Day One: Start with the Three Waterfalls Hike in Dupont State Forest. Drive over to Pisgah on Route 276 and check out Looking Glass Falls on your way to Moore Cove Falls. Pick up FS 475B from 4 miles north of Moore Cove and make your way back down, stopping at those four waterfalls along the way.

Day Two: Head to Shining Rock Wilderness. Start by stopping for a quick swim at Skinny Dip Falls. Then, check out the waterfalls of Graveyard Fields. Finally, head up to Black Balsam Knob and try a couple of the other easy hikes in this area, possibly including Wildcat Falls. If you have some spare time when you get back to town — or if you need to take I-40 East to head home — stop at Catawba Falls.

Of course, everyone’s taste in waterfalls is a little different. That’s why I wanted to give you so many options to choose from. But the two-day itinerary above will take you to the all-around favorites and a few off-the-beaten-path gems.

If you love the waterfalls around Asheville, you could spend a lifetime exploring this area. I wrote this post after 14 months of research and I still have barely scratched the surface of WNC’s cascades. Let me know if you find any other gems that I didn’t include!

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