The spots worth your morning
Dry Falls
Paved walk behind a 75-foot wall of water. Stroller- and grandparent-friendly. The canonical move.
20 min · Highlands
Bridal Veil Falls
You walk behind it now — the road that used to go under closed in 2003 after a boulder fall. Still a quick pull-over photo.
22 min · Highlands
Cullasaja Falls
Around 180-200 feet, viewable only from a small US-64 pullout. Don't scramble — steep gorge wall.
15 min · Franklin
Glen Falls
Not a roadside stop — a steep National Forest trail that switchbacks down past several tiers of falls on the East Fork of Overflow Creek. The climb back up is the real workout. About 2 mi round trip; wear real shoes.
35 min · Highlands
Whitewater Falls
411 feet — the tallest waterfall east of the Rockies. About an hour out — make a day of it.
60 min · Cashiers
Rufus Morgan Falls
A short loop off the Wayah Road area west of Franklin to a ~70-foot cascade — named for the Franklin minister who helped build the local Appalachian Trail. The close-to-town option that isn't in the Highlands gorge.
20 min · Franklin
Big Laurel Falls
An easy creekside round-trip up the Nantahala in the Standing Indian area — a gentle walk to a sliding cascade, good for families who want a real but short trail.
32 min · Nantahala
Mooney Falls
A quick, steep little walk to a compact falls near Standing Indian — usually paired with Big Laurel on the same drive out the upper Nantahala.
32 min · Nantahala
"Best flow is late March through early May — and immediately after any 1-inch-plus rain. Drought years leave Bridal Veil thin by August."
On the calendar
All events →
Wed
10
Jun
4pm
Waterfalls & Nature
Science on the Rocks: Microplastics in Big Brown Bats
Weyman Building
·
35 min · Highlands
Free
Free
Sun
14
Jun
2pm
Waterfalls & Nature
Soap Making Workshop: The Art of Soap Making
The Ten Acre Garden
·
40 min · Waynesville
Free
Free
Tue
16
Jun
8pm
Waterfalls & Nature
What Bat is That?
Highlands Nature Center
·
35 min · Highlands
FreeKid-friendly
Free
Tue
14
Jul
8pm
Waterfalls & Nature
What Bat is That?
Highlands Nature Center
·
35 min · Highlands
FreeKid-friendly
Free
Thu
16
Jul
6pm
Waterfalls & Nature
The Venomous Snakes of Western North Carolina
Highlands Nature Center
·
35 min · Highlands
Free
Free
Good to know
Which falls are kid- and grandparent-friendly?
Dry Falls (paved 100 ft from the lot to behind-the-falls) and Bridal Veil (the short walk behind, no climbing) are the no-hike options.
Is Cullasaja Falls hike-able?
Only viewable from the highway pullout. It's a steep gorge wall — do not scramble.
Best falls for swimming?
Sliding Rock at Cashiers is the classic but it's a busy summer scene. Quieter local picks include parts of the Cullasaja above town and the Nantahala Gorge upstream.
When do the falls flow biggest?
Late March through early May, and immediately after any 1+ inch rain event. Drought years leave Bridal Veil thin by August.